The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-27 00:00:00

PARLIA_MEN VARY _WV ISIONS.

(From tar rotes and Proceedings of the House of Consincnis.)
FRIDAY, JULY 26.
SAVINGS BANKS 81LL,,-(IN flit COMMITTEE.)
First Clause (That On thd `l‘lth day of November, 1844, the
interest payable on the Receipts issued to the Trustees of
Saving Banks by the Commissioners for the 11.3duction of the
National Debt shall c-ase, and that from and after the said
20th day of November all receipts issued prior to that day
shall carry interest at the rate of three pounds five shillings per
centum pet annum) :—Amehdatent proposed, in page 1, line
13, to leave out " three pounds five shillings," in order to
insert " three pounds six shillings and eightpenee," instead
thereof:—Question put, " That ' three pounds five shillings'
stand part of the Clause ." The Committee divided:
MAJORITY—AYES, 51.
Ainsworth, Peter Etscott, Beckham Norreys, Lord
Alciam, W. • Forman, T. Seatbn Peel, Jonathan
Alford, Vemount Gaskell, J. M. Pringle. A.
Archdatl, Captain Goulburn, H. Smith,Rt.Hon. T.B C
Arkwright, George Graham, Sir James Sutton, Hon. H. Al
Baring, W. B. Henley, J. W. Tennent, J." E.
Beresford, Major Herbert, Sidney Thornely. Thomas
Boldero, Henry G. Hodgson, It. Thornhill, George
Bowles. Admiral Hope, Charks Trench, Sir F.
Broadley, H. Hope, G. W. • Trollepe, Sir John
Brotherton, J. Howard, P. H. Trotter, John.:.
Chapman, Aaron Humo, Joseph Wall, B,
Clerk, Sir George Jerniyn, Earl Wawn, John T.
Cole, Hon. H. hnatchbull, Sir E. Wodehouse, Hon. E
Cripps, W. Lennox, Lord A. Wortley, lion. Jn. S
Dernson,E. Zeckett Martin, C. W. TELLERS.
Eliot, Lord Meynell, H. Young, John
Ophinstone, Howard Nicholl, John Baring, Henry

COURT CIRCULAR..
WINDSOR, FrbAr.-=-1111e attd Prince Ali 4 ert
to? atA tdit; morning in a pony phaeton.
1 hit Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, and
the Princess Royal were taken their accustomed airings
in the forenoon.
Colonel Buckley) Equerry hi Waiting to her Majesty)
returned to the Castle to-:lay.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent took a drive
to-day, in an open carriage.
Her Majesty, accompanied by the Princess nue)) and
attended by the Countess of Mount Edgecumbe and the
Hon. Miss Paget, left the Castle, in an open carriage and
four, in the afternoon, Colonel Buckley, Equerry in
Waiting, being in attendance, on horseback. His Royal
Highness Prince Albert left on horseback, attended by
Colonel Bouverie, Equerry to his Royal Highness.
Her Majesty returned to the Ca.-Ale at half-past six
o'clock.

• His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, accompanied
by the Dowager Lady Lyttelton, was taken an airing
this afternoon, in an open carriage.
The royal dinner party at the Castle this evening
included Colonel and Mrs. Berkeley Drummond and
Mrs. Harcourt, of St. Leonard's.

Yesterday the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had a
dinner party at Cambridge House. The company con-
sisted of the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, the Mar-
chioness of Londonderry, the Marquis and Marchioness of
Exeter, the Marquis and Marchioness of Douro, the
Marquis of Salisbury, the Marquis of Worcester, the
Earl and Countess of Beverley, the Earl of Aberdeen,
the Earl of Mansfield, the Earl of Lincoln, the Earl of
Cardigan, Earl Brownlow, Viscount and Lady Marianne
Alford, Viscount Castlereagh, Mr. and Lady C. Lister,
and Mr. Henry Greville.
In the evening, her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Cambridge had a very numerous evening assembly. The
whole of the State rooms were thrown open, and most
illuminated, and were decorated by a profuse display of
a most beautiful assortment of the choicest flowers.
Among the distinguished guests were her Royal High-
ness the Duchess of Gloucester, attended by Lady
Caroline Murray ; the Duke of Wellington, the Duke
and Duchess of St. Albans, Lady Southampton, Lady
and Miss Taylor, Lord Foley, Hon. Miss A. Foley, the
Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde, Lady Eliz.
De Burgh, Earl Auckland, Hon. Misses Eden, Marquis
of Headfort, the Ladies Tayleure, Mrs. Young, Sir Geo.
and Lady Clarke, the Alisses Clarke, the Countess
Grosvenor, Lady Elizabeth Grosvenor, Lady Alexan-
drina Vane, Countess of- Tankerville, Mrs. and the
Misses Moiler, the Right Hon. W. E. and Mr:l. Glad-
stone, the Rev. Mr. llutchinson, Baron Neumann, Col.
and Mrs. Hugh Baillie, Miss Baillie, Sir J. and Lady
Anne Beckett, Lady Georgiana Fane, Sir J. and Lady
Reynett, Mr. Swinton, the Solicitor- eneral and Lady
Thesiger, the Countess of Euston, Lady Louisa Fitzroy,
Miss Emily Seymour, Earl and Countess Beauchamp,
Lady Catherine and Miss Cavendish, Lady Abinger
and the Honourable Miss Scarlett, Earl and Countess
Kinnoull, Sir Thomas and Lady Louisa Moncrieff,
Lady and Miss Gordon, Earl and Countess of
Antrim, Mr. Rogers, Lord and Lady Jemima
Eliot, the Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury,
Mrs. Lawrence, Lady Rendlesham, Hon. Miss Thellus-
son, Countess of Haddington, the Duchess of Leinster,
Lady Jane Fitzgerald, Lord and Lady de Ros, Hon.
Miss de Ros, Sir John and Lady Shelley, Miss Greville,
Mr. Mellish, Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, Sir F. Trench, Mr.
Vincent, the Swedish Minister and Countess Bjorn-
stjerna, Earl of Wilton, Sir John and Lady Macdonald,
Lady Agnes Byng, Lady Adelaide Paget, Mr. and Mrs.
Bankes, Lady Dufferin, Mr. and Lady Harriet Clive,
Miss Clive, Lady and Miss Farquhar, Earl and Countess
Delaware, Lady Mary West, lion. Miss Mitford, Lord
Fitzroy Somerset, Lady Augusta Somerset, Mr. Culling
Smith, Mr. and Miss Mackinnon, the Countess Brown-
low, the Ladies Cust, Countess Mansfield, Lady
Georgina Murray, Sir E., Lady, and Miss Dis-
browe, the Prussian Minister, Captain Perceval,
Colonel and Mrs. Walton, Lord Lovaine, Lady
Louisa Percy, Earl Howe, Lady Georgina Curzon, the
Duke and Duchess of Cleveland, Hon. General Upton,
Viscountess Forbes, Mr. Vaughan, Mrs. and Miss
Macleod, Mrs. Seymour Bathurst, Col. and Mrs. Come-
wall, the Earl of Besborough, the Ladies Ponsonby,
Lord and Lady Brougham, the Marchioness of Aber-
corn, Lord Claude Hamilton, Duchess Dowager of Bed-
ford, Lady Rachel Russell, the Marquis and Mar-
chioness of Normanby, Count Revel, Baron Brenner,
__ . .

the Marchioness of fllandford, Captain Murray, the
Turkish Minister, Earl Dalhousie, Duchesse de Coigny,
Mademoiselle de Coigny, Lord and Lady Ernest Bruce,
the Earl of Westmoreland, the Countess of Chesterfield,
Mr. Robert Gore, Lady Elizabeth and Lady Emily
Gore, Lord and Lady Leveson, Viscount Cautilupe,
the Earl and Countess of Jersey, Lady Clementine
Villiers, Lady Quentin, Miss Seymour, the Earl of
Denbigh, the Rev. Mr. Nepean, &c. &c.
In the course of the evening a concert was performed,
of which the following was the programme :

PARTE PRIMA.

Duo—" Dove vai," Signori Mario e Lablache (Guillaume
Tell)—Rossini.
Duo—" Un tenero core," Madame Grisi e Sig. Mario
(Roberto Devereux)—Donizetti.
Duo—" Lo diro," Signori Fornasari e Lablache (Ajo in
Imbarazzo)—Donizetti.
Duo—" Ecco fora," Madame Grisi e Sig. Marras (Maria
di Rohan)—Donizetti.
Aria—T'amai' qual aman gli angeli," Sig. Mario (Don
Carlos)—Costa.
Duo—" Ancor giovane," Signori Mario e Marras (II

Bravo) Mercadante.
Aria—" Quando guerrier," Madame Grisi (I Briganti)—
Mercadante.
Trio—" Tronear suoi di," Signori Mario, Fornasari, c
Lablache (Guillaume Tell)—Rossini.

Trio-4

PARTE SECONDA.

." Vanne a colei the adoro," Madame Grisi, Sig-

non Mario e Marras—Costa.
Duo—" Anna to piangi," Madame Grisi e Sig. Forna-
sari (Assedio di Corinto)—Rossini.
Aria—" Scesa dal del," Sig. Marras (La Favorita)—

Donizetti.
Duo—" Con pa zienza," Madame Grisi e Sig. Lablache
(II Fanatico)—Fioravanti.
Aria—" Nel furor dello tempeste," Sig. Mario (II

THE DANcrEROUS PIERS ON
TUE RiYEA,

. Thursday'rnorning, the Lord Mayor, aecompinied fly
~he Chairman of the Navigation Committee, and
attended by the Water-Bailiff, the City Solicitor, and
the UndentherifT, inspected the steam-boat piers above
bridge (ix., above London .bridge): they diE,Tnbarked
ut Blackfriars-bridge, and minutely examined the con-
struction of the pier, His Lordship examined Frsons
who were present at the tittle of the accident, as to the
imtnediate cause of the disaster: It was quite manifest
to the Lord Mayor that the planks connecting the dumb
lighter with the shore had befit of a Wellness quite in-
competent fur the purpose for which they *ere laid
down, and that the lighters themselves, and iti fact all
portions of the structure were highly dangerous. The
result of his investigati6n of the Blackfriars-bridge pier
most powerfully confirmed the truth and necessity of the
observations which he had made on the preceding day
in the Common Council, when the subject was so pro-
perly introduced and handled by, several of the members
of that body, and he had himself asked why the Com-
mittee which had ineffectually represented the con-
demnation of the pier to a former Chief Magistrate,
had omitted to make a similar representation to lam
The Lord Mayor and the City Officers, after hating
examined the Blackfriars-bridge pier, attendeda Com-
mittee at the Guildhall, and orders were issued to the

Pirata)—Bellini.
Aria—" S'io fossi in caso," Sib. Lablache—Paer.
Quartetto—" Ridiamo, cantiamo," Madame Grisi, Sig-
nori Fornasari e Lablache—Rossini.
Signor Costa presided at the pianoforte.
Sir Robert Sale had an interview with Sir Robert Fcel
yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street.
A Deputation, consisting of Mr. Burge, Agent for
Jamaica, and Messrs. Fuller, S. liibbert, Davison,
Stewart, Pearse Grigor, and Dickenson, had an inter-
view with Lord Stanley yesterday at the Colonial-office.
Mr. Higham, Comptroller of the Office for the Re-
duction of the National Debt, had an interview with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, yesterday.
Mr. Mayer, agent for Tobago, had an interview with
Lord Stanley yesterday.
Dispatches were received yesterday, at the Colonial-
office, from South Australia.

Water-Bailiff and Clerk of the Works, to set off from
London-bridge and proceed up the river, and to compel
the owners of all piers immediately to put them in a
condition for the safe and convenient embarkation of
passengers by steam-boats ; and in the event of hesita-
tion in complying with the regulationa, the Lord Mayor
declared that he would sign warrants, which the City
Solicitor had prepared, for removing with a sti ong hand
every pier not rendered conformable with the rules.
Blackfriars-bridge pier, it appears, had been pre-
sented two years ago by a conservancy jury as unsafe,
and the parties engaged in keeping it in use
were informed that it would be removed, under the au-

thority of the Court, but intelligence having been re-
ceived, that the proprietors were poor watermen,
thrown out of employment by the introduction of steam
navigation on the river, the pier was permitted to remain,
upon an tusurance that it should be rendered per-
fectly safe and secure. The manner in which that
pledge was redeemed the late melancholy event demon-
strates, and the Lord Mayor commented in strong lan-
guage upon the readiness with which such a pledge
was received, and the carelessness with which it was
ever afterwards treated. At the last Court of Conser-
vanny, a . very intelligent syry presented several of the
floating piers as offering obstructions at a certain state
of the tide to the free navigation of the river. They,
however, accompanied their presentment with a state-
ment that " in the absence of better constructed per-
manent erections for the accommodation of
persons landing from, and embarking in steam-
boats, the continuance of some such piers was a neces-
sary evil, but they represented that measures should be
taken by the Corporation, as conservators of the river,
to compel the proprietors of all temporary piers to render
them now more firm and safe for passengers, and that
they should be provided with coloured lamps at night, so
placed as to show the position of the piers, and to define
their limits."
It appears that the Navigation Committee, in concur-
rence with the Lord Mayor, have been for some time
engaged in making arrangements to give effect to these
recommendations of the conservancy juries, and it is to
be hoped that a calamity so deplorable will quicken the
speed of the authorities, and lead to an early consumma-
tion of such an important object.
At a Court of Common Council, held on the 16th of
December, 1841, Mr. Jonathan C. Prior, the Chair-
man of the Blackfriars-bridge Committee, whose
unwearied attention to the duties of that office, and
ability in completing the repairs, entitle his opinion to
great respect, said, in recommending that Mr. Walker's
plan of erecting a pier on the Bridewell side of Black-
friars-bridge, " the Court could not forget that already
three or four deaths had taken place in consequence of
the wretched and badly-managed construction at present
in use. It was quite impossible that the Corporation
should allow such a melancholy appeal to pass unnoticed.
So long as that bungling piece of work was in existence,
the lives of the public would be in constant jeopardy,
and it therefore became the duty of the Court to inter-
fere without delay, for the sake of humanity.' Sir Peter
Laurie supported Mr. Prior's view of the subject, and
dwelt most particularly upon the security of the lives of
the public, with reference to the pier.
On the 20th of January., 1843, Mr. Prior, in bringing
up the first report relative to Blackfriars-bridge, con-
cluded his remarks by "urging again upon the Court not
to lose sight of the necessity of remedying the existing
evil at the bridge, but at once to cause the present dis-
graceful landing-place to be removed." Mr. Anderton
also rose and said " he regretted that a committee which
had so admirably performed its duties should be dis-
solved before they bad carried their plan for establishing
a better.and safer landing-place, and it would be most
satisfactory to know that the committee, to whom the
would not suffer the
qkeeping
nutop
The public will see from the above quotations from
roefstt.h,e bridge devolved
the speeches made on the subject of the danger, the
lamentable evidences of which have so recently been
manifested, that some of the members of the Corporation
did not hesitate to speak aloud their apprehensions.

SUICIDES IN LEICESTER.—The frequency of sui-
cides in this town by young people, would appear to fully
justify the remark, that sympathy is a principal cause of
them. It was but in AOill last, that we announced the
death of a highly respectable young man, a druggist,
by shooting himself with a pistol, in consequence of
the receipt of a note from a young lady with %%horn
he had kept company, disclaiming all further ac-
quaintance with him. At the latter end of that
month, a fine young woman poisoned herself by
taking arsenic, simply because she had been told
by some one that a young man, who had paid
his addresses to her, was about to be married to
another. A few weeks after that, another girl took a
dose of arsenic from a somewhat similar cause, and nar-

rowly escaped with her life. On Saturday week a girl
who worked in Messrs. Bedell's factory, put an end to her
existence under peculiarly distressing circumstances. Her
namewas Matilda Jones, and having kept company with a
youth named George Potter, carpenter and joiner, but not
yet out of his apprenticeship, for some months, she be-
came pregnant ; on the discovery of which by the girl's
parents it was agreed the couple should be mar-
ried, Potter expressing his perfect willingness to make
the girl his wife. The banns were published, the ring
was purchased, and Monday, the 15th instant, was
fixed for the wedding. Alas ! on that very day the
poor girl was a corpse. The mother of the youth, hear-
ing of the intended union on the Saturday previous, ex-
pressed her intention of throwing every obstacle in the
way, and threatened to forbid th banns the next day
(Sunday); declaring she would sooner see her sots hanged
than that the match should take place. The girl was
wrought to a dreadful state of excitement, and, having
ing gone up stairs some time after her intended mother-
in-law's drparture, took a dose of arsenic, which was
kept on the premises for the purpose of destroying ver-
min ; but as she declared she should get better, having
taken various remedies administered by her parents,
they, wishing to avoid additional exposure and dis-
grace, neglected to send for medical assistance, until
a great and sudden change appeared in their child
on the Monday morning, and it was too late. She
died in a few minutes after the arrival of the medical
officer, and at about the time when, in all probability, had
the course of true love run smoothly, the marriage cere-
mony would have been performed. There is now another
added to the above dismal catalogue. A girl named
Mary King, aged 18, of a somewhat profligate character,
the daughter of a widow living in the Wharf-street, a
low part of the town, having been out all Monday night
until three o'clock the next morning, was reproved by
her mother for her conduct, and a fierce quarrel arose
between them, the daughter declaring that her mother
should have reason to remember it before the
day was over. She at down for a short
time, but went out with her work (gloves)

EXPLOSION OFF BRIGHTON.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—Having perused the various accounts given
in your journal of the 22d inst., relative to the blow-
ing up and total destruction of the John o' Gaunt
by the invisible shell, or some other most powerful
agency, said to be invented by Captain Warner, and
considering the various opinions formed by able and
scientific men as to the probable cause, I was, and
still am, somewhat surprised that no allusion what-
ever has been made to the sub-marine boat invented
some twenty-five years since by the celebrated Cap-
tain Johnson, who expended a good fortune, to his
own ruin, in bringing to perfection this destructive
machine ; and I believe, from what I have often heard
him assert, that had the Government, at the time I
speak of, rewarded him with a liberality commensu-
rate with his scientific skill, in all probability the
sub-marine boat would have produced precisely the
same destructive powers as the present invisible shell.
I have heard him assert, too, that, on one occasion,
after his repeated application to Governments for pe-
cuniary assistance had failed, that one of the Lords
of the Admiralty, at that time, had hinted to him his
doubts as to the destructive powers of his boat. His
reply was, " Well, if your Lordship will please to
take your station in any one of the largest ships we
have, and try the experiment, I'll send both your-
self and her to hell in five minutes after, or forfeit my
head.'3 tcow, without meaning or wishing to detract in
the slightest degree from the merit due to this worthy
and distinguished officer, whose scientific and wonder-
ful skill has brought to perfection another machine,
so mysterious in its nature, and so awfully destructive
in its power, as to fill with astonishment and wonder
the assembled thousands who witnessed its effects, yet,
Sir, I cannot help thinking but that great merit was
also due to thebrave but unfortunate Johnson, who cer-
tainly deserved from his country (whatever might
have been his faults) a better fate than that which I
believe closed the latter period of his most eventful
life; and in the sincere hope that the present Govern-
ment may seriously contemplate the immense im-
portance which the knowledge of this mysterious
secret may be to them in any future conflict with
the enemies of their country, and reward the present
possessor on a settle adequate to its importance
I remain, Sir, respectfully yours, J. C.
Belle Vue-terrace, Southsea, Hants, July 26, 1844.

in her apron, apparently to her employers, but
really to a druggist's where she purchased twopenny-
worth of arsenic on pretence of cleansing the bedstead ;
went to a neighbour's house, and drank it off in a cup of
VI ater. She died in about four hours afterwards. An

inquest was held the next evening, and a verdict to the
effect that she died from the effects of poison adminis-
tered by herself with an intent to destroy life was re-
turned. She was buried the same evening, and although
it was nearly twelve o'clock at night, there were some
thousands of people assembled to witness her interment
THE WEATHER AND CROPS.—Saturdav last was
one of the most brilliant days of the season, and with a
breeze just strong enough, with the thermometer at 70
in the shade, to waft from field to field the grateful
odours of the clover and bean, and affording, we hope,
only a prelude to a long track of weather of a similar
description. Sunday, to be sure, was rainy, almost from
morning to night, with the temperature down to 55 ; but
Monday and Tuesday the weather was again clear and
bright, and although the thermometer stood at 75 in the
shade during the day, and fell only to 70 at ten o'clock
on Tuesday night, the atmosphere was soft and delicious
in the highest degree, and altogether devoid of the
scorching fierceness with which so high a temperature is
usually accompanied, and of a character as favourable
for maturing the crops as the heart of man could desire.
Yesterday again was rainy ; and, although the quan-
tity of moisture which has fallen in this neighbour-
hood within the last eight days has been considerable,
it has has never been to excess, and its effect has been
to benefit every description of crop ; and in so far as we
have been able to learn, both from our own observation
and from the reports of others, it can hardly be said to
have occasioned even the most partial injury.
Wheat and barley are rapidly filling, and early
patches have already exchanged the verdant green of
summer for the sombre brown which precedes the rich
gslden hue of autumn. The crops are from ten days to
a fortnight more forward than at the corresponding period
of last year, and if the weather be favourable, we shall
have an early as well as an abundant harvest. If there
be no check, we may expect to see the sickle at work
within three weeks. Extensive failures have occurred
amongst the potatoes, and numerous attempts have been
made partially to remedy the loss, by sowing turnips in
the intervals ; and we regret to say that in many in-
stances the latter will be the more valuable crop of the
two.---Caledonian Mercury.
VIENNA, JULY 16.—The Archduke Stephen, has
arrived here from Prague, and brings a lamentable account
of the excesses committed by the workmen. There had
been revived meetings of the Council of State, on this occa-
sion, at which all the Princes of the Imperial Family now at
Vienna, were present.
PORT or LONDON.—Notwithstanding the strong
w inda which have prevailed since operations were corn
menced for raising the ship Atlas, Captain J. Fisher, R.N.,
the principal harbour-master, has succeeded in moving her
upwards of two miles from the place where she formerly lay.
The vessel is deeply laden with coals, and was much em-
bedded in the sand ; a bank of considerable height had also
formed around her, over which she had been lifted with
uch

T 1.1 5U N, LONDON, SATURDAy_EVI4ININaI JULY 27, 1641.

CORONERS' INQUESTS.

FATAL ACCIDENTS:ON THE RIVER.—THREE LIVES LOST.—
/safe on Thursday night Mr. Higgs held an inquest at the Coach
anti Hof' s; nood-street, Westminster, on the body of John
Thwaites, aged Who, with his father and a man named
White, was drowned iu the river on Sunday night last.
Alfred M'Evoy, a lad residing in Haydon-court, Saint
James's, said that, ou Sunday afternoon last, the deceased,
his father, a youth named White, another named Picton,
whom witness did not know, and witness himself, engaged
a four oared cutter at Hungerford-market. They all got
into the boat and rowed with perfect safety to Richmond.
When they were upon their return, and near Vauxhall-
bridge, three drunken men in a skiff endeavoured to over-
take them. Upon arriving off Chandler's yard, between
Lambeth Palace and Westminster-bridge, it being then half-
past ten o'clock, and quite dark, witness saw a number of
barges moored in the middle of the river, and directly in the
course in which they were rowing. Just as they reached the
barges, and under any circumstances they could not, owing
to the strength of the tide, have avoided coming in contact
with them, the skiff which contained the three drunken men
struck them at the stern, and the consequence was that the
cutter ran its larboard side against one of the barges. By
the force of the blow, the cutter was broken right across the
middle, but still held together, and witness caught hold of
the barge, and climbed into it. He then caught hold of the
arr.S of the boy, whose name he did not know, and held him
Itor skint. twenty minutes, when assistance arrived. From
the fltlie that witness got into the barge he did not see the
deceased, father, nor White, and he believed that they
were shaken out of the cutter by -the force of the collision.
Picton was borne away in the boat, which, notwithstanding
the injury it had sustained, still kept afloat, and was carried
to Westminster-bridge, whets: P. waterman saved him. Wit-
ness afterwards heard that one of the men in the skiff was
drowned, a few minutes afterwards.
.
Richard Maryland, a waterman, said that n found the
body of the deceased on Wednesday, not far from the: spot
where the accident happened.—Verdict, Accidental Death:
I IDANGEROUS STATE OF THE SERPENTINE.-011 Thursday
Mr. Higgs held an inquest at the Barley Mow, Mount-street,
Grosvenor-square, on the body of James Coombs. aged 23,
of No. 1, Clare-market, who was drowned in the Serpentine
under the following circumstances :
Charles Griffith, one of the Royal Humane Society's boat-
men, said he was on duty in the Serpentine on the mornings
of Wednesday last, when he heard a cry of " boat" raised
from the north side. He rowed to the spot immediately,
and then ascertained that a person had that moment
sunk. With the aid of drags he found deceased corn •
pletely imbedded in the mud, and after three-quarters of
an hour's hard working he got him out. His eyes and mouth
were filled with mud. The spot were deceased sank was one
of the most dangerous places on the river, there being about
ten feet of water and eight feet of mud. Three out of every
four persons who get in there are lost. Boards are placed
near as a caution, in spite of which people will bathe there.
James Baseld said deceased and himself went to bathe
there on Wednesday morning. They had not boon in the
water more than ten minutes, when deceased sank. He said
be did not see any caution-boards; neither was he aware that
the place was dangerous.
Dr. Woolley said something ought to be done to prevent
the public from bathing on the north side. On the opposite
shore the Society's men were in constant readiness in case of
accidents ; besides, it was more safe. The whole of the north
side was very dangerous, more especially that part just al-
luded
.to. That very afternoon, a gentleman on horseback
led his horse to the side of the river, in order to water it, but
the animal having taken a step too far, both man and beast
were precipitated into the water. An extraordinary pull of
the rider turned the horse round, and they both escaped being
drowned.
Other evidence having been adduced, the jury returned a
verdict of accidental death.
ANOTHER DEATH WHILST BATHING IN THE SERPENTINE.
—IMPORTANT VERDICT.—Last evening Mr. Higgs held an
inquest in St. George's Hospital, on the body of James Davey,
aged nineteen, who was drowned whilst bathing in the Ser-
pentine on Wednesday evening last.
Charles Griffiths, chief boatman of the Royal Humane
Society, said that on Wednesday evening last, about half-
past eight o'clock, he was on duty at the east end of the
Serpentine river, near the north shore, when he heard a call
of " boat" proceed from the south side. He rowed there with
all speed, and found many persons in the water. The river
was crowded, and he had the greatest difficulty in rowing
among them. On reaching there a spot was pointed out
where a boy had sunk. It was about a yard from the weeds.
Just as he was commencing he saw another man sink, whom
he laid hold of, and got into the boat. That man told him
that the cause of his sinking was by the deceased clinging
to him. It about three minutes he brought up the deceased,
who appeared dead, but on proceeding with him across the
river, he observed him breathe. On reaching the receiving
house he was placed in a hot bath, and became so convulsed
that they were scarcely able to keep him in it. That is usual
with persons when recovering. He was then placed on a hot
bed, and having been attended by Mr. Woolley, he recovered
his sensibility, and told them where he lived, but begged
them not to tell his mother of it too suddenly. He was
afterwards brought to the hospital in a cab. The place
where he sank was very dangerous, in consequence of the
great quantity of weeds, which are eight feet in length and
very strong. The deceased, whilst on the bed, said the weeds
got round his arms, and he was so exhausted that he could
not release himself. There are six hot baths.
By the Jury—Only three men are in attendance on the
bathers, and tWo in the receiving-house. The reason of the
deceased being brought to the hospital was because the re-
ceiving-house was too hot, and there being ro room. He
was wrapped up in a blanket, and rentsved by order of the
surgeon to the hospital. Whilst going theft he complained
of pain in his chest.
Mr. T. W. Cowley, house-surgeon, deposed to the de-
ceased being received into the hospital, and to his dying at
half-past two the following morning. The cause of death
was congestion of the lungs, produced by submersion in
water. He could not state whether the removal had hastened
his death.
It further appeared that the deceased could swim a little,
and had got out into the river about twenty yards, when he
tried to turn round, but could not, and sank from exhaustion.
He was a coach-builder's apprentice, residing in Glasshouse-
street, Vauxhall.
Verdict," Accidental death," with the following addition
"The jury, in separating, while they laud the endeavours of
the Humane Society, in restoring, &c., have to deplore that
the Institution does not employ an additional number of men
and accommodation at this season of the year, and earnestly
hope that the subject will be taken up at an early period by
the Legislature."
SUICIDE OF A LICENSED VicsrumasEß.—Yesterday after-
noon,_ Mr. Joseph Payne, deputy-coroner, held an inquest at
St. Baitholomew's Hospital, on view of the body of Mr. W.
Rowles, aged thirty-five, late landlord of the Crown and
Sceptre, Great Arthur-street, Golden-lane, who committed
suicide.
Edward Henley, an engine-driver, No. 2, Osborn-place,
Great Arthur-street, said that on Wednesday evening, about
seven o'clock, he was standing at his door, facing the Crown
and Sceptre, when he heard several persons exclaiming that
the deceased had committed self-destruction. Witness, with
several others, ran up stairs, and found the deceased in his
bed-room, on the floor, at the back of the door. Witness
raised him up, and then observed a deep gash across his
throat. A surgeon soon after arrived, who directed that he
should be taken to an hospital. Life appeared extinct.
George Wood, jeweller, No. 14, Rahere-street, St. Luke's,
said that he saw the deceased a few minutes before seven
o'clock. Deceased's sister-in-law had requested him to watch
deceased, who, she said, was in a state of distraction. About
seven o'clock witness bad occasion to leave him. On his re-
turn, in a minute or two, witness heard the gurgling in his
throat, upon which he immediately gave an alarm. In the
morning of the same day he was very excited. Witness saw
him in the yard, walking to and fro, and laughing in a very
strange way. Witness asked him what he was laughing at.
He replied, " There was heaven in a kiss," and laughed
again. He was not in a state of poverty, but he was a man
who had been much better off. His wife is out of town.
She went on Monday morning to Falmouth, to see her father
and mother.
By the CoßoNEß—Deceased had formerly been a wine and
spirit merchant, and had a public-house of his own. He was
put into the Crown and Sceptre by Mr. More, the brewer.
Witness had no doubt but that his trouble had affected his
mind. Five weeks ago he was in a very excited state, and
on one occasion it required several persons to hold him down.
Verdict—" Temporary insanity." ,
A FAMILY OF SUICIDES.—Last evening, Mr. Joseph Payne
held an inquest at the Dun Horse, High-street, Borough, on
the body of John Crowley, aged 19, a porter in Billingsgate-
market.
From the evidence of the witnesses, it appeared that the
deceased resided with his father at one of the low lodging
houses in the Mint. He was of a very uncertain, and at
times violent temper, and gave much annoyance to his fellow-
lodgers. The landlord paid that he was in the habit of play-
ing "larks" with the either inmates of the house, such as
throwing stones of a pound weight at them, or sometimes
half a pint of water, and then run away laughing. On
Tuesday he was out nearly all day drinking, but was at home
at seven o'clock, and went to bed along with his father.
Shortly after nine o'clock he was found suspended by his
neckerchief to a rafter in the closet, and quite dead. About
three years ago the deceased hanged himself at the Queen's
Head, Billingsgate, but fortunately was cut down before life
was extinct. He was potboy at the house, and shortly be-
fore making the attempt upon his life, the cook succeeded in
destroying herself by the same means. The landlord in con-
sequence of what had taken place left the house.
The father of the deceased said he was sure his son was
not in his right senses, nor had he been for some time, and
that he made an attempt upon his life when only twelve
years old.
It was also stated in the Court that since the death of the
deceased his mother had attempted to hang herself, and his
Father to cut his throat.
The CORONER summed up the evidence veryminutely, and
The jury returned a verdict of " Temporary insanity."

SALE OF THE EGYPTIAN HALL, PICCADILLY.-
The auction room at Garraway's was much crowded yester
day by capitalists, in consequence of the announcement of
the sale by auction of the above celebrated premises, which
were erected about thirty years since by Mr. Robinson, the
eminent architect, and were originally known as Bullock's
Museum, but have since been used for different exhibitions.
The property, which is leasehold, having an unexpired term
of twenty-eight years from Midsummer last at a ground rent
of 3001. per annum, which, with the land tax, paving, light-
ing, water, and parochial rates, would amount to the annual
rent of 4131., was ordered to be brought to the hammer by
the direction of the executors of the late George Lackington,
Esq. From the statement of Messrs. Rushworth and Jarvis,
the auctioneers, it appeared that the premises realised a net
rental of 1,1001. per annum, after paying the ground rent and
all rates and taxes, which income was derived from the exhi-
bition rooms, the two shops on the ground-floor, let for 2101.
a-year each to permanent tenants, the lecture rooms, and
bazaar, the Waterloo gallery, and immense warehouse under
the bazaar room. Mr. Rushworth said that, from a moderate
calculation of the net rental, the property would be worth,
for the twenty-eight years' purchase of the lease at six per
cent., 14,8501. The competition then commenced by a bid-
ding of 3,000/, but was eventually bought in for 6,250/. The
sale created considerable interest. It was stated by the
auctioneer that the exhibition of General Tom Thumb rea-
lised at times as much as 1251. per day, and that 44/. per
month was paid for the use of the exhibition room.
THE NEw NIGHT-POACHING ACT.—This addi-
ditional landlord's law was passed on the 4th instant. It
sets forth that the former Night-poaching Act (passed
:Tilly 19, 1828), has been evaded and defeated by the
destruction, by armed persons, at night, of game or
rabbits, not upon inclosed lands, but upon public roads
and highways, and other roads and paths leading through
such lands, and also at the gates, outlets, and
between such land and roads, highways and paths; and
it then enacts that all the pains, punishments, and for
feitures imposed upon persons by night unlawfully taking
or destroying game or rabbits in any land, open or in-
closed, shall be applicable to and imposed upon any per-
son by night unlawfully taking or destroying any game
or rabbits on any public road, highway, or path. Of-
fenders may be seized. This additional " landlord's
law" is a further disgrace to the English statute-book.
great folks seem resolved to render themselves
thoroughly odious ; they have beeti keaithing- in- that
direction for soma time.

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.

SOUTIIAMI.TON FRIDAY.—A general meeting of the So•
ciety was held this morning at the Victoria-rooms, at which
the President elect, the Duke of Richmond, was inducted into
office.

The Marquis of DOWNSIIIRE, in proposing a vote of thanks
to the• retiring President, Earl Spencer, spoke in the most
flattering terms of the conduct of that nobleman in his ex-
ertions, not only during the period of his office, but at all
times, to promote the interests of the, Society, and of the
agriculturists generally.
At the next annual meeting, which is to take place at
Shrewsbury, in addition to the prizes given this year to the
various:classes of cattle, prizes will be given to the owners of
sheep best adapted to a mountain district. Prizes will also
be given for the best essays on the following subjects :
Fifty sovereigns, or a piece of plate of that value, will be
given for the best report on the farming of the county of
Nottingham. Competitors will be expected to describe the
different varieties of soil which prevail in the county, the
ordinary mode of farming and courses of cropping adopted
accordingly in its various districts, and to state how far any
peculiar practices in its husbandry are, or are not justified
by peculiarities of soil or climate. They will also be ex-
pected to state what improvements have been made in the
farming of Nottinghamshire since the report of Mr. Robert
Lowe, in 1798 ; and especially to point out what further im-
provements ought to be effected either by better farming on
land already cultivated, or by taking new land into culti-
vation.

Fifty sovereigns, or a piece of plate of that value, will be
given for the best report on the farming of the county of
Cornwall. Competitors will be expected to give similar de-
tails to the foregoing of the varieties of soil and the peculiar
practices in the husbandry of this county, and to state what
improvements have been made in its farming since the report
of Mr. G. B. Worgan in the year 1811.
Fifty sovereigns, or a piece of plate of that value, will be
tri --en for the best report on the farming of the county of
• -th the foregoing details, and to state what improve-
Kent, .
-:n made in the farming of Kent since the report
meats have b..
of Mr. John Boys.
a piece of plate of that value, will
Twenty sovereigns, or .
best method of reclaiming
be given for an account of
:red to describe methods
heath land. Competitors will be re4w
the reclaiming of
which have been successfully adopted in
the following
points :—The mode of breaking up, whether by px4.7lng and
burning, or by simply ploughing : the application of lime j the
course of cropping; the conversior. of heath land into pas-
ture, where either the steepness of the land, or its elevation
above the sea, does not allow the culture of corn.
Ten sovereigns, or a piece of plate of that value, for the
best essay on the advantage of one-horse carts. Competitors
will be required to point out the saving in horse labour, and
other advantages which undoubtedly arise from the substitu-
tion of one-horse carts for waggons.
Twenty sovereigns, or a piece of plate of that value, will
be given. for the best csaety on oatch meadows. Competitors
will be required to describe the best and cheapest method of
forming water meadows on the sides of natural slopes, as
practised in Somersetshire and Devonshire; the mode of
managing them, and of applying their produce; the increase
of value thereby given to unproductive hill-sides ; and to
state how far this mode of improvement might be applied
to the mountainous districts of Wales and of the north of
England.
Twenty sovereigns, or a piece of plate of that value, will
be given for the best essay en fences. Competitors will be
required to describe the best and neatest methods of manu-
facturing hedges, whether for arable or for grazing, and to
point out how far the present fences in various parts of Eng-
land are injurious to the farmer, whether by their size, their
excess in number, or the over-abundance of timber which
they contain.
Tiventy sovereigns, or a piece of plate of that value, will
be given for the cheapest and best method of establishing a
tile yard. Competitors will be required to attend to the fol-
lowing points :—Mode of working the clay, according to its
quality; machine for making the tiles; sheds for drying the
tiles ; construction of the kiln ; cost of forming the, establish-
ment ; cost of the tiles when ready for sale.
Ten sovereigns, or a piece of plate of that value, will be
given for an account of the best method of fattening cattle, as
to the places in which they are kept, large or small yards or
stalls, as well as the food, roots, hay, &c., on which they are
fed during the time of fattening.
Fifty sovereigns, or a piece of plate of that value, for the
best description of the Dutch method of salting butter,
pointing out the causes of its superiority to other salted butter.
Twenty sovereigns, or a piece of plate of that value, will
be given for an account of the best experiment in agriculture.
These essays must be sent to the secretary on or before the
Ist of March, 1845, and all information contained in them
must be founded on experience or observation, and not on
simple reference to books or other sources. The copyright of
all essays gaining prizes shall belong to the Society, which
will have the power to publish them; the other essays 11
be returned on the application of the writers.
There was a ball last night (according to custom), which
took place at the Victoria-rooms, and was very fully at-
tended, upwards of 400 persons being present, among whom
were the Earl and Countess of Hardwicke, Lady Mary and
the Misses Long, Lady Henry and Miss Paulet, Mrs. and
the Misses Colt, Colonel Sir George and Lady Burgoyne, Sir
H. Paulet, Admiral Dacres and family, Captain Dacres, RN.,
Mr., Mrs., and the Misses Welds, of Lulworth Castle ; Mr.
Hope, M.P. ; the officers of the Grenadier Guards, from Win-
chester; the officers of the Victory, Excellent, and others of
her Majesty's ships at Portsmouth; Mrs. Abbott and the
Misses Abbott, the Misses Duke, Colonel Henderson, &c.

This morning the show yard vas again visited by many
thousand persons, many of them attending for the purpose of
purchasing some of the stock intended for sale. A great
portion of the stock, brought only for exhibiting, not in-
tended for sale, was removed from the ground and sent off by
special trains from the temporary station made for the occa-
sion at Portswood.