The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-09 00:00:00

THE LUNDIIILL COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

LATEST PARTICULARS.
LUNDHILL, .
FRIDAY EVENING.
It was generally expected that by the close of
the present week the water would have reached suf-
ficiently high to subdue the flames. Such, however,
we are sorry to say, will not be the case, as in all
probThility another week will elapse before the pit
will be in a state to admit of operations being com-
menced for drawing off the water. The period
when that will commence may be calculated when
it is stated that the water in the first instance had
to rise 30 feet up the shaft from the bottom.
On Tuesday last the water had only reached 11 ft.
1 inch ; on Wednesday, 14 feet 5 itichei ; Thurs
day, 16 feet 5 inches ; and to-day at five o'clock, 18
feet. The cisterns for drawing the water off have'
just been finished and fixed, and are reedy for hit. -
rat diate use ; they will hold about 550 gallons each,
and will descend and discharge their load of water
in less than a minute.
Yesterday Mr. Pease, a former steward of the
coilierydow. ,descn ended into the Abdy seam, abcut 80
ands
He found that the heavy piece of
y
wood, known as a conductor, and which regulates
and descending of the corves, was
two, showing that the flames had
nearly burnt in.
prevailed
the ascending
1
in that immediate vicinity to a consider-1
t p ugs • but in conse-
quence .the Melton-field bul eight men'
are up sop i ,
impurity of the air they can work at
of the ,
aalr)elesetx.stveonrkt.
Dour shifts. On Thursday
the utmost
only
attemptsea-hour
as made to pull up the chair
evening an bottom of the shaft, where it
btu
and the deb is The eng ne
had become embe
but firmly set was the chair that
was set to work, so
gearing from aced
in
it was unable to move.it,
ht of 300 ons breakirg in
calculated to raise a weight the wire rope which is
it is expected, will be a
the attempt, the recoil knocking
the engine-house. This) •- • out of the water
the ce ling in
serious impediment to the getting
and reaching the bodies will
in the bottom if not already unrecognisable,
be made so by the action of the cisterns.
some of the
a number of which, being
To show the effect of the accident upon
sick slobs, we mightstate that one of
has . •
just paid for the deaths of 15 of
now lying in the • pit.
these societies

STATE OF PUBLIC OPINION.

BRISTOL.

After high 'Change on Saturday afternoon an ad-
dress to the Right Hon. Lord Palmerston, expr:s-
sive of regret at the result of the Cobden vote, was
set on foot and 'received a number of most influen-
tial signatures, including those of many magistrates
and town councillors, leading merchants, &c. The
address is couched in the following terms, and, al-
though originated by members holding Conservative
i ws in politics, it has bean 'subscribed by men of
all p .rties :
" We, the undersigned, inhabitants of the city
and county of Brist,d, 13,g to represent to your
.lordship the &clings cf surprise and regret with
which we have receivel intelligence of the result (;f
,he recent division on Mr. Cotden's motion in the
House of Commons.

" We greatly lament that an Opposition so openly
factious, and combining within itself men and prin-
cip'es too incongruous to afford hope of any useful
alliance, should have commanded the support of so
large a number of members of the House of Com-
mons as to, have enabled it to defeat a Ministry re-
markable for its truly English character, for the
respect it-has won for the British name throughout
the world, for the security it has obtained for mer-
cantile intercourse with foreign nations, and for the
vigour with which it has carried on its governmen-
tal furctions at home and abroad.

" We venture to believe that the alliance by
which you have been assailed, while it has, greatly,
lowered the political reputations of the parties en-
gaged in it, has gained no sympathy in the hearts
of the British people. •
vt-Wnthauk your lordship that, instead of yiGlil-
ing the reins of Government into o her hands, you
have resorted to the constitutional alternative of
appealing to the people ; and we desire to express
to you our firm conviction that the result of that
appeal will not confirm the decision of the House
of Commons."

It was expected that the address would be very
numerously signed on Monday (this day). •

SHEFFIELD.

The recent defeat of Lord Palmerston has caused
a great sensation in Sheffield, but ftom the result
of our inquiries we are able to state that the public
feeling, at least among the middle classes, appears
decidedly in favour of his lordship, and opposed to
the coalition. On Saturday morning a meeting of
tlie principal merchants of the town was held at the
Exchange-rooms, to consider the propriety of adopt-
ing a memorial expressive of confidence in the pre-
mier. The following is the memorial :
"We, the undersigned, merchants, manufacturers, and
others, inhabitants of Sheffield, feel bound at once to
assure your lordship that we have heard with the greateet
r,gret and dissatisfaction the result of the division ea Mr.
Cobden's motion in the House of Commons on Wednes-
day morning last ; and, at the same time, most decidedly
to express our opinion that a Liberal Government, with
your lordship at its head, will give the best guarantee
for the prosperity of the British dominions at home and
abroad."

The memorial was signed by all the gentle-
men present, including many of the most eminent
merchants and manufacturers, and the document is
still receiving an additional number of names,
prior to its being despatched for presentation to
li;s lordship.