The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-15 00:00:00

MEN, &C.

William Shaw 1

William Smith

Thomas Clark

Three others, not placed, also started.
. Shaw and Clark, from being previous victors, were
the favourites, the latter having the call of his opponents.
The race was splendidly contested, the two first being
neck and neck throughout, Shaw prevailing at the finish,
and winning by a short length. The distance was half
that of the men's, only to the middle of the Serpentine
and back.
At the conclusion of the latter race, th• day's sports
terminated.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
At the eighteenth half-yearly meeting of this Rail-
way Company, held at Bristol on the 15th instr,,: a
report was read, which we are glad to say is of it satis-
factory nature, and will justify an increasecL
arising chiefly from the improved state of the revenue
during the last six months. The receiptiltave exceeded
those of the similar period in 1843, by 39,056/. ss. ld.;
a proportion of which is unquestionably due to the
greater length of the Bristol and Exeter itailway—viz.,
from Taunton to Beam-bridge, open during four months,
and from Beam-bridge to Exeter during two months,
with a few duys' traffic on the Oxford Railway, which
was completed for use on the 12th of June. On the
Great Western Railway, however, separately, without
and difference of distance, the receipts have increased over
the corresponding period to the extent of 24,1371.55. lid.,
the earnings of the half-year amounting to 299,433/. 72.6 d.
The receipts for the Bristol and Exeter Railway have been
59,1601. Os. 1 ld. ; for the Swindon and Cirencester Line,
10,2861. 19s. 9d. ; and for the Oxford Railway, during
nineteen days, 1,0131. 15s. 11d., making up the total
revenue of 369,904/. 4s. id. The expenditure of the
half-year has been 127,2351.45. 2d., or 34.457 on the re-
ceipt. In this sum the Government duty and parochial
rates are included, 24,5221. 4s. 5d., which in 1843
amounted to 20,2201. 35., being an excess of 4,3021. Is. sd.
The whole difference of charge for the half-year is only
2,497/. Os. 6d., satisfactorily showing that there has been
an actual reduction of expenditure, although the extra
distance worked has been equal to about twenty miles on
the average of the six mouths. After deducting the
rent of the Bristol and Exeter Railway, and the balance
of interest, there is a disposable amount of 133,243/.
Its. ld., which will enable the Proprietors to order a
dividend of 3i per cent. on the paid up capital of the
Company.

LONDON AND BRIGHTON RAILWAY.—Three lads
in the employ of Mr. Newman, ot Patcham, near Brigh-
toit, were charged before the Earl of Chichester, Mr.
Sergeant D'Oyky, Major Paine, and other magistrates,
at the Lewes bench on Tuesday, with having, on Sun-
day afternoon, placed an obstruction on the railway.
The boys all pleaded guilty, and Mr. H. Faithfull, soli-
citor to the railway company, then stated the case, from
which it appeared that the boys had placed on the
rails a " Jerry," that is, a truck with four wheels
used by the plate layers in conveying their tools and
materials from place to place on the line, and
were amusing themselves by riding on it, when one of
the Hassocks pleasure trains came in sight, and notwith-
standing the efforts of the boys to remove the obstruc-
tion from the rails, they were unable to do so entirely,
and the consequence was that the engine struck a corner
of the " larr)." The driver of the engine, however,
on observing the obstruction, had reversed the steam
and put on the breaks, by which means a frightful ac-
cident was probably prevented. The Company not
pressing fur a severe punishment, the boys were fined in
the lowest penalty of hi. each, and in default of payment
were c:Anmitted to prison fur four days each.
DRIED FRUITS.—The Lords of the Treasury having
had under consideration a report of the Commissioners
of Customs, on an application of Messrs. Joseph Travers
and Sons and others, importers of fruit into the port ot
London, praying relief with respect to the practice at
present pursned by the officers of the Customs, of de-
manding the duty upon the difference between the land-
ing and export weight of packages of fruit, their Lord-
ships have authorised the Board to give directions
that the duty on all reasonable deficiencies of
boxes, drums, and baskets of figs and raisins, ascer-
tained on delivery for exportation from the legal quay
warehouses, may be remitted upon a certificate from the
landing surveyor in each case that no fraud is suspected,
and that the deficiency has arisen from natural causes.
Copies of this order have been furnished to the officers
of the departments for their information and government.
FATAL EFFECTS OF MENTAL ANXIETY.—Mr.
Waleley, M.P., held an inquest yesterday at Mr. Blake's,
corner ofJeckey. steps, Bedford- row, on the body of Mr.
W iliiam Manly, aged sixty, a commercial clerk, late of 10,
Warwick-court. From the evidence of Mr. Stevens, de.
ceased's landlord, it appeared that the deceased, who had
previously enjoyed what he termed "a prodigiouseonstitu-
don," upon returning home yesterday week complained
that anxiety about business made him very ill. Last Sun-
day he appeared quite recovered, but on Monday morning
he was found dead in bed. Mr. Wakley said that it was
amazing how many persons died suddenly through
anxiety produced by misfortune in trade. When a sud-
den change took place in their affairs, the workhouse
stared them in the face, and the result was that they
either died suddenly or became insane. It was a fact
(continued the Learned Coroner) that many stately
mansions of our. wealthiest merchants became private
lunatic asylums from the same cause. Some time ago he
had in his own district twenty-four cases of suicide in
twelve days. Several jurors corroborated the statements
of the Coroner, and subsequently returned a verdict of
" Natural death."
THE WEST INDIAN STEAMER TAT.—We learn
from a private letter received by the Hibernia yesterday
morning, that the Royal West India Mail Companys
steamer Tay, while on her way from Kingston to Ha-
vannah, with the mails from England, on the 2d of June,
by some mischance or other, went ashore on a dangerous
reef ot rocks on the Havannah side of Cape Antonio,
cal ed the " Coleradoes." The mail agent, immediately
after the accident, started in an open boat, and delivered
the bags on the 15th of July at Havannah. A Spanish
Government steamer, and the Royal Mail Steam-Packet
Company's schooner Lee, then went to her assistance.
The steamer succeeded in getting her off, and she en-
tered the harbour of Havannah on the 17th of July,
making three feet of water per hour. All the quick-
th
silver, anchors, cables, and heavy stuff on board, wi
the exception of about twenty tons of coal, had pre-
viously been thrown overboard.—Liverpool Courier.
A GOOD OLD AGE.—Thomas Lovering, of Gert,
in the parish of Combmartin, now in his hundredth
year, joined his workmen in the harvest field on Fri-
day last, and is in good health. •He has occupied the
same estate for more than half a century.— Western

LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM
RAILWAY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—May I he; of you to give publicity to a gross
extortion, pr practised upon me at the Watford station
on the London and Birmingham Railway.
Yesterday I went to meet a lady with her infant,
who were to arrive at that station from the north of
England, but was informed by one of the porters that
I must obtain the leave of the clerk at tl►e station to
assist the lady in alighting from the railway carriage
and obtaining the luggage, but that I had only to
make the request to have it granted. The clerk
(Mr. Lukin), however, refused me the permission,
unless I would state the lady to be an invalid, which
I would not do, as I did not know her to be such,
although if I had made such a statement it would
have been perfectly true. Having travelled by every
railway in -England, and never having met with, or
heard,of any obstacle, on any railway, to the friends
of a passenger, whether male or female, receiving him
or her, and knowing such to be allowed on the Lon-
don and Birmingham Railway, both at Euston-square
and at Birmingham, I stated such to be the case, and
insisted as a right on what I had before requested as
a faiour, when the clerk told me if I would use my
eyes I might see an order against such being allowed
on that station. I did use my eyes, but could not
see any such order. The clerk then ordered one of
the porters to show it me ; this porter, after some
search, found, and showed me a board with the fol—
lowing writing on it :—" It is requested that to lid=
son pass this gate without a ticket ;" -the=:bOard, how-
ever was not at the gate leadinge, on to the railway,
but against a wall, and withsthe side on which the re-
quest was paintedpdeid next the wall, so as not to be
visible. I their told the clerk this was no order or
re

,gulatiOh;"but a mere request, and insisted on being
allovV'ed to receive my friends ; but he said I should
hot, and again referred me to the board. It then be-
came apparent what he meant, viz., that I should pay
for a ticket; and as he continued to refuse me per-
mission to receive my friends, I was compelled to, and
and did pay three shillings (the fare to London) for a
ticket, to enable me to pass the gate and descend to
the railway.
Upon the arrival of the train I found my assistance
most acceptable to my friends, after journeying for
fourteen successive hours, and who, in the change of
carriages which had taken place at York, had been
deprived of a carpet bag and its contents, which, up
to the present time, have not been recovered.
I enclose my card for your own satisfaction, and
am your very obedient servant, VERAX.
August 13.

--- -
THE NEWS VENDERS' WEST-END PROVIDZINT INSTI-
TUTION.—Yesterday a like body of the most influen-
tial members connected with the newsvending trade, who
had formed themselves into a new society to promote the
objects of affording relief in sickness and old age to the
more humble members of the trade, made their first ex-
cursion on board the Laurel steamer, to the Rose Cottage
Inn, Richmond Hill. The present society has
started into exertion, in consequence of the failure
of an excursion some time since, to augment the
funds of the parent institution, when circumstances
rendered the trip unproductive, leaving a loss to
their already but too slender funds. At half-past
ten in the morning, the party, consisting of nearly 200
persons, including the Committee, Messrs. Swallow
(treasurer), Walker, Wilson, Hilton, Holl, Wells,
Horne, Wright, Duncombe, Ayres, Byfield, and Hutton,
embarked at Waterloo-bridge, and proceeded up the
river to Richmond, accompanied by an excellent brass
band, who enlivened the passage by the performance
of the most popular country dances, to the
great delight of the female portion of the company.
At half-past two the party reached the town of Rich-
mond, and proceeded at once to the Rose Cottage Inn,
where 180 persons sat down to dinner, the remainder of the
company spreading themselves into pie-nic parties
throughout the spacious grounds. Mr. Hutton was
called to the chair, and Mr. Wright, vice. The customary
loyal and patriotic toasts were given and responded to
with great fervour, and the Chairman (Mr. Hutton), in
a brief address, stated that the new Society had com-
menced with no feelings of envious rivalry, but with the
more laudable spirit of adding to the comforts of their
necessitous brethren, and promoting an interest in the
diffusion of mutual good feeling. The company re-em-
barked, and arrived in London at ten o'clock. From the
unusually large number of tickets disposed of on the oc-
casion, a handsome sum will be realised to the infant
Institution.
SINKING OF A VESSEL AND LOSS OF LIFE OFF
RAVEsEND.—Yesterday an inquiry was instituted
before Mr. Carttar, Coroner, at the Town-hall, High-
street, Gravesend, respecting the death of Mr. William
Jackson, aged 44, master of the Providence sailing
smack, of Milton, near Chatham, who lost his life by
the sinking of that craft, under the following circum-
stances. From the evidence of a lad named James
Buck, an apprentice on board the Providence, it ap-
rears that early on the morning of the 3d inst., as
the above vessel was proceeding down the river with
a cargo of bricks, and when off the Clifton Baths,
close to the Essex shore, a brig was noticed a short
distance a-head, and her sails being set, the deceased
imagined that she was under weigh, and beating over
to the opposite shore. Such, unfortunately, was not
the case, she being at anchor at the time, and
before the Providence could be brought up, a
most fearful collision took place between the vessels,
the deceased's brig, the smallest one, receiving the
greatest injury, so much so, that she immediately
began to fill. The apprentice and his captain instantly
got into the boat that was hanging at the stern, for
the purpose of saving themselves, but before they could
remove the rope that held her, the Providence gave a
sudden lurch, and went down head foremost, dragging
the boat with her unfortunate occupants down with her.
The crew of the brig rendered the most prompt assist-
ance, and on the lad rising to the surface of the water he
was picked up and saved. The deceased, however, was
never seen afterwards, and the supposition is that he
was unable to extricate himself from the wreck. The
Coroner and jury being satisfied that there was no blame
to be attributed to the persons in charge of the brig, a
verdict of " Accidental death" was returned. The wreck
lies in a very dangerous part of the channel, more par-
ticularly at low water, and to prevent any accident, the
Brethren of the Trinity House have caused to be placed
a beacon to signalise her track, and in a few days attempts
will be made to raise her.
LICENSED VICTUALLERS AND POLICE INFORUA -
TlONS.—Henry Jeremy, Esq., the presiding Magistrate
at the Greenwich and Woolwich police-courts, in a
police information against a licensed victualler, which
was dismissed, remarked that it was wrong to make out
the information with " knowingly permitting," Etc., with-
out it could be clearly proved that the landlord knowingly
suffered such to take place, which in most cases was not
done. For instance, a lawless mob might rush
into a house, create a disturbance. and the land.
lord do his best to eject them from his premises,
and yet the police might pass at the time and see them.
It must be satisfactorily proved that they have received
liquor or beer iu the house whilst in a state of inebriety,
or been there to get so, that the licensed victualler
would be liable to be fined if he served them in that
state. He much wished this point should (meet the at-
tention of the Police Commissioners in all future cases,
which would save time and trouble to both parties in
cases of this description. The remarks from the worthy
magistrate have given great satisfaction to the licensed
victuallers of these towns.
JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES.—We were in error in
stating the other day that Captain O'Brien had been
appointed Principal Registrar under the provisions of
the Joint-stock CoMpanies' Bill. Mr. O'Brien has been
appointed to the railway department of the Board of
Trade, an office which, from his business habits, he is
well qualified to fill.—Evening Paper.
DREADFUL ACCIDENT IN DEPTFORD DOCKYARD.
—On Tuesday, between the hours of one and two
o'clock, p.m., as Jacob Pope, a shipwright, was employed
in moving a heavy piece of African oak on board her
Majesty's ship Phoenix, he met with an accident by
which he was crushed to death in a most frightful man-
ner. It appears that the deceased was adjusting a piece
of oak timber, weighing about two tons, from a crane
into the hold of the ship, and by some unforeseen cause it
swung round, and catching his temple, crushed his head
with great force against another timber, which had been
made fast beneath the deck. The poor fellow was im-
mediately relieved from his perilous situation, and re-
moved to the Dispensary in the Victualling-yard, under
the care of Dr.. Browne, the medical storekeeper. On