The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-14 00:00:00

N°• 17,880,
LONDON 240NDA
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jj ANA
tme JAN tjAY 1

IVATI()NAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.
PRESIDENT—Sir JOSHUA WA LMSLE Y, M.P.
TREASURER—WiIIiam Arthur Wilkinson, Esq.
BANKERS M essrs. Prescott, Grote, and CO.
Offices, 11, Poultry.
Subscriptions of 11. and upwards to the 10,0001. Fund.
Adams and Co. .. 1 Martin, J. .. £5 0
A Friend, per W. Howard 10 0 Marsden, M. E. .. 1 1
Aime, B. I 1 Alassingham, H. C. • ,10 0
Aime, W. G. .. • • 1 1 Mather, Messrs. .. .. 50 0
Allen, G. W. .. • • 2 2 Matson, J. .. 1
Anderson, A., M.P. • . 50 031 elciole, G... I 0
Armitage, J. • • • • I 0 Morland, T. 5 0
Ashurst, W. 11. .. 10 0 Morley, S. .. •. ••50 0
Atkinson, 11. Tindal .. 10 10 Mulleneux, J. .. .. 10 0
Bailey, T. . • 1 1 New Swindon Reform As..
Birch, W. J. • • • .. 5 0 soclation .. 214
Bird, S. . • • .. 10 0 Norwiclt Fund, ter J. H.
Illackinorc, M. • • 5 0 Tillett ..100 0
Bowyer, s. 1 Pellatt. A. .• .. 10 0
Bradley, J. 11., M.D. .. 3 3,Pollitt, J. .. 5 0
Burton, W. S. .. •• 10 O'Pollock, T. .. 2 2
Cameron, A. . I llPouncy, . • .. 50 0
Cassell, J, 10 o,Procter G. .. 1 I
Churchward, R. 1 01Prout, T. 25 0
Clark, T. .. . • • . 1 11 • Do. 2d Subscription 50 0
Cobden, R., M.P. .. 10 0 Reynolds, G. W. M. .. 10 0
Collett, J. 10 10;Robinson, H. G. .. 50 0
Coningham, W. 10 0 Robinson, J. • •
Cousins, B. D. .. .. I 11, °bens, W. /1.
Daniel, T. .. • . • • 10 0 Roffey, G. ..
Duke, Sir J., Bart., M.P. • • 10 10: Rushton, W.
E. B. • . • • .. 1 oRussell, It. ..
Edwards, W. .. • . 5 ff,Satterley, T. • •
Eking, Ad. Sir C., K.C.8... 20 0 Saull, W. D.
lkington, H. .. .. 1 10:Shillibeer, G. • •
Flanders, W. • • .. 10 0 Shoard, J.
Greville, A. • • .. 1 0 Simpson, W.
Grey, W. P. 1 ISkerritt,
Grose, J. .. • • . 1 0 Slack, H. J.
Gressmith, 1 I;Sleigh, W. C.
Do. 2d Subscription 20 oSmith, J. 8.,
Hall, T. 5... .• .. 10 0 Smith, R. • • • •
Hall, W. J. • • .. 10 o:Stuart, Lord D. C., M.P.
Do. 2d Subscription 50 0 Styles, T. ..
H..D. • • • • • • I 0 Thackeray, M. ••10 0
Harbord, J. • • .. I llThompson, G., 31.1'. 10 10
Hardy, R. • • .. 20 0 Thorne, B. • • ••10 0
irarford, S. .. ••10 0 Thwaltes, J. • • .. 1 0
Naughton, .. I 0 Tomlins, F. G. .. 5 0
Harris, J. and R. .. 1 1 Travers, J. J. .. .. 10 10
Hoppe, J. .. 5 0 Vincent, H. .• .. 10 0
aoughton, J. .. 10 10 Walhouse. E. • • 1.
. • 1 1 Walker, T. .. 0
M.P.
Hews, W. A. 11. . •
.. 5 s,Walmsley, Sir j.; M.P. 25 0
Hubbuck, T. .. ••1 Oi Do. 2d subscription 50 0
Hume, J., M.P. .. 10 0 Walters, R. 10 0
Hutchinson, J.. 11. .. 5 5 Ward, S. P... .. .. 10 0
J"ynson, w. .. 50 0 Walrinson, T. S. .. .. 5 0
Kennedy, R. H. .. 10 0 Webo, J. 31. 1 0
Kershaw, J. M.P. • • .. 10 0 Whitfy, E. M. 10 0
Kieley, R. 5 5 Wiles, W. 1 0
Kidderminster Reform As. IWillcox, B. M., 111,P. . 50 0
sociation . .. 315 Wilkinson, C. .. 10 0
Langstow, R. .. I 0 Wilkinson H. .. .. 10 0
Leaf, W. • • .. 50 0 Wilkinson, W. . • .. 10 0
Le Blond, R. 10 0 Wilkinson, W. A. .. .. 10 0
Linwood, Rev. W. .. 10 0 Do. 2d Subscription 50 0
Little, R. .. 2 2 Williams, W. 10 0
Lushington, C., M.P. .. 10 0 Do. 2d Subscription 50 0
Lyall, W. .. • • .. 1 1 Wilson, 31, .. • •
Lyon, J. A.• • .. 2 2 Wire, D. W. • • • •
31`Dannell, D. .. 10 0 Wordsworth, C. • •
31`Enteer, T. .. .. 10 OW. V. .• ••
Subscriptions will be received at the Bankers, Messrs. Presco
Grote, and Co., Threadneedle-street, and at the. Offices, 11, Poultry.
The Pamphlet of Wm. Williams, E-q., on " Parliamentary and
Financial Reform," and other Publications of the Association, may
be had by subscribers, on application at the office
12th January, 1850,

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a 0
10 0

0

0 10
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[0 0

.. 50 0
.. 5 5

FRIGHTFUL DEATH OF THE
" LION QUEEN."
03 Saturday evening an inquest was held at the
Golden Lion Inn, Chatham, before Mr. J. Hinde,
coroner for West Kent, touching the death of Ellen
Bright, a young girl, aged 17, who was killed on the
previous evening by a tiger in the establishment of
Mr. George Wombwell, which had arrived in that
town for exhibition on the preceding day. The deceased,
who was denominated " the Lion Queen," had the
honour of performing before her Majesty some time
since, and, as will be seen from the evidence, was
going through the usual evolutions with a lion
and tiger at the time she met with her melancholy
death.
Stephen King, the first witness examined, said he
had been in the employ of Mr. Wombwell, as keeper,
for the List six years. The deeeased was a niece of
Mr. Wombwell'e, and a daughter of John Bright, a
bugle player in the band. It was the business of the
deceased to go into the dens and perform with the
beasts, which she had been in the habit of doing
several times daily for the last twelve months. On
Friday evening, shortly after nine o'clock, she went
into the den in which a lion and tiger were kept,
for the purpose of performing, as usual, the tricks
played by her being principally with the former
animal. She had only been in two or three
minutes, but had gone through the main part of the
performance, excepting that of making the lion sit
down in a particular part of the cage, when the tiger
being in her way, .the deceased struck it slightly
with a small whip which she carried in her hand.
The beast growled, as if in anger, and crouching
close to the bottom of the den, stretched out its paw
as if at her leg or dress, causing the deceased to fall
sideways against the cage, the animal at the same
metueukoringing at her; and seizing her ferociously
by the neck, inserting the teeth of the upper jaw in
her chin, and in closing his mouth inflicting fright-
ful injury in the throat by his fangs. He then ap-
peared to change his position, making a second gripe
across the throat of his victim. A keeper, who was
standing on the step of the den, armed with a whip,
immediately rushed to her assistance, but the animal
did not loose its hold until struck over the nose vio-
lently with an iron bar, and whilst King held the
animal, the unfortunate woman was removed from the
cage, bleeding profusely, and all but lifeless. She
was taken into one of the caravans, where' she was
immediately attended by two medical gentlemen, who
happened to be present at the time of the occurrence.
Bf the Jury—The animal had never exhibited
symptoms of animosity before. All the animals ap-
peared very fond of deceased, and she of them.
Witness had frequently heard Mr. Wombell say he
wished there was no "Lion Queen." 'Witness
thought if she bad kept the whip from the animal it
would not have attacked her. Deceased had never
exhibited any spmptoms of fear, and had frequently
gone into the den to the animals when there had been
no company present for practice and pastime. It had
been said that perhaps it happened because the beasts
had not been .fed, and it was a few minutes past their
time. In answer to that, witness could only say
he had frequently seen her go amongst the animals
on Mondays, when they had not been fed on the
previous day.
Richard Cooper Todd, surgeon attached to the
Royal Artillery stationed in Brompton Barracks, said
he was witnessing the exhibition at the time of the
occurrence, and was standing quite close to the rope
in front of the den. He saw the deceased enter, and
on going in the tiger did not appear to be very
friendly with her ; she struck him on going in, and
he lay down. She then proceeded to her per
formances with the lion, and afterwards
turned round and again struck the tiger.
He appeared angry, and immediately seemed
to turn upon the deceased, rearing up on his
bind legs, and seizing her by the neck, she fell on
her back, the tiger crouching over her. He saw no
more of her until removed from the den, when he
hastened to her assistance. She was perfectly in•
sensible, and had lost a great deal of blood, and her
face and lips were very pale. She was still alive ;
the heart was beating, but she was perfectly uncon-
scious. Witness placed his hand on the wound in
the neck, to stop the bleeding, and administered some
brandy to deceased ; but she was unable to swallow
it, and in a very few minutes her heart ceased to beat.
There were four wounds on the left side of the neck,
a slight wound on the right leg, and another on the
chin, caused by the teeth of the tiger; the under-jaw
of the animal having caused a very large wound
under the chin, which, aided by the shock her system
had sustained, produced death. area.%
The jury returned a vierdiet to the effect that de-
ceased was killed by a male tiger whilst exhibiting
in its den, and expressed a strong opinion against
the practice of allowing persons to perform in a den
with animals.

'.one occurrence excited very painful interest, and
a great number of persons were present during the
inquiry.

THE WEATHER AND THE PARKS.
On Saturday night the temperature at the Royal
Humane Society's receiving-house, Hyde-park, was
29 deg., or three degrees of frost, and throughout
yesterday the mercury attained no greater elevation
than 30 deg., descending to 27 deg. at 8 o'clock last
night, when the previous cloudy atmosphere
had brightened and the stars were shining brilliantly
with every indication of another severe night. The
barometer stood at 29 deg. 85 min. in the morning,
about 11 o'clock (the period of the new moon) a slight
fall of snow took place, the wind, which blew most
piercingly during the day, being due east, with occa-
sional variations to the south and even to the westward,
but last night it bore E.N.E. The ice on the orna-
mental waters in the Royal Parks and Kensington-
gardens, had attained a thickness, generally, of nearly
six inches. The rides and drives were thronged with
the equiplges of the nobility and gentry.
REGENT'S-PARK.—This place presented a scene of
extraordiniry gaiety. The ice, although six inches
thick, was from its roughness not in the best condi-
tion for skating, but from its strength no accident
from immersion occurred. Several lads, however,
received severe contusions by falling on the ice, and
had medical and other attention at the Humane So-
ciety's marquee; and a young gentleman, named
Francis Greenwood, received a fracture of the left
arm, which rendered it necessary to convey him to
University College Hospital.
Sr. JAMES'S-PANIC—The ice on the ornamental
waters in the enclosure was covered with skaters and
sliders. The various approaches to the park were
completely lined with pedestrians. About noon all
attempts at either skating or sliding were rendered
impracticable, the crowd being so great that those
who had skates on were pushed to and fro, and were
forced down. In less than fifteen minutes afrer the
medical gentlemen attended not fewer than eighteen
persons were carried by the Royal Humane
Society's men into the marquee. Amongst the
number was Mr. John Newhouse, of 42, Hill-
street, Lambeth, who was pushed down. The inju-
ries he received were of such a character that it was
found necessary to remove him to the hospital. A
lad named Robert Goldfinch, of the Grapes Tavern,
Shepherd's-market, was knocked down and much
injured. Whilst a vast crowd were walking about
near the centre of the ice a portion broke in, and Mr.
E. Kelham, of No. 9, Pancras-street, Tottenham-
court-road, fell into ten feet of water. Iceman
Martin (No. 5), as well as the crowd would allow
him, proceeded to the scene, and fortunately suc-
ceeded in getting him out in a very exhausted state.
He was forthwith removed to the marquee, where he
was placed in a hot bath, and, with the aid of stimu-
lants, he recovered. Notwithstanding that the many
thousand persons were continually warned of the
great danger they were exposing themselves to, they
made no attempt to get off, until suddenly a loud re-
port was heard proceeding from the ice, indicating
that the pressure upon it was too great. In an in-
stant a general rush to the banks took place.
KENSINGTON GARDENS.--THE LONG WATER.--
The ice in this place was 41 inches in thickness, and
returned as being dangerous in places. The number
of skaters and sliders was about 12,000, including
many noblemen and gentlemen of the Skating Club.
The only accident of any importance during the day
happened to one of the gentlemen belonging to the
Skating Club, who fell and broke his arm.
THE ROUND POND.—About 3,000 skaters and
sliders ventured on the ice here, but no accident hap-
pened worth recording.
THE SERPENTINE.—The only accident by immer-
sion occurred to Dr. Woolley, who, while hastening to
the Royal Humane Society's receiving house, to
give medical aid to some of the persons who were
wounded by falls on the ice, broke through, near the
bank, into three feet water, and fortunately was
otherwise uninjured. Among those injured from
falls (many of whom were severely cut on the head)
was George Benbow, of South-street, Pentonville,
who received a severe concussion of the brain, and a
woman (name unknown), who had one of her thighs
broken; both were conveyed to St. George's Hospital.

We understand that a number of noblemen and
gentlemen of influence held a preliminary meeting 'in
the metropolis ye,terd.ay (Saturday) for the purpose of
devising a sy4tertatie plaq for developing and working
the Irish fisheries.— Weekly Chronicle.

ANOTLIIER SERIOUS DEFALCA-
.

TON IN A SAVINGS'

ibItAIJD AT ST. HELEN'S.
(Abridged f Nam the Manchester Courier of Saturday.)
`the general inquiry into .the affairs of savings'
banks, which the painful revelations at Rochdale
caused to be instituted, and the lengthened period
which has etapsed without any otter wrong dealings
being math- pt blic, induced us.to hope that the cast
which had directed so much of public attention to the
management of these institutions was the only one of
the kind that could come to light, and was, in fact,
the only one exiting. We deeply regret,
however, to say that another very serious case of
fraudulent appropriation of public money has-been )
discovered within the last few days, the large sum of
at least 10,0001. having been abstracted by the actuary
of the s'. Helen's Savings' Bonk, by the very same
means :as those adopted by Mr. Haworth, at R'oh-
dale, keepKrig a duplicate -set of books, one (private)
showing the actual state of the financial affairs of the
bank, the other (public) "cookrd" to suit his pur-
poses. Anti, strange enough to say, it appears that
the system of fraud now brought to light had cotn-
menced certa.inly in the year 1833, if not before, and
most likely has been carried on for twenty years
without being discovered
The St. Helen's Savings' Bank was established at
the close of the war, about the year 1818, in the
town of St. Helen's, near Liverpool, to receive the
cash deposits of persons residing within a district of
five miles round the town. The business has been
carried on from the commencement to the present in
a building in Markw-street, the day of attendance
being Monday in each Wr.esit, from twelve o'clock to
two. The manag-; eot wr4eated at the time in six
trustees-seleistaitsf tht 4iNgiskracyior the leading
families of the town and neighbourhood, and by fifty
managers, selected from the most responsible and
respectable tradesmen in the town, who allowed their
names to be used for the benefit of the bank, and
agreed to attend in rotation to superintend the busi-
ness and to affix their initials in the depositors' pass-
books to the amounts received. At the same time I
Mr. John Johnson, then about thirty years of age,
was appointed actuary, and has continued so up to
the period when the disclosures just made showed he
was no longer worthy of holding so important an
office. His remuneration was by commission
upon the receipts, and might be about • 501. per
annum, for which latterly attendance was given
for little more than an hour per week. About
1833 he introduced William, his younger brother,
then about 26 years of age, as sub-actuary, from the
desire, as is alleged by some, to increase William's
means of living, his, own income being good, or, ac-
cording to others, because his own business avoca-
tions were great, and demanded so much time that
attendance at the bank was inconvenient, for he was
then what he is at present, the managing partner in
the firm of Johnson, Worthington, and Co., the pro-
prietors of several collieries in the neighbourhood of
St. Helen's, and especially of a very valuable one,
known as the Sankey Brook Colliery.
The annual meeting of the trustees and managers,
usually held in December, took place either last week
or the week before, and Mr. Johnson, as actuary,
laid before them a financial statement. The Rochdale
defalcation led them to examine this account more
closely than usual, and they were much surprised to
find that though the population of the district and the
trade of the town had so vastly increased during late
years as to demand additional railway accommoda-
tion, and that the operatives were well employed,
still the -business of the bank was decreasing. So
strange an aspect of affairs, so ominously like to the
Rochdale matter, attracted attention. Meetings were
held, and Mr. Johnson was called before them, and
asked to account for it. He•did no more than simply
state that such was the fact. The trustees and ma-
nagers then determined to make a searching investi-
gation. At the latter end of last week, on Friday,
we believe, Mr. William Johnson, the sub-actuary,
called upon the trustees, and said they might prepare
themselves for finding a defalcation. This news,
coming Irons auch a source, led two of the trustees to
proceed directly in search of Mr. John Johnson, and
finding him at his office, they told him what they
bad heard. He admitted that the accounts were not
correct, that he had appropriated a sum of money to
his own usP, but Fe denied that the affair was so
alarming as his brother had represented ; the whole
amount was less than 1,5001., which he had taken so
far back as 1833.
On Monday last, in consequence of notice, many
of the depositors took il-thel4. hpolcf4,N(o3tlydegs and
an aecountant thipplincrexamine them ;
and before the close of the adeficiency of 1,0001.,
occurring in 1849, was made out. The managers sat
yesterday, and will sit again on Monday, on which
day they hope to complete their examination. It is
only by complying promptly with the request of the
trustees, that the total extent of the mischief can be
ascertained, and fully dealt with, and that no depo-
sitor can have any security that his account has not
been tampered with, until the fact has been proved
otherwise by the trustees. All books will be safe in
their hands, and may be handed to them in perfect
confidence.

The total amount of' defalcation, speaking from
data which have been collected, is about 10,0001., or
rather, we should say, that sum will clear it, and it is
believed Mr. Johnson and his brother have sufficient
property to cover it. The amount of the bank
liabilities has bean represented as 13,0001., it is
supposed they should be 23,0001. Though the trus-
tees have not got them, there can be no doubt that the
and Mr. Johnson appears to have regularly entered
afrnadu d
paid
wasio
interest, from
roo nm by means of duplicate books,
s 0
me source or other, upon the
amounts abstracted to the accounts from which they
whweren e the akenf, and also to have made an account straight
found the parties in whose name it stood
we
esea.but it, and there was danger of an
xp
, he effected by merely taking
sufficient from some other account, or, in common
eooThi tos , althow e rver
phraseology, " robbing Peter to pay Paul." Of course
the sub-actuary, his brother, who kept the books, was
cognisant of all this, as he admits, and actually effected
the transfer ; but he denies that he got any pecuniary
benefit.
It is but justice to state that both brothers made
over the whole of their property on Saturday, by a
legal instrument, to the trustees, to be applied in
liquidation of the claim upon them; and it is thought
10,000/. or 12,000/., there will be sufficient'assets.
that, if the sum actuall9 made out be not more than

THE ROCHDALE SAVINGS'BANK.
All the books in the bank have been examined and
gone through by the official accountant, but as yet his
inquiry has not been brought to a close, the interest
upon the balances for the last year not having yet
been calculated. It is thought, however, that in a
very few days the inquiry willbe terminated. Al-
ready, however, the full amount of the claims upon
the bank have been ascertained to be 97,609/., exclu-
sive of the interest fur the past year, viz., from No-
vember, 1848, to November 1845. To meet this claim,
there are in the hands of the Commissioners for the
Reduction of the National Debt a sum of 28,6791. 6s.
5d., a life insurance for 3,0001., debts due to the late
Mr. Haworth, estimated to amount to 3,0001., various
legacies and other moneys expected to be recovered,
amounting to 5001., making a total of 35,1791. 6s. si.
In addition to this, it is expected that the mill, ma-
chinery, and other propsrty of the deceased will rea-
lise a sum somewhere about 15,0001. The total num-
ber of accounts open with the bank is 3,000, and all
the books of the depositors with the exception of
about 90, many of whom have probably left the
neighbourhood, have been sent into the bank. During
the week, committees from the depositors and from
the friendly societies have had an interview with the
trustees and managers of the bank, and the latter
expressed a desire that all parties who had invested
money in the bank, whether in compliance with strict
rules of law or otherwise, should equally have a par-
ticipation in the assets of the establishment. We
believe that such a feeling prevails in the neighbour-
hood, but we cannot see why that should render un-
necessary a searching investigation by Mr. Tidd
Pratt into the whole transactions connected with these
extraordinary defalcations. We have heard on autho-
rity in which the utmost reliance may be placed,
that the Government have sent down a peremptory
communication to the trustees, the nature of which
will no doubt induce them to lay before the authori-
ties in London a full statement of the affairs of the
bank, with the various balances, with the least pos-
sible delay.
The following is a copy of a letter from Mr. Tidd
Pratt in reply to one (a copy of which appeared in
our last) addressed to that gentleman. by Mr. F.
L. Johnson, secretary of the friendly societies at
Rochdale :

" 5, Bolton-street, Piccadilly, London, Jan. 1850.
" Sir,—My investigation, into the affairs of the
savings bank at Rochdale will not in any way be a
Government inquiry; but each individual case, if
hrouzlit before me, must he a reference under the
provisions of the Savings Bank Acts.
" With respEct to the fee fixed by the statute, I
wish it to b 3 Liistinctly understood that I have not for
some years back charged it, nor is it my intention to
claim any fe for any award linay make on the pre-
sent occasion. Under these circumstances, therefore,
it would give me great pleasure to hear that some ar-

rangement could be elected without ny being called
upin to arbitrate.----Yours, faithfully, ",..
" J.IBTfi."
The total amount of the fundirlepos
roli. itePdm in the
funk by unenrolled friendly societies is 10,4801. 3s.—
Mu nchester Courz:er.
is iss. wodlWilk.
On the 8,11 "-July, 1824, at the seaport town of
Gosport, in H mpshire, in' the house of a respectable,
hard-working tlilor, a little girl was born, who is de-
cidedly one f the cleverest And most yeisatile
actresses of the present ifigke—thir child wt7arah
J4ne Woolgar. Whet"' -Woolgar was about ten
tt
years of age, t/er father, relinquishing the trade.of a
tailor, assumed the occupation of an actor. In May,
1836, she road.; her first appearance on any stage on
the boards of the Plymouth Theatre, at the time when
h( r father was also performing there. She appeared
as Leolyn, in the Wood Demon ;:and, being successful,
was entrusted with the performance of many other
juvenile characters. All the impersonations of this
lit:le girl of eleven displayed a pleasing precocity of
talent, and were rifa with a beauty and power that
won for her "golden opinions from all sorts of
men." Her success, and the fact that a
child pregnant with great talent, even with
genius, displaying imaginative powers of no mean
extent, and possessed of both personal and mental
qualifications for her profession, was soon bruited
abroad, and we next hear of Miss Woolgar perform-
ing at Halifax, and after that at York, and in that
latter city creating a sensation in 1838. Her name
was " starred " in the bills, and though she was only
fourteen, it was a distinction to which she was enti-
tled on account of ber merit. From York she. went
to Nottingham, where she doubtless cap',ivattkt/1*
hearts Of many a Country squire by her pleasing and
effective singing to the operatic parts she sustained,
amongst ethers, that of Diana Vernon. While
playing at other provincial theatres, and previous to
her engagement at Birmingham, she cultivated music
with unremitting industry and study, and the continued
attention she paid to this science met with its due re-
ward.
At Birmingham she played Adalgisa in the Eng-
lish version ofi Norma with such success that for five
consecutive nights she was called before the curtain at
the close of the performance of the opera, to receive
the enthusiastic plaudits of admiring audiences. The
musical reputation that she now seemed desirous of
acquiring she increased during her visit to Edin-
burgh in the summer of 1842. It was on Monday,
the 9th of October, 1843, when Miss Woolgar made
her first curtsey to a London audience, at the
Ae.elphi, as Cleopatra, in the burlesque of Antony and
Cleopatra. Ever since that day she has been an im-
mense favourite with the.public in this popular place
of amusement, and in her particular line, has retained
unrivalled possession of that stage. With the ex-
ception of an engagement at the Lyceum in the
spring and summer of 1844, she has confined her per-
formances to the Adelphi, where she has personated
an immense variety of original characters in the dif-
ferent 'new farces and dramas which have been
brought out at this house. On every occasion she
has been rewarded by the approbation of delighted
and not unfrequently surprised auditors, and by the
most complimentary notices from the entire body of
the press.—London Journal.

GUNS WITH STEEL BARRELS.
We have received a letter from Messrs. George
and John Deane, in answer to the charges brought
against them by the Company of Gunmakers and
oth,rs, with reference to the bursting of a gun, ma-
nuLctured by them, in the hands of Sir Claude Scott.
Their defence is too long for insertion in our columns,
and we therefore summarize the different points relied
upon by them. They explain the accident by stating
that the cartridge in the defective barrel must have
shifted from the concussion of the shot previously
fired with the right barrel, and they allege, in sup-
port of this view, that the fracture extends f
inches from the joint:where the breech screws:into the
barrel, the metal having broken straight across in the
upper
,and thickest part. They point out that the
wires of cartridges are made two or three sizes
smaller than the bores for which they are used, and
that there being a considerable space between the car-
tridge and the inner surface of the tube, the charge is
only kept in its place by a thin wad attached to the
upper end of the cartridge. As to the charge of obli-
teretieg the proof-gauge number, the fact that it is
obliterated is admitted, hut that it has been done in-
ten;ionally and with care is denied. To support this
deni d it is stated that the way in which proo.-gau e
numia,ara---ara,airaeir-igr4ruetvrtimarin• Yt
smoothing the Messrs. Dwane have- ef,en seen them
obliterated. It is further asserted that on the majo-
rity of London-made guns the initials of the gunmaker
are found in the place where the i_roof-gauge number
should be, but is not. On the charge of fitting a pair
of 12-bore barrels into a stock originally intended
for 14, the defence is that Sir Charles Scott fre-
quently required to make use of the stock while the
Messrs. Deane were preparing the barrels, and that
they fitted a wood model into the stock, break. off,
&c. ; after doing which they found the diameter of
the breech-ends large enough to admit of al2 bore.
With reference to the statement that the barrels
were reduced too much where they form a junction
with the breech•ends, the defence is that in that
state they stood proof, the charge of which is five
times more than any gentleman would shoot from the
shoulder. They deny that there has been any re-
duction inside or out, and state that the barrels
theznselves show that this charge is not true, as, by
gauging the exterior diameter of the breech-ends,
they were found rather stouter than the standard sub-
staz,ce of a 12-bore barrel. With reference to the
charge that the barrels were manufactured of inferior
metal, the Messrs. Deane rely for a refutation of it on
the fact that they were made by one of the best gun-
barrel makers in England, of the finest description of
metal, and that not the slightest particle of the metal
has broken off, so that the ruptured part might be
folded back again and replaced with the utmost ex-
actness. Their adoption of the metal used by them
in gun-making, and which they designate steel, the
Messrs. Deane defend as founded on a long series of
experiments which satisfied them of its excellence and
power of resisting compression. They conclude their
exculpation by an invitation to the public to inspect
their factory and stock of guns, and by expressing
their desire to see the safety of sportsmen secured by
some legislative enactment on the subject.

TUE BONAPARTE FAMILY.—We find the follow-
ing in the Siècle :—" If we are well-informed, family
affalial occupy a considerable degree of attention at the
Elysea at tuffs moment. The Minister of Justice is said
to have been charged to examine a question which he
had himself submitted to the consideration e f a commis-
sion composed of eminent lawyer?, such as M. Dupin,
sec., M. Portalis, M. Barthe, M. Troplong, &c. It
is—The treaty of Fontainebleau, corroborated by the
will of the Emperor, secured to the Bonaparte family
claims on the public treasury for considerable sums,
which, with inteeest, would now amount to more than
20 millions. The Restoration, considering the treaty of
Fontainebleau abolished both by right and by the events
of the war, paid no attention t) the claim. At the time
of the revolution of July claims were sent in to the new
Government by the members of the Bonaparte family,
who were then in exile; the Council of State were called
on to examine these demands, and presentel a favour-
able report. But the Government of Louis Philippe did
not think it its duty to attend to these claims, which are
now again renewed. The commission to which M.
Rouher has submitted the question is, it is said, inclined
to regard the question in the same light as the Council
of State rf 1831, and it is on the opinion of this special
commission that the Government will pie ent a Bill
tending to effect t'te re-imbursement of the sums which
may be due by France to the heirs of the Emperor,
artar it has Len subjected to the examination of the
Council of State."=-Gulignane's Messenger.
SUDDEN DEATH OF A CLERGYMAN.—On Saturday
morning an awful instance of sudden death occurred in
North-street, Finsbury. At the period mentioned is
gentleman who but a few minutes previously had been
seen walking rapidly in the direction of the New-re a lovas
observed to stagger and fall to the ground. Several
persons ran to bis assistance, and the unfortunate man
was immediately conveyed into the house of a respect •
able tralesman near at hand, while medical assistance
vs as sent for. Mr. Coulton, a surgeov, resident in Clif-
ton-street, promptly attended, but life was extinct before
his arrival. On searching the deceased a gold %well and
appendages, and Other valuable property, 'sere found
upon him, as well et, a card case, containing cards bear-
ing the name of th.., " Rec. Spencer Thornton, Wen-
dover Vicarage." From a letter in ono of the deceased's
pock( t 4 it wls also surmised that he was son-in-law cf
James Dupe, Esq., of Portland-place and Stone De an-
park, near Beaconsfield, father of Mr.i Caledon George
Dup. 6, M.P. for Buereinghanashire. An officer having
been dial ached to Portland-place, very soon la turned
with Mr. Dupre's coachman, who instantly identified
the deceased as the reverend gentleman abovenamed.
The unfortunate gentleman Ea 4, it appeard, only just
arrived in town by the Eastern Counties Railway from a
visit to his uncle, Mr. Abel Smith, M.P., cf Weodhall-
park, Herts, and it is conjectured that he was proceed-
ing to the residence of his father-in-law, in Portland-
place, when his death occurred. The deceased, who is
not more than 40 years of age, has left a widow and
eight children t o deplore his losr. He has been incum-
bent e f Wendover since 1837, and was greatly beloved
by his parishioners. The vicarage of Wendover is in the
gift of the Lord Chancellor.
The sale of the valuable furniture and effects of
Marlborough-home, belonging to her Majesty the lase
Queen Dowager, is expected to take place in the first
week of next month (February).