The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-24 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, Dim 23.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince
Albert, attended by the Hon. Miss Macdonald and
the Hon. Miss Cavendish (Maids of Honour in
Waiting), and Colonel Hon. Charles Grey and Col.
Bouverie (the Equerries in Waiting), left the Castle
at ten o'clock this morning for London.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness and suite
travelled by a special train on the Great Western
Railway, and on reaching the Paddington terminus
entered two of the royal carriages, and proceeded to
the building in Hyde-park for the Exhibition of the
Works of Industry of all Nations in 1851.
Lieutenant-Colonel Reid, R.E., Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Royal Commission, re-
ceived the Queen and the Prince, and conducted her
Majesty through the different parts of the building.
After inspecting the building for the Exhibition,
the Queen and Prince Albert went to Gloucester
House Piccadilly, to pay a visit to her Royal High-
ness the Duchess of Gloucester.

Soon after twelve o'clock her Majesty and Prince
Albert drove from Gloucester House to the Padding-
ton terminus, and, attended by the Hon. Caroline
Cavendish, Hon. Flora Macdonald, Colonel the Hon.
Charles Grey, and Colonel Bouverie, left by a special
train on the Great Western Railway, and returned to
the Castle at ten minutes before one o'clock.

The Royal Family took their accustomed airings
in the Slopes and Windsor•park.
Lord and Lady Ashley and Lieutenat Colonel
Reid, R.E., took their departure from the Castle to-
day.

The Royal dinner circle this evening will include
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Lady
Fanny Howard, Baroness de Speth, the Earl of Lin-
coln, Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. and Mrs. Phipps.
Her Majesty's private band attend in the Castle
after dinner.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge
visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Glouces •
ter yesterday, at Gloucester House.
The Right Hon. Lord Ernest Bruce, M.P. (on be-
half of the Marquis of Ailesbury), attended at the
Home-office yesterday, and delivered loyal and duti-
ful addresses against the late Papal aggression, for
presentation to her Majesty through the Right Hon.
Sir George Grey, from the mayor, aldermen, town
council, and other inhabitants of the borough of
Marlborough; from the rector of St. Peter's Marl-
borough ; from the ancient borough of Great Bedwyn;
and from sixteen adjacent parishes in the county of
Wilts.

Mr. Alderman Salomons attended at the Home-
office yesterday, to deliver, through Secretary Sir
George Grey, an address against Papal Aggression,
from the Ward of Cordwainers, for presentation to
the Queen.

Mr. Thomas Johnson attended yesterday at the
Home-office, to deliver, through Sir George Grey,
an address on the Papal Aggression from Runcorn
(Cheshire), for presentation to her Majesty.
A deputation, consisting of Messrs. William Routh
and Ravenshaw (Directors of the new British Iron
Company), and Mr. Robert Roy (Director of the
Shrewsbury and Chester Railway Company), had
an interview with the Commissioners of Railways
yesterday, at their office in the Board of Trade.
Dispitches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governors of the North American
Provinces.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
TAT FERSALL'S—YESTERDAY.
Business yesterday was not of a character to call fur
more than an:enurne ation of the bets:—
CHESTER CUP.
500 to 10 apt Lord Cl:film's Walifl ,wer—taken
600 to 10 ag,t Mr. Meiklam's Reby—taken
1,000 to 20 agst Mr. Howard's Brother to Dough—t
1,000 to 15 agst Mr. J. Scott's Clinchtr—taken
1,000 to 15 agst Sir J. B. Mills' Won't-you-come-out-
-to-night—taken
DERBY.
600 to 100 agst Mr. Halford's Prime Minister—taken,
13 to 2 afterwards offered
350 to 25 agst Mr. A. Nichol's Newminster—taken
and afterwards offered
2,500 to 50 agst Sir J. Hawley's Balsamo—taken
THE GREAT MATCH.
Even betting. Offers to take a sovereign a hundred
for choice.

ABOLISHMENT OF CHRISTMAS-BOXES IN GOVERN-
MENT OFFICES.— Yesterday afternoon circulars were sent
from the Home-office to all the Police-courts, and other
offices connected with Government, directing that no Christ-
mas-boxes shall in future be given away to those persons
who have for many years been in the habit of receiving
them. In the police-courts a saving will be effected of about
thirty shillings a year to each.
DISTRIBUTION OF HER MAJESTY'S CHRIsTMAS
BOUNTY.—Yesterday, according to annual custom, the dis-
tribution of her Majesty's Christmas Bounty took place at
the Royal Ahnonry Office, in Middle Scotland-yard,
Whitehall, when between 600 and 700 poor men and
women, who are of good characters, and whose ages
varied from sixty years and upwards, were recipients—the
sum received by each individual consisted of two new half-
crowns.

We have been informed, on good authority, that a
measure has been at last prepared by the law officers of the
Crown in reference to " Papal aggression." This Bill, we
understand, provides a punishment of two years' imprison-
ment for any person who shall assume as a prelate the title
of any place in Great Britain ! If, as we have reason to be-
lieve, these are the penal pri,visions of the measure, then is
Ireland thoroughly abandoned to Rome.--lierald.

not stop between the terminus and Totten The
Hertford train was behind its time on arriving at
Stratford, but this was unavoidable from the density
of the fog, and while the Stratford passengers were
alighting, and be fore the Enfield train was in fact
seen, it suddenly dashed into the rear of the liertfbrd
train, doubling up a second•class carriage, wherein
were seated about twenty passengers, and threw the
latter part of the train off the line. The cries of the
injured occupants are described to have been of the
most painful character, and, as if to add to their suf-
ferings, the fog, together with the steam and smoke of
the Enfield engine, completely enveloped them, so
that although the staff of officers attached to the works
at Stratford immediately collected, much delay neces-
sarily ensued before they could all be extricated. It
was then discovered that the greater portion of the
persons in that carriage had more or less sustained
injuries. These were removed to the waiting-rooms
of the station, and, several medical gentlemen having
been sent for, it was found necessary to dispatch
several to the London Hospital, while others were
attended to at the station, and removed to neighbour-
ing taverns. Amongst those conveyed to the hospital
were two men and a woman, but the extent of their
injuries could not be ascertained.
The second collision took place shortly before 11
o'clock, close to the Brick-lane goods station. It was
the last train up from Colchester, and was due at
Bishopsgate at half-past 10. It was proceeding at a
very cautious rate ; but a short time after leaving the
Mile-end station it was run into by the Norwich
express with a fearful shock. The last carriage of the
Colchester train was a third-classs one, in which were
a number of passengers, and so great was the con-
cussion that it appeared a perfect wreck, the end, roof,
and sides were demolished, and many of the passen-
gers were bleeding from wounds in their heads and
other parts of the body. Several passengers in other
parts of the train sustained severe contusions, and in
one instance a lady received severe bruises by coming
in contact with the head of a gentleman sitting op-
posite, and the blood flowed copiously from her face.
On the arrival of the train at Bishopsgate many more
were seen in a similar condition, but, from inquiries
since instituted, it is gratifying to find that no limbs
could be ascertained to have been fractured. Mr.
Hancorn, a surgeon residing near the terminus, and
who had be en called in by the company to attend
upon those ii.jured on the previous occasion, was in
the train at the time, and rendered effective service
in alleviating the sufferings of the passengers most
hurt.
Whether either accident was occasioned by the
culpable negligence of the drivers or signalmen, or
was solely the result of the density of the atmosphere,
did not clearly appear, but an inquiry, it was stated,
would be immediately instituted by the company into
the circumstances.

THE FATAL COLLIERY EXPLOSION IN
WALES.
The inquest on the bodies of the unfortunate men
who were killed by the explosion at the Middle
Duffryn New Colliery, on the 12th instant, has now
occupied two days. The catastrophe has unhappily
proved more fatal than had been at first reported.
The number of men killed is eight, viz., Edmund
Beard, William Davis, William Saunders, William
Jones, David Thomas, James Morgan, James Bur-
gam, and Matthew Tingle; and there are eight more
men seriously burnt ; viz., Henry Jenkins, William
Meredith, Thomas Meredith, Richard Wiggle,
George Meredith, Peter Price, John Ruck, and James
Williams. The two first-named of the wounded men
(Henry Jenkins and William Meredith) are the fore-
man and under-ground agent, and they were so seri-
ously injured that it was deemed advisable to take
their depositions as soon as practicable after the acci-
dent. They were both in the pit at the time of the
explosion ; and Henry Jenkins gives the follow-
ing account of the cause and effect of the
explosion :—" The top of the middle stall in
the first cross-heading was bad, and likely to
fall, and Ruck and several more were engaged in
trying to prop it up, while I was engaged in opening
a fresh wind-way. When we were so engaged a
part of the roof fell, and a ' blower' came out against
my candle, and an explosion took place. I had been
in the stall five minutes before, and there was no gas
there then. I had my lamp with me, but, as it did
not give sufficient light to enable me to remove the
plates, I had a lighted candle. I had been engaged
about an hour before taking up the plates. The roof
of the stall had shown symptoms of falling, and that
was the reason I had taken up the plates. The stall
in question formed part of a wind•way, which was
the reason I was anxious to keep it open. I fell
down directly I saw the explosion ; and, as soon as
it was over, I got up and ran to the bottom of the
pit. I was quite sensible the whole of the time. The
top of the stall was very unusual, and several men
were collected near the spot, looking at the precau-
tions I was taking, and that is bow they were injured.
I was in the pit seven hours after the explosion before
I was carried up."
Mr. Meredith, the agent, corroborated this state-
ment, and added that they only used the safety-lamp
in the morning, and " when there was occasion."
It was explained by the several witnesses subse-
quently examined, that the cause of the delay in
bringing the men to the surface after the accident
was from a quantity of masonry having been blown
by the explosion upon the stage used for conveying
the miners up and down. They were therefore obliged
to have recourse to a more tedious means, a bucket
and crab. One of the deceased came by his death in a
singular manner. He was on the surface of the
ground, and was proceeding by the mouth of the pit
at the time of the explosion, when he wes killed by a
gate blown upon him. His father had just sent him
in quest of an axe, and he related the melancholy
scene of his son's death to the jury. The top of the
pit was seen to fly into the air at the moment the
young man reached it. A moment's difference in time
either way ‘1 ould have saved his life.
Mr. Blackwell, the Government Inspector of Mines,
who attended the inquest, questioned the witnesses
with regard to the menus used for rescuing the miners
after the explosion—the bucket and crab. He im-
pressed the necessity in all such cases of using every
exertion to bring the men out of the colliery, and was
of opinion that the apparatus used was insufficient.
Mr. Williams, the principal viewer of the colliery,
described the measures which he was taking for im-
proving the ventilation of the works. This was part
of his duty. He had not been i❑ the colliery for a
fortnight before the accident. There was only one
existing airway in the colliery. There had not been
time since the colliery had been opened to snake a
second, but it was intended to make two. The col-
liery was quite in its infancy. He judged the quan-
tity of air circulating in the works at from 6,000 to
7,000 cubic ft et per minute. He was afraid that the
seam of coal which they were working in this col-
liery was a fiery seam. Mr. Powell, the ()weer of
the colliery, employed altogether on his works from
1,400 to 1,500 men and boys. Only about 2,000
tons have as yet been got in this mine.
The inquest was again adjourned for a few days.

THE LATE RIOT AT BIRXENHBAD.—Yesterday the
examinations in this case were concluded at Chester, and
the magistrates committed the men charged with the riot.
Sir George Stephen, for the prisoners, objected to their being
committed to take their trial at the sessions, where they
would be subject to the jurisdiction of the Cheshire magis-
trates, who had taken such an active part in connexion with
the meeting. After consulting together, Mr. Case, the chair-
man of the magistrates, said they had no objection to comply
with the request that the committal should take place to the
assizes; but they should certainly feel it their duty to have
heavier bail. Sir George Stephen objected to this, on the
ground that the bail already was excessive. Mr. Case—
That is a matter for the magistrates to decide. We shall
require, in the case of Mr. Brown, himself in 2001., and two
sureties of 1001. each. With regard to Feehan, we have put
him down at 1001., and two sureties at 501. The other pri-
soners, themselves in 501. each, and two sureties of 251., and
24 hours' notice to be given. Sir George Stephen—Very
well, but I-shall advise an application to the judges to re-
duce the amount. After the necessary arrangements rela-
tive to receiving the bail had been made, the Court dis-
solved.

FATAL COAL PIT 'ACCIDENT AT BORROWSTOUN-
NESS.—At the Schoolyards pit, in the middle of Borrows-
tounuess, an engine was put up about two years ago to pump
out the waste water, and thereby allow access to the lowest
seam of coal. This was accomplished some weeks ago; and
on Saturday last three colliers, who were employed to open
up the roads in the old waste, having failed to make their
appearance. above ground, a man was sent down the pit, who,
en proceeding about 20 yards from the bottom of the shaft,
and within a few yards of another pit, at the turn of a road,
got the three men lying above each other, quite dead— to all
appearance suffocated with choke damp. 'Their names were
Charles Robertson, and his son James, and Richard Robert-
son, his nephew. They were all married men,. leaving
widows, and two of them families.--Edzabergh Witness.
ST. ALBAN'S ELECTION.—The nomination took
place yesterday. Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Carden and Mr.
Jacob Bell, of Oxford-street, are the candidates; the show
of hands was in favour of Mr. Alderman Carden, The poll
takes place to-cloy,

COLLISIONS ON THE EASTERN MEXICAN BONDHOLDERS.
COUNTIES RAILWAY. Yesterday a meeting of Mexican bondholders was
Last evening, during the density of the fog, two held at the London Tavern, for the purpose of consi-
serious collisions occurred on the ELetern Counties dering a proposition from the Executive Government
Railway, Which, although not attended with any of the Mexican Republic for the adjustment of their
actual loss of life, involved serious injury to a number foreign debt. There was s numerous attendance of
of persons. Dense as the fog was in the metropolis, bondholders. Baron Lionel Goldsmid occupied the
it tell considerably short of that which overhung the chair. The advertisement calling the meeting having
neighbourhood of Stratford and that part of the line. been read,
Even at mid-day it was impossible to discern objects The CHAIRMAN said the proposition of the Mexican
at a few yards distance ; and, although the company , Government would certainly entail heavy sacrifices
adopted every precaution to secure the transit of the i upon the bondholders ; but it was for them to consider
trains, it was deemed necessary eventually to take off whether they had any hopes of obtaining better terms,
a quantity of what is termed the local traffic short and whether or not they would accept the present
trains. When dusk set in the difficulties became ten- offer. Trusting to the honour of the Mexican Go-
fold. All the signal lights were obscured, and it was vernment, and hoping that they would do justice to
only by a liberal use of fog-signals that the traffic the confidence reposed in them, the conathittee now
could then be carried on. Notwithstanding these recommended the bondholders to accept the terms
precautions, however, two trains were run into. The proposed.
first mishap happened to the half past four o'clock train Mr. J. CAPEL then read the report of the commit-
to Hertford, which stops at the intermediate stations tee, setting forth the decree of the Mexican Govern-
between Bishopsgate and Stratford. A quarter of an ment for the settlement of its foreign debt, and recom-
hour after its departure from Shoreditch, viz., a quarter mending the bondholders to close with the Mexican
to 5 o'clock, the train to En field leaves, and it appears dor_ s Government's overtures.

The CHAIRMAN said he had now to submit to the
bondholders a series of resolutions which the commit-
tee themselves had adopted, and which were framed
for the purpose of carrying out the views recom-
mended by the committee's report ; and in doing so
he thought it but justice to the committee to state
that, although he had been accustomed to meet fre-
quently in committees, he had never seen a body of
gentlemen who so zealously devoted themselves to the
utmost to promote the object which the meeting was
so anxious to attain as did the committee of Mexican
bondholders.—(Hear, hear.) Throughout their deli-
berations there had been the most perfect unanimity
among them, the only species of collision that had
ever occurred being their rivalry as to who should
strive the most to accomplish their common purpose.
The resolutions were then read. The first was
merely for the adoption of the committee's report ; the
scond embodied the acceptance by the meeting of
the terms offered by the decree of the Mexican Execu-
tive Government, promulgating the Act of Congress
of that state, dated the 14th of October last, and au-
thorised the committee to make the necessary arrange-
ments to complete the settlement on the conditions
proposed by the said decree. The third resolution
trusted that, in consideration of the generous sacri-
fices of the bondholders, the earliest opportunity would
be taken by the Mexican Government to grant a
modification of the second article of the decree, so as
to confine the reduction of the rate of interest to a
period of years, and not to enact it in perpetuity. The
gucceeding resolutions were merely for the purpose of
formally carrying out the foregoing.
Mr. BEACON wished to ask the chairman what se-
curity the bondholders would have if the Mexican
Government did not perform their engagement ?
The CHAIRMAN said he knew of none ; but they
relied OH the good faith of the Mexican Government
not to recede from its engagement.
Mr. BEACON did not see, then, what advantage the
proposed arrangement would give.
The CHAIRMAN said if the Mexican Government
should fail to keep their word, at all. events the
bondholders would have gained a share of the money
now in hand.
Mr. D. ROBERTSON thought the bondholders ought
to take care how they parted with their 5 per cent.
bonds; otherwise, if the Government of Mexico
failed to perform its engagement, the bondholders
would have nothing to fall back upon.
Mr. RICHMOND (3 member of the Committee)
said, that if any lache occurred on the Fart of the
Mexican Government, it would do no injury to the
bondholders, because then they would revert to their
original position.—(Hear, hear.) But he had no fear
that the Mexican Gavernment would fail in their en-
gagements. The army, which had been the main
cause of the intestine divisions that had long dis-
turbed that country, was now reduced to a mere
police establishment of 10,000 men ; and a new era
of prosperity was dawning upon the commerce of
the republic.
The whole of the resolutions were agreed to, with
but one or two dissentient voices; and, after voting
thanks to Lord Palmerston, for the support his
Lordship has invariably given to the interests of the
bondholders, and also to Baron Goldsmid, for his
conduct in the chair, the meeting broke up.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
SOUTH WALES.
Active preparations are being made for the exten-
sion of the South Wales line, westward from Swan-
sea. The contracts are being let, and it is under-
stood that the portion lying between Swansea and
Loughor has been taken. There is a formidable
obstacle to the rapid formation of this part in the
form of a tunnel 1,000 yards in length, and the time
of opening to Carmarthen will depend upon the ra-
pidity with which this tunnel is carried on. The
chairman of the company, Mr. C. R. M. Talbot, has
addressed the following letter to Mr. A. B. Starbuck,
of Milford, in answer to a memorial forwarded from
that town, praying that the haven may be selected as
the terminus of the railway :
" Margam, Giamorganshire, Dec. 1850.
" Sir,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of the me-
morial which accompanied your letter, and which I have
communicated to the board of the South Wales Railway.
I have no doubt whatever that Milford Haven is the
finest harbour in great Britain, and I sincerely wish the
South Wales Railway Company may have funds suffi-
cient to reach it as their terminus.
" I am, Sir, yours obediently,
" A. B. Starbuck, Esq." " C. R. M. TALBOT.
Mr. Talbot has recently visited Cardiff for the put.
pose of inspecting the docks and shipping, with a view
of deciding upon a plan for connecting the Taff' Vale
and South Wales Railways either by a branch or a
junction from the latter line.

- DIRECT WEST-END AND-eROYDON.-011 Saturday
there was a meeting of the parties before his Honour
Master Tinney for the declaration of a call of 751.
per share on the members of the provisional commit-
tee. The financial statement of Mr. Holland, the
official manager, required under the Act, set forth that
the debts and claims likely to be anmitted amounted
to 1,520/., and those disputed or likely to be rejected
to 3,8501. There were 37 names fixed on the list of
contributories, 21 having paid, but 16 having paid no
money, and the object of the call of 7111. each was to
equalize the payments previously made with the call
now sought to be made, from which a sum of 6001.
was likely to be produced. The official manager
does not say whether a further small call will be re-
quired, but, should such be the case, he thinks it can-
not exceed 20/.

DIRECT BIRMINGHAM, OXFORD, AND READING.—
Yesterday his Honour Master Brougham fixed the
payment of the call of 2/. 129. 6d. per share payable
on the 15th of January. His Honour then proceeded
to review the cases of the following provisional com-
mitteemen : —Messrs. J. B. Bankhead, W. H. Cooper,
IV. Hunter, J. Onions, S. E. Sichell, and J. Thorn.
The terms of the letter of acceptance being vague his
Honour, in Mr. Beinkhead's case, struck his name off
the list. The other parties were re-settled on the
list, it being intimated that there was nothing to dis-
tinguish their cases from that of Upfill. Notice of
appeal was given against the finding of the Master,
and it was arranged that pending the appeal the call
as regards them should be suspended.

SUDDEN DEATH AT PonTsmoutu.—For many
years past the visitors at the Quebec Hotel, Portsmouth,
must have noticed a hard-working, industrious waterman, of
the name of Rex—his boat was always ready, always neatly
kept, and he always attentive and obliging. No weather
daunted him—where a boat could live there was he ready to
go. It appears that during the heavy weather that pre-
vailed last week, poor Rex was hired by the captain of the
Mary Bannatyue to proceed to Spithead. He had a hard
pull against wind and tide; and on his return, Just as he had
reached Point, he was observed to fall back, and on assist-
ance being procured it was found that he was lifeless. He
has left, unfortunately, a widow and four children perfectly
destitute. The cause of his death was doubtless attribut-
able to the rupture of a blood-vessel, and induced by the
violent exertion he had undergone in working his boat
without any extra assistance.

REGULATIONS OF THE POST-OFFICE ON CHRIST..
mas-nAv.—To-morrow being Christmas-day notice was is--
sued yesterday at the Chief Money Order-office, Aldersgate,
that it will be closed on Wednesday either for the payment
or granting of orders. Also the various money order offices
throughout the metropolis and vicinity. There will be no
delivery of letters in town or within the London district after
twelve o'clock at noon. The boxes at the receiving-houses
and at the General Post-office will remain open until the
usual time for letters and newspapers to the country, France,
Belgium, &c. At the Stamp-cffice, Excise, Customs (an
officer will be in attendance for the facility of passengers
arriving by the steamers from abroad), and all the public
departments at the west end, the Bank of England, Sock
and Royal Exchange, Lloyd's, South Sea-house, East
India-house, the docks, banking. houses, &c., it will be kept
as a close holiday, and at the different police offices,
law, &c. courts of

TUB BISHOP
Under this OF LONDON AND MR. BBNNETT.-
head, we last week stated that information had
reached us front a quarter on which we could rely, that,
startling as the announcement might seem, matters were,
after all,
in a fair way of being made up between Mr.
Bennett and the Bishop of London. We are now in a posi-
tion to vouch for the accuracy of our information. Will it
be believed—could any one have deemed it possible, after all
that has taken place, that Charles James has agreed to allow
Mr. Bennett to remain in his two churches, and to practise
all his other Popish ceremonies, on the condition, that he
shall consent to snuff out the candles on the altar, instead of
having them lighted? We assure our readers that this is no
joke. The subject, indeed, is much too serious for jocularity.
It appears that the sole matter of controversy in the latter
stages of this business, between the Bishop and Mr.
Bennett turned on the question of the candles. On that
alone depended the fact of Mr. Bennett's remaining in the
Church, or retiring from it. At last the matter was compro-
mised, by the Bishop agreeing that the candle* along with
all the other parts of the Runtish ritual, should be tole-
rated, provided only they were not to belighted !—Achtertiser.

Beauty cannot inflame the fan6y so much in a
month, as ridiculous folly can quench it in a moment. - Eliza
Cook's Journal.

Captain Milne, one of the Lords of the Idtniralty,
is on a matrimonial tour, the gallant captain haviugl ately
married his cousin, Mist Cochrane, datighter of the late Ad-
miral Sir Alexander Cochrane.