The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-17 00:00:00

PORTSMOUTII, WEDNESDAY.'

The weather this morning is very fine,
I
and the seaa
comparatively smooth. The French steam squadron.
, with the Reine Amelie brig yacht, and La Favorite cut-
tl/4-r, left their anchorage this morning at a quarter past
eta o'clock for their own harbours. The Inflexible and
Belk, Poule sent up top-gallant masts and top-gallant
yards ~:his morning, and hoisted the blue peter for the
;no of ;,,,11 officers and seamen from the shore, as early
as lialf-03t. six o'clock. The Belle Pottle got under
weigh at hati4,,:st eight, and the Inflexible at half-past.
nine o'clock. They yere soon out of sight. Spithead is now
solely occupied hy lis::itish men-of-war. The line-of-
battle ships, St. Vincent, 120, Captain Rowley, flag of
Admiral Sir Ciarties Rowley, Bart. ; Caledonia,. 120,
Captain Milne ; and Queen, 110, Captain Martin, will
leave Spithead in a "ew days for a short cruise, and, to-
gether with the Albion, 90, Commodore Lockyer, if then
can fall in with her, try their sailing qualities. Rear--
Admiral Bowles, C. 8., will vacate his seat at the Admi—
ralty for the time, and holst his flag (blue, at the mizen)
on board the St. Vincent, as Commander-in-Chief of the
squadron. Captain Rowley wiil not go oast in his ship;
' the St. Vincent, on this cruise, taut will remain ashore
to assist his gallant father in tlw flag duties of the
port, the very precarious health of Sir Chivies render-
ing assistance in his office necessary. We are not aware
whether the experimental brigs will join the sq uadron or
form one of themselves : we should imagine tl ie latter.
Portsmouth has been the scene of several s hock ing acci-
dents during the late rejoicings. On Moilday, about.
half-past ten, a labourer in the dockyard, nam, scr Thomas
Smart, was struck by a ladder, which was blo "al down
by the violence of the wind, by which his skull Wag hor-
ribly fractured, and he died soon after being con 'eYed to
Ilaslar Hospital. lie was aged about sixty, and h ii; hcen
a number of years in the dockyard. Last evening, whldst
the jury had retired to allow time for the Coron. lir to
draw up his inquisitions in the case of the accident on .;the
King's Bastion, information was brought to the Corm* r
that a few doors off, at the sign of the Valiant ifoffil,
an elderly man was standing at the bar drinking, artl4
talking about the .French to the landlord, when he cavil-.
denly vomited a mouthful of blood and fell upon the floors
a corpse. An inquest was held upon the body tbiseven-4-
10g, and a verdict of " Died by the visitation of God '4l
returned. A young woman was dragged out of the sea-
near Point beach on Sunday night, during the terrific
storm which prevailed about one o'clock ; which, toge-
ther with the two soldiers killed by the gun, and one
at the same time severely injured, and the accident ( n
board the Reine Amelie, form a catalogue of disasters
seldom paralleled in so ;bort a space of time in ore
locality. The pay-boat went out about twelve o'clock .
to take the advance wages to Spithead for five of the
brigs. The wind to-day was, at daylight, north-west,
and this afternoon west-north-west, with every appear-
ance of a dry night.
THE LATE SIIOCKING ACCIDENT ON THE
KING'S BASTION AT PORTSMOUTH.

- - - -
TUESDAY, 9 P.M.—An inquest was yield this evening
before Mr. Cooper, the Coroner for Portswouth, on the
bodies of the unfortunate young men, Michael Walker
and Alexander Miller, gunners of the Royal .Artillery,
who were killed on Monday by the accidental discharge
of a gun they were loading whilst announcing ti ;e ar-
rival of her Majesty and the..King.of_the French at. this
port by a royal salute.
The jury having viewed the bodies, which.we?e iden-
tified by a comrade of the Royal Artillery corps,
William Henry Bent was sworn, and deposed—He
was a captain of the Royal Artillery, and commanded
the detachment stationed at Portsmouth ; he was oat
duty on Monday, the 14th instant, on the King's Bas-
tion, on the Portsmouth lines ; the deceased men,.
Michael Walker and Alexander Miller, belonged to his
company, and were under his command on the bastion.
Ile was there for the purpose of directing the royal
salutes for her Majesty Queen Victoria and the
King of the French on their arrival at Portsmouth.
At about a quarter to four o'clock in the afternoon,
in accordance with preconcerted signals, a salute was
commenced firing, and the deceased, together with anothi r
gunner, Archibald Guthrie, were on duty at No. 3 gun.
The gun had been once fired (there being only four guns
on the bastion it was necessary to fire each gun file
times, and one of them six, to produce a Royal salute).
He was going to give the word of command to " fire,'
when suddenly the gun was discharged without the word.
On the smoke clearing away, the bodies of the two ,nier,
Walker and Miller, were discovered lying on the ram-
part in front of the guns, at some distance from their
muzzles, each having an arm torn away, their thighs
shattered, and Walker, his head horribly disfigured from
the blast of the powder. He had the bodies imme-
diately conveyed to the works below the bastion, and
covered over. The bones protruded through the skins
of the bodies, where the blast of the charge had taken
effect.

By a juror—lt is usual to stand upon the works to.
charge the guns upon the King's Bastion.
By the CORONER—The guns mounted on the King's
Bastion are 32-pounders.

Witness—Walker was never heard to speak or utter
any sound after the accident. lie examined the gun im-
mediately after the accident, and there was no defect
whatever in it. They are all new guns on the King's
Bastion ; and, in order to prevent the possibility of ac-
cident, the sponge to clean out the guns was wet, and a
bucket of water was kept close at hand to keep the
sponges well wet, notwithstanding the heavy raia which
was descending. His inference was, that a piece of the
flannel cartridge had remained in the gun after it was
first discha,rged, which ignited the second charge on its
being rammed home.

By the Foreman—No blame whatever can possibly
attach to the soldier who stopped the vent with his
thumb. The rammer was blown away, and bas not yet
been recovered. Cannot answer the question " whether
the man who stopped the vent did his duty 7" He is a
very steady man, and was at his post. I believe he is
thoroughly careful, and that no blame whatever attaches
to him. lie is an old soldier, and has seen service ; he
is a very good man, and understands his duty perfectly.
John Saunderson was then called, and stated that he
was master-gunner of the lines. He went on dutyalit
the King's Bastion on the 14th inst. His duty was to see
the guns loaded, under the direction of Captain Bent.
Ile saw Miller and Walker, deceased, load No. 3 gun,
having sponged it and turned the sponge. Archibald
Guthrie had charge of the vent ; saw his hand over the
breech, but cculd not tell whether his thumb was on the
sent or not. He suddenly heard a discharge, without
the order to " fire," and on the smoke clearing away, he
saw the bodies of the two men, whom but a moment
before he had observed loading the gun, lying on the
rampart, blown to pieces. A similar accident occurred
when saluting his Majesty William IV., as Lord High
Admiral, in 1838 ; but then the gun was not well
sponged, nor the vent well served, which, doubtless, was
the cause of the accident. (The other part of this wit-
ness's Lstimony was merely corroborative of that given
by Captain Bent.)
Archibald Guthrie deposed—ls a gunner of the corps
of Royal Artillery quartered in Portsmouth. Has been
gunner for nearly nineteen years. Was on duty on the
King's Bastion on the 14th inst., and served the vent Of
No. 3 gun, the samo which caused the accident. The
bodies which the jury had viewed were those of Michael
Walker and Alexander Miller. Is No. 4 of No. 3 gun.
The duty of the deceased was respectively to sponge and
load, and his to serve the vent. The gun had been once
fired, and deceased were engaged in reloading it. He
had his thumb upon the vent, his bare thumb, when the
gun exploded. He saw the gun previously sponged by
No. 2, Alexander Miller. The sponge was carried to
the breech, and it appeared to him the gun was properly
sponged. Walker loaded the gun. Saw him put the
cartridge into the muzzle, and a few moments after he
did so witnessed it explode. There was scarcely time
fur the cartridge to have been thrust up to the breech be-
fore the explosion took place. He had his thumb upon
the vent in the way in which gunners are taught to place
their thumbs in serving the vent. The ignited wadding,
&c., was flying about from the other guns as they were
discharged, the wind was blowing so very strong at the time.
Could not remember any accident having occurred in con-
sequence of the sparks or wadding from other guns hav-
ing blown into the muzzle of a loaded gun. It is the duty
of Saunderson to see the guns are properly served. On
the explosion taking place it blew his (witness's) thumb
from off the vent and burnt it very much, laying it open
from the hand to near the top (witness appeared with his

left arm in a sling). The deceased were blown from
each side of the muzzle of the gun. His experience
a gunner did not enable him to explain accurately tl e
cause of the heartrending calamity.
By a juror—Thinks such a circumstance might have
happened as a spark flying upon the flannel cartridge be.
fore being put into the gun.
This being the principal evidence touching the direct
cause of the death of the young men, the Coroner
summed up, and the jury returned an unanimous verdict
of " Accidental Death.'•
A wrist and two fingers stuck together, believed to
belong to the body of Walker, were picked
aufdtes
from
but about twelve o'clock on the beach, about 10 y_
Iniei
int gb 'esr
Utbaestoiothnerinmaemlinbeerwsibthlotwhne mafrountohrstohfethrame_gumnear,
have yet been

i‘ i
o°s
eriyil:reGeat :
landing
d g
-------
-This establishment was
"'aware that it is situate in .
Our readers are already_73,
near to St. Peter's-square.
THE
MACINeCnffeEdSZEr abuCsiunseTssOon-HFOrgasi.
rooms have
The house is a spacious
one,
different offices required.
been appropriated to the
.s
and the various
The establishment
roalslecrololefetothre;
consists of a collector, comptroller,
six clerks, surveyor, two landing-waiters,
&ate.Newlera.stlie),"h.aesli'beleanteseclecomtepdt
and Mr. Shelly, late warehouse-keeper at Liverpool,
c,lo,ticskicorms,s
has received the appointment of comptroller. It being
desirable that the officers should be persons familiar with
the business of customs, the majority of them, we un-
derstand, have been selected by the Commissioners of
Customs from the Liverpool officers. As we have inti• -
mated above, yesterday was the first day of business ;
and though the fact had not been officially notified to
the public, we understand that a considerable business
was transacted. The building itself has undergone some '
alterations in the interior, to adapt it fur this new pur-
pose, and these are not yet wholly completed ; but, in
the course of a few days, it will no doubt assume more
the appearance externally of the important purpose to
which it is now devoted.—Manchester Courier. _

Her Majesty Queen Adelaide has just forwarded,
with her accustomed liberality, a donation of 251. to the
London Society for the Protection of Young Females, of
which society her Most Gracious Majesty has become
the patroness.

13, Great Marlborough-street.
MTHIERS' NEW WORK.
• Mr. COLBURN begs to announce that he has purchased the
right of prior publication in England of M. THIERS' NEW WORK,
" The HISTORY of the CONSULATE and the EMPIRE," which
will be Translated and Edited, under the express sanction of the
Author, by DUGALD FORBES CAMPBELL, Esq., and that pro-
spectuses will shortly be issued, comprising full particulars of the form,
price, period of publication, &c.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

THEATRE ROY A I, DRURY-LANE,
FIRST NIGHT OF THE SYREN.
THIS EVENING, OCTOBER 17,
Will be performed Auber's celebrated Opera THE SYREN.
Marco Tempesta, Mr. W. Harrison; Scipio, Mr. D. W. King;
Berlina (the Syren), Miss Kainforth.
To conclude with the Ballet of Action, entitled THE DESERTER
OF NAPLES. Henry, Mr. W. H. Payne ; Skirmish, Mr. T.
Mathews Simpkin, Mr. Wieland; Louise, Mils Clara Webster;
Annette, Madame Giubilei.
The Box-ottice is open daily, from Ten in the Morning until Six
in the Evening, where Private and Family Boxes, Stalls, Places,
and T►ckets may be had on application to Mr. John Parsons

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARLET.
Lessee, Mr. B. WEBSTER.
THIS EVENING, OCTOBER 17,
Will be repeated Vanbrugh's Comedy of THE CONFEDERACY

Adapted. to the present Period.
The Principal Characters by Messrs. Strickland, W. Farren,
Buckstone, and C. Mathews, Madame Vestris, Miss P. Horton,
Mrs. E. Yarn°ld, Miss Julia Bennett, Dirs. Stanley, and Mrs.
Mover.
Alter which, will be produced a New Comic Drama, founded on
Den Cmsar de Bann, entitled A MATCH FOR A KING.
Charles the Second, Mr. Stuart ; Don Sebastian della Rosa, Mr. C.
Mathews; Mariquita, Miss Julia Bennett.
To conclude with a New Farce, by Mr. Buckstone, entitled THE
IHI JaBLE RIG. John Ginger, Mr. Buckstone, Sam Shindy,
Mr. Strickland ; Mrs. Ginger, Mrs. W. Clifford.
Orchestra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the Even.
mg), be. each. First Price—Boxes ss. ; Pit, 3s. ; Gallery, 2s. ;
Upper Gallery, Second Price at Nine o'clock—Rues, 3s. ; Pit,
2e. ; Gallery, Is. ; Upper Gallery, Ed. Doors opened at Half-past
Six, Per formance commence at t•even.
Private Boxes, Two Guineas and One Guinea and a-Half each
Tickets and Places to be had of Mr. I. T. Archer, at the Box-office,
from fen till Five o'Clock.

THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI.
Under the Direction of Madame CELESTE.
THIS EVENING, OCTOBER 17,
. . _ _

Will be perfornied an entirely Nitv Drama, entitled CESAR DE
BA ZAN •; or, Love And Honour. Charles the Second, Mr. Howe;
Caesar de B izan, Mr. Webster ; Maratina, Madame Celeste.
After which, a New Eccentric Mythological Burlesque, called
TELEMACHUS; or, The Island of Calypso. Telemachus, Miss
Woolgar ; Calypso, Mr. Wright ; Mentor, Mr. P. Bedferd ; Dinah,
Mr. Cowell.
To be followed by a New Comic Operetta, called the FOX
AND THE GOOSE. Principal Characters by Messrs. Hudson,
Paul Bedford, and Mrs. Fitzwilliam.
Prompter, Mr. Gallot ; Principal Painter, Air Pitt ; Leader of the
Band, Mr. Mellen.—Box-odice open from Eleven till Four. Private
Boxes to be had at the Theatre. and at all the principal Libraries.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-ST E ET.
LESSEE. Mr. J. 1L MADDOX.
THIS EVENING, OCTOBER 17.
Will be repeated a New Drama, called DON C2ESAR DE
BAZAN. Don Caesar, Mr. Waliack ; Cnarles- the :!econd, Mr
Welton ; Maritena, Mrs. Stirling; Countess di Rotondo, Mrs.
Fosbroke.
To be followed by a new Divertissement, called The SLAVE
MARKET, in which M. J. Rouser, Mdlle. Caroline Rousset, Mdlle.
Teresine, Mr. Gilbert, and Miss Marshall will appear.
To conclude with an Original Burlesque, entitled THE WON.
DERFUL LAMP, in a New Light. Abanazar, Mr. Walt m ;
Aladdin,.. Mr. Oxberry; Princess liadroulbadour, Miss E. Stanley.

Stage Manager, Mr.4l. I. Wallack. Stage Director, Mr. Emden.
Machinist, Mr. Edmund BradwelL
Dress Circle, sa. ; Boxes, 4s. ; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, Is. Half-price at
Nine o'clock—Dress Circle, 2s. tkl. ; Boxes, 2.5. ; Pit, Is.; Gallery, 6d.
Private Boxes, Iwo Guineas and One Guinea and a-Half ; Prosce-
nium Boxes, Two illuineas and a-Half. Doors to be opened at Halt=
pest Six, and the Performances to commence at Seven o'clock.
The ox.ottice under the direction of Mr. W. Massingham.
Private Boxes and tree Admissions for the Season to be had at the
Theatre.

THEATRE ROYAL LYCEUM, LATE ENGLISH OPERA.
HOUSE.
Under the Management or Mrs. KEELEY.
THIS EVENING. OCTOBER 17,
Wit be performed THE SWISS COTTAGE. Characters by
Messrs. Wigan, Yarnold, and Keeley, Miss Grove, Miss Arden, and
Mrs. Keeley.
After which, the Comic Scene, called OUTGENERALED ;
or, a Hint to Bachelors. Charles Stanley, Mr. F. Vining; Mrs.
gartley, Miss Walcott.
To which will be added THE LOST 0 I, HONOUR, In which Mr.
and Mrs. Keeley will perform.
To be followed by an entirely Original, and much better than
New, Grand Operatic, Romantic, Melo-Dramatic, Burlesque Extra
vaganza, founded on the celebrated Eastern Tale, in the Arabs;in
Nig.' tits' Entertainment, entitled ALADDIN AND THE WON.
DERFUL LAMP; or, New Lamps for Old Ones. With very
extensive New Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, &c. Principal cha
ratters by !Irk Keeley, Messrs. F. Matthews, Turner, A. Wigan,
.1. W. Collier, and Keeley' Miss Fairbrother, Mrs. Weolli ige,
Miss Wove, Miss Arden, Miss Turner, M 1 4 James, &c., &c.
PRICES OF A OMISSION.—BaIcony tioxes. 4i.; Upper
Boxes, 35. • Pit, Gallery, 6d. Second Price—Balcony Boxes, 2.. ;
Upper Boxes, Is. 6d.; Pit, Is. Private Boxes on the 11.-dc.my Tier
((holding eight persons), Two Guineas. Private Boxes on the Second
'Tier (holding eight persons), One Guinea and a-Half. Private
!loxes on the Pit Tier (holding six persons), One Guireet•
The Box—Alice is open from Ten to Four o'Clock, under the direc.
den of Mr. Grogan, late of Covent-garden Theatre.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE OF ARTS.
Proprietor and Manager, Mr. BATTY.
THIS EVENING, OCTOBER 17,
Will be performed Lord Byron's Equestrian and Dramatic Spec.
tacle of MAZEPPA, AND THE WILD HORSE, with all its
Original Effects.

New Scenes of the Circle.
To conclude with THE BLOOD-RED KNIGHT; or, The War-
rims of Palestine.
Acting and stage.m mager, Mr. W. D. Broadfoot.
Box-office open from Eleven till Five. Lessons in the Art of Riding
by Mr. R. Smith.

DA VIDGE'S ROYAL SURREY THEATRE
THIS EVENING, OCTOBER 17,
Wlll be repeater a New Military Drama, entitled THE EVE OF
BATTLE. Sup,,orted by the whole Cimpany, with New Scenery
and Splendid Appointments.
After which, PORK CHOPS, in which Messrs. 0. Wild and
Rogers will_pertorm.
To conclude with TM& 1. A LLS OF CLYDE.
Places and Private Boxes to be had of Mr. Kerschner, at the Box.
ofßce, from Eleven to Four.

ROYAL VICTORIA THEATRE.
THIS EVENING, OCTOBER 17,

Will be performed JULIUS C/EgAR. Marc Antony, Mr. James
Bennett; Marcus Brutus, Mr. Graham; Caius Cassius, Mr. Dale.
D After which, BLUE EVILS, in which Mr. Dale aid Miss Ha-
milton will perform.
To conclude with MIDAS. Apol'o, Miss Louisa Lyons.
Private Family Boxes, Is. Od. and X 1 Ils. 6d.

THE WEATHER.—Subt OFFICE, OCT. 17.
TPLEILMOMETER, Lowest, 41; Highest, 53; Noon, 53
BAROMETIOE4 29.35.—W0rn, NAV.
NOTE.—The number 32 on the Thermometer denotes tin
freezing point, and 55 temperate. In Barometers fair
vocally placed opposite 30, and rain at 29.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE THIS DAY.
Morning ... 1:2 minutes after 5 1 Evening"... 37 minutes after 5

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SECOND EDITION.