The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-24 00:00:00

THE LATE CALAMITOUS FIRE IN
GUILFORD-STREET.

, cially disposed, as they have ever been, to employ
their power, and to exert their influence, to improve
the condition of the Irish people, are discouraged.
They see their endeavours scorned—ridiculed—coun-
teracted—by an influence which has held that people
as by a spell ; and they suspend their endeavours until
the spell shall be broken, and the delusion destroyed.
Every indication of an approach to this better state
of things will be hailed with pleasure by all who desire
to see Ireland' in possession of tranquillity. Whether
the desirable change be brought about by an improved
course of conduct in Mr. O'Connell—whose power
over the Irish people, if wisely directed, might now
be, as it has formerly been, the instrument of achiev-
ing for them vast benefits ; or, persisting in a course
of factious violence, he unveil his real character ; stand
forth the confessed demagogue in a patriots guise ; and
thus disgust, and detach from his project, those well-
meaning men who were induced for a time to connect
themselves with his schemes, in the hope that they
would result in practical advantage to their country.
By whichsover of these means the end be attained, is
comparatively of little moment. We should feel re-
gret if the latter be the means. We would rather
that the great leader, who conducted the Irish people
from the ignoble and unrighteous bondage in which
they were held by penal statutes enacted against their
creed, should continue as their recognised benefactor,
employing his acknowledged talents and indomitable
zeal in their cause. But if Mr. O'Connell abandon
that position—if, through mistake, or design, he set
himself against, and employ his influence to prevent,
the attainment of substantial improvements—real and
extensive recognitions and concessions which the
Government has made to the Roman Catholic religion,
the clergy and members of which Church were re-
cently proscribed by law—if this be Mr. O'Connell's
conduct, and lie persist in pursuing such a course, then
do we say, let the alternative be joyfully accepted ;
let Mr. O'Connell's obviously diminished influence
over his countrymen be the precursor of his total
abandonment by them. He will then be the author
of his own fall from power. Better that they
should desert him, than that they should remain
with him, to be the sharers of his deserved ruin,
the victims of his recklessness of head or heart.
The resistance which Mr. O'Connell has made to
the Catholic Bequests Act, and to the formation of a
Board constituted under its provisions for carrying
out the objects of its enactment, have led us to these
remarks. The agitation which Mr. O'Connell at-
tempted to get up against it, has signally failed. His
denunciations of the heads of the Roman Catholic
hierarchy who have accepted seats at the Board,
and whose office in that Church are recognised
by the Crown, for the first time, in the Com-
mission by which the Board is constituted—the
reproaches heaped by Mr. O'Connell on two Ro-
man Catholic gentlemen of high rank and unble-
mished probity, for accepting seats at the Board—
these ill-judged and injurious attacks have estranged
hundreds, perhaps thousands, of the more respectable
of Mr; O'Connell's adherents from him and his
cause. The attempts to intimidate the Roman Catholic
Archbishops Murray and Crolly, and the Roman
Catholic Bishop Denvir, have failed. They re-
fused to be influenced by his threats, or to be cajoled
by his persuasions. Mr. Blake and Sir P. Bellew
were equally firm in their disregard of the agitator.
They have accepted the trust created by the Act and
offered to them by the Government. Mr. O'Connell
has opened the eyes of the most worthy among his
countrymen to the real character of his opposition,
and the worth of his present political schemes. lie
has caused a schism in his own camp. He has placed
a gulph between himself and those whose countenance
and aid are essential to sustain him under any future
struggle with the Government.
STANDARD.—It is to-day our task—a very un-
usual task with us—to defend Mr. Daniel O'Connell,
and to defend him against the accusations of journals
with which he has been intimately and long con-
nected ; though, like other friends, and ei en like
parties more closely united than by the ties of friend-
ship, the parties have had their quarrels—we speak
of the Times, which for about twenty years s( rved
" the monster mendicant," and of the Morn:nw Chro-
nicle, which was his obsequious follower for a still
longer period. The two journals named this morn-
ing agree in charging their late employer and
patron with the commission of a capital mistake in
taking the line which he has taken with regard to
the Charitable Bequests Act. Now, we contend
that there has been been no mistake in the matter;
that in his late proceeding Mr. O'Connell has acted
as cunningly as he ever acted in his life. It was
not in his power to evade the difficulty in which he
was placed by the wisdom and justice of the Govern-
ment ; but a moment's thought will show, that he
has adroitly made the best of the perplexing position,
from which it was impossible for him to escape. The
charitable Bequests Act, as our readers are aware, is
a law enabling Roman Catholics to make endowment
by donation or devise to secure a provision for
their secular clergy, but guarding the death-
bed from improper solicitation, by requiring
that the endowment shall be executed and
enrolled three months before the death of the
,lonor or devisor, as the case might be ; and in
order that there may be no suspicion that the law is
unfairly executed, a commission for the management
of charitable bequests generally—Protestant and
Roman Catholic in common—is provided, and it is
onacted that five of ten members of the board shall be
Roman Catholics. Nothing surely can be imagined
more wise, just, and liberal than this law; but because
it is wise, just, and liberal, Mr. O'Connell and his
friends are embarrassed by it. The truth is, that
they did not desire any Charitable Bequests Bill at
all, though the want of a distinct law upon the sub-
iect of endowments seemed an excellent grievance—
a handsome addition to the hacknied falsehood that
the poorest people in the empire have to support two
churches. The Roman Catholic clergy—the only
efficient Roman Catholic party—do not desire
endowments, any more than they desire a
State provision, because they are much better off
with the help of that elaborate system of taxation
which they have wrought up to an exquisite perfec-
tion. While a priest can represent himself to be
absolutely dependent upon the gratitude, generosity,
and Christian charity of the poor ignorant creatures
at his mercy, he may excise them at the rate
of 3001. or 4001. a-year, the present average in-
eome of Irish priests ; but these gentlemen are
sufficiently well aware of the native shrewdness
of the most ignorant of their countrymen to know
that if the proprietor of a comfortable cottage,
with a settled income sufficient for his wants, say 801.
or 1001. a year for a single man, were to call upon
them for a penny, he would call upon them in vain.
The secular Roman Catholic clergy are therefore
exceedingly averse to any endowment of them-
selves ; and if any endowment is forced upon
their Church, they would willingly push it away
to the regulars, who sometimes are, by sheer
poverty, compelled to trespass on the market
for masses. The Charitable Bequests Act, however,
makes no provision for the endowment of the
" regular orders," for this good reason, that the law
has already provided for the extinction of these
orders. Here, then, begins Mr. O'Connell's diffi-
culty. The priests universally hate and dread the
operation of the law, but they cannot avow the true
reasons of their hatred and fear of a law so manifestly
wise, just, and liberal. The lower class know
nothing of the law, and hear nothing of it, except from
their priests, and the priests and the lower orders are
Mr. O'Connell's paymasters, and consequently his mas-
ters in all other respects. The intelligent and well-
disposed Roman Catholicshave reason to be pleased w ith
a measure which must ultimately go far to break down
the intolerable tyranny of the 'dices of Maynooth,
and which even at present protects them from those
frequent robberies, by death-bed solicitations, to
which they are exposed. The intelligent and well-
disposed Roman Catholics, we repeat it, have
reason to be satisfied with the law, and are, in fact,
highly pleased with it, as they have given proof.
This fact, that the law is well received by the
well-disposed and intelligent and, indeed, by
all the proprietary class of Roman Catholics is
important, because it ensures that an adequate
minter of Roman Catholics commanding public
confidence to work the commission will never be
wenting; so as fully to justify Dr. Murray's expla-
nation, if not apology, that if he did not take a
place on the commission, another, perhaps less zealous
for the Roman Catholic faith, could easily be found,
Nlstilo would be
ldbenout have
ngene nroaus,y
probably
uplyuon
jnusttb,e
to say
that all or any of the Roman Catholic gentlemen
who have agreed to act upon the eommhsion have
been determined by this kind of pis-aller conside-
ration ; but it is a consideration which, used by any
of them as a defensive argument, would be unan-
swerable. How, then, was Mr. O'Connell to pilot
his way through the labyrinth of difficulty in which
lie found himself ? If lie were to approve of the
Bill, and boast, as the Morning Chronicle ad% i es
—that it was " his thunder," the fruit of his
victory and sufferings—the priests, whose bread
he eats, and who in their secret souls abhor the rnsa-

Catholic Commissioners. A few weeks will tell which
party will lead the priests and the ignorant populace.
Meanwhile it is most unjust to assume that
Mr. O'Connell, who never in his life made a
mistake where the main chance (money) was con-
cerned, blunders at that period of life when, as it has
been said, all other faculties take leave, to set the
party free to give his undivided energies to money-
getting. No, no, Mr. O'Connell has made no mis-
take—" an sic notus Ulysses?" There is no one
living who feels more sensibly the force of the old
rule :

FINDING OF THE OTHER BODIES.

(THIS DAY.)
Between two and three o'clock the bodies of the
police-constable, Wright, and Jenkins, the groom,
were found in the ruins. They wero not far from
each other. Wright's body presented a dreadful
appearance; it was frightfully contused and flattened,
and almost every bone in his body appeared to be
broken. When the burning mass fell upon him he
must have been in a stooping posture, es his limbs
were bent. Jenkins was found lying on his face, and
his body also presented a horrid spectacle. The
bodies were placed in shells, and conveyed to St.
Giles's Workhouse, to await the Coroner's inquest.

"13e it for better, or be it for worst,
Stick fast to the party who carries the purse."

STATE or TRADE.---During the last two or three
days, there has been an improved demand for most de-
scriptions of manufactured goods ; and prices, which had
become a little unsteady, have resumed their former
firmness.—ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, MONDAY,
DEC. 23.—The market, as might be expected at Christ-
mas, has been dull ; and the business transacted has
been upon a limited scale, with no change in price.
Wool continues to • be more inquired after, and broke
wool and noils are lo king. up.—Manchester Guardian of
this day.
We are glad to learn that a pension—from, we
believe,, the funds of the Civil List—has been conferred
upon Mr. Thomas Hood, the author of, amongst other
things, " The Song of the Shirt."

'TIE LONDON GAZETTE.
(THIS EVENING.)

WHITEHALL, DEC. 21, 1844.
The Queen has been pleased to appoint Dr. J. Henry
Davidson to be First Physician to her Majesty in Scot-
land, in the room of Dr. John Abercrombie, decc...sed.

WHITEHALL, DEc. 17.
The Lord Chancellor has appointed Robert Drinkall,
jun., of llowden, in the county of York, Gent., to be a
Master Extraordinary in the high Court of Chancery.

DEC. 19.
The Lord Chancellor has appointed Thomas Baker,
of Abergavenny, in the county of Monmouth, Gent, to
be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of
Chancery.

BANKRUPTCIES SUPERSEDED.
John Humble, chemist, Ossett, near Wakefield.
Joseph Craven, John Hardman, and George Craven,
dyers, Holme Dye-works, Wakefield.
BANKRUPTS.

John Peart Birley, plumber and glazier, Brompton-
row, Middlesex, to surrender January 10, at two, and 31,
at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, of
assignee, Basinghall-street; Buchanan and Grainger,
Basinghall-stret.
John Christie and James Rodgers, stone-masons,
Notting hill, Middlesex, Jan. 10, at one, and Feb. 7, at
eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Alsager, official
assignee, Birchin lane, Corohill ; Messrs, Richardson
and Co., Golden-square.
Elijah Brentnall, builder, Cold-harbour-road, North
Brixton, Dec. 31, and Feb. 4, at twelve, at the Court of
Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee, Basinghall-street;
Jenkinson, Cannon-street.

John Walker Wood, wine merchant, Churton-street,
Vauxhall-bridge-road, Jan. 3, and Feb. 18, at half-past
eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Turquand, official
assignee, Old Jewry-chambers; Mottram, Birmingham;
Parkes and Co., Bedford-row.
William Preston, builder, Monmouth-road, Bayswater,
Ike. 31, at one, and Jan. 31, at eleven, at the Court of
Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch lane,
Lombard-street; Hooker, Bartlett's-buildings, Holborn.
Henry May Waller, tailor, Foulsham, 'Norfolk, Jan.
7, at 'half-past two, and Feb. 7, at eleven, at the Court or
Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Frederick's-
place, Old Jewry ; Flower, Bread-street, Cheapside ;
Taylor and Son, Norwich.
Henry Higgins, merchant, Leeds, Jan. 14;_and Feb. 11,
at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Freeman, official
assignee ; Atkinson, Dibh, and Bol!ar.d ; Blackburn,
Leeds ; Hay% kins and Co. Boswell-court, Chancery-lane.
Michael Graham, attorney, Darlington, Durham,
Jan. 9 and 25, at eleven,. at the Leeds District Court.
Hope, official assignee, Leeds ; Rushworth, Staple-inn,
London ; Sanderson, Leeds.
Nicholas Trevenen Hawke, grocer, Penzance, Corn-
wall, Jan. 7 and 30, at eleven, at the Exeter District
Court. llirtzel, official assignee, Exeter ; Hill and
Mathews, St. Mary Axe, London ; Terrell, Exeter.
John Peach Burdett, grocer, Uttoxeter, Jan. 6, and
Feb. 1, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court.
Bittlestoa, official assignee, Birmingham ; Welby and
Co., Uttoxeter ; James, Birmingham.
Joseph Harley, plumber, Wolverhampton, Jan. 8, and
Feb. 1, at eleven, at the. Birmingham District Court.
Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham ; Harrison and
Smith, Birming ham; Clarke, Wolverhampton.

sure, would owe him little thanks for such "inoptata
tonitrua haud facientia comas"—they would rcject
with rcorn such fruits of victory and martyrdom.
And this is not all. Had he avowed approbation
of the measure, he must have stultified his

own Bill upon the same matter, and of a precisely
opposite character. Finally, he must have sacrificed
one topic of agitation, and condemned himself to
show respect to one law of the Imperial Parlia-
ment—offerings to loyalty and common sense
quite foreign to his metier of " monster men-
dicant." But it is said he has embroiled himself
with his Church by condemning a measure acted
upon by three of its bishops. He has, however,
done no such thing; be ims a majority of the
Roman Catholic bishops, and nearly all the Roman
Catholic priests upon his side. It' any one can be
said to be embroiled with the Roman Catholic Church

in the affair, the parties so embroiled are the five Roman

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDA EVE G, DECEMBER 24 1344.

RUM, BRANDY, AND lioLLANDs.—lmporter: of Lee-
wards Island Rum submittini, to a further reduction in
prices has occasioned the demand to be good, and at
2s 2d to Es 3id per gallon, proof, several parcels have
been diatosed of. Demerata has thet with little atten-
tion, 140 puns having been sold at 3s Id to 3s &1 pte
gallon for 29 to 35 per cent overproof. Jamaica,
common is 3s 6d to 3s Bd, middling 3s 9d to 3s 10d,
good 3s lld to 4s 3d, fine and very fine
4a 4d to 6s. Calcutta at 2s 2d to 2s 24d per
gallon, proof with certificate. For Jamaica prices are
9d to Is, and for Leewards 4d to 6d per gallon higher
than they were on the 24th of December last year.
The low acid thiddling description of Brandy have met
with more attention, and for the best sorts a very
good demand has existed. Cognac, best brands of
the vintage of 1838, hhds 5s 2d, puns 5s ; ditto, 1839,
hhds 4s 11d, puns 4s 9d ; ditto 1840, hhds 4s lld
puns 4s 9d; ditto, 1841, hhds 4s 10d; puns 4s 8d; ditto,
1842, hhds 4s 7d, puns 4s sd; ditto, 1843, hhds 4a sd,
puns 45 3d, common 2s 8d to 2s lid, and middling to
good middling 3s to 3s 10d, Bordeaux common 2s 61 to
2s 8d per gallon. Geneva at is 10d to Is lid, and for
arrival at is 91 to Is 10d; fine fit for duty has been
selling at 2s 4d to 3s 6d. English Corn Spirits, lOs 2d
per gallon, nett cash.

TEA.—There has been no arrival since this day week.
In Cungou large purchases have been made, and the
rates paid are id per lb above those of the la•t public
sales, for ordinary and good ord descriptions; the better
kinds fully sustain the previou currency; indeed, a small
advance has been obtained; common sound 114 to I lid,
rather coarse to rather strong I lid to Is Id, blksh to blksh
rather strong Is 2d to is 4d, good strong blackish leaf
:W
Is 4to is 6d, fine Is 7d to is 9d, and Pekoe flavour
Is 9d 2s 9d per lb, of common and mid kinds which are
the most in request; the supply is small. For Puu-
chong prices aro fully as high as they were on this
day week, and many purchases have been made
at 6d to 10d, and in some cases lld to is Id per
lb.-has been paid. Of Souchong some parcels have been
sold upon firmer terms. In common Twankay several
purchases have been made at firm rates, is 3d to Is 3id
having been currently paid and the market has been
nearly cleared. Other sorts are wonted, brightish leaf
has been selling at Is 4d to is 9d, and llyson kind 2s to
2s 6d. Scented Orange Pekoe of fine quality 3s 4d to3s sd.
To-day purchasers in sound common Cungou cash were
made at lld to 1i d, and Twankay ordinary is 3d to
Is 4d per lb. The Tea market closes with a firm ap-
pearance.

SAGO.—There has been a good business transacted in
Pearl Sago by private contract, and the tendency of
prices is still upwards, low quality has been fetching 15s
to 163, middling 17s to 193, good middling to good 20s
to 225, and fine 23s to 26s—the stock is still on the de-
crease. Sago Flour is wanted, at 183'to 18s 6d for good,
and 173 to 17s 6d per cwt for middling quality, being
the former value. Farina or Potatoe Flour is much in
request.
FRUIT.—The demand for currants has been limited,
but the importers appear firm in their prices. Valentias
are steady, with a small stock. Red Smyrnas and
Chesme Raisins are in request at 45s to 4J3. New
Turkey Pulled Figs, the fine kinds, of which there is
but a small supply, obtain very high prices.
INDlGo.—Holders of Bengal submittinc, to a reduction
on the rates of the last quarterly sale of to 4d per lb
has occasion, d the demand to be good, but speculators
are the chief operators, and the sorts most in request
low and middling. Madras, Oude and Kurpah in small
parcels have been disposed of at prices a shade under
those of the October sale.

TALLOW.—The market has presented a firm appear.
ante fur Russian since our report of Tuesday last; there
has been a very good demand on the spot, and 40s 3d to
40s 6d are the current rates paid fur I'. Y Candle of first
quality. Town Tallow at 40s 6d to 41s per cwt nett
cash. For other sorts of Tallow prices have suffered no
further decline.

OlLs.—There are few purchasers of Seal Oil, and
prices are still dropping : for pale 331 lOs to 341 have been
accepted, 31/ to 33/ for yellow and straw, and 281 to 301
for brown. Southern at 28/ 10s to 331 10s. Cod net with
attention, and several l arcels have been disposed of on
the spot, and to arrive at 311 to 311 103 per tun. In
consequence of lower rates having been submitted to for
Sperm Oil, buyers are induced to operate more freely,
and at 87/ to 891 per tun. Several parcels of British
have been disposed of. The crushers are not so anxious
to sell Linseed Oil ; the low rates that prevail are at-
tracting attention, and at 23s 6d to 23s 9d per cwt.
Rape pale has been fetching 34s to 34s 6d, and brown
33s to 33s 6(1 per cwt. Cocoa Nut Oil 24s to 27s for low
to fine. Palm is little wanted, and holders experience
difficulty in obtaining more than 26s per cwt for the
best quality. Lard Oil .101 to 411, and African Ground
Nut Oil 331 to 33110 s per ton. Of Castor Oil the sup-
ply exceeds the demand, and 4d to 6i-d per lb is the
value. Seal Oil is 40s to 60s, Southern 90s to lOos, Lin-
seed 80s to 905, and Olive 40s to 80s per tun cheaper
than at this time last year, but Sperm is dearer than it
was at that time by 13/. to 15/. per tun.:

THE HERRING FISHERY.—WhiIe we congratulate
our fishing friends on the success which many of them
have experienced, we cannot look forward to the future
without feeling considerable alarm. The home voyage
has just terminated, and the catch has exceeded that of
any previous year for a very considerable period. The
boats have averaged twenty-one lasts each, and some
reached forty lasts. Mr. Samuel George has two boats,
which have made up 99 laits ; one of them, the Saucy
Polly, having brought in, in one voyage, the enormous
quantity of 151- lasts, or 201,300 herrings. This success
would have b, en truly encouraging to our labouring
population, where it not that they have been recently
deprived of what afforded them a valuable addition to
the precarious earnings of the fishery. For many
years, even centuries, the town has provided a suf-
ficient supply of lint (the term here used for netting
previous to being made into nets), and norsels (pieces
of twine of a peculiar make, for use on board the
boats) for all the boats sailing from this port. These
have been hitherto manufactured by the women and
girls of this town, who have thereby been enabled to
obaTn an honest though humble subsistence. Of late
large quantities of these articles have been brought
hither from Bridport, which has almost annihilated the
trade here, though we cannot learn that the fish owners
are much benefited by the change; but that change has
greatly aggravated the condition of the working classes
here, and hundreds who formerly obtained their'
livelihood by twine spinning, braiding, and making
norsels, are without employment, and many to;ally
destitute. The cost of manufacturing the raw
material is about 601 or 701 a ton, so that the loss
of this one branch of our trade withdraws about 1,0001.
a year from the most necessitous families in the port.
W. are glad to learn that one large shipowner positively
refutes to use any other than Yarmouth manufactured
net—an example we commend to his brother shipowners.
We cannot contemplate, without alarm, the prospect of
the poor for the coming wiuter. The number of boats
from Yarmouth, engaged in the fishery, is about 160
No, folk Chronicle.

THIRD-CLASS TRAINS.—We perceive that on the
Ist of January next, third-class trains will run between
Leigh, Manchester, Liverpool, &c., morning and evening.
This concession is much enhanced by the Company
allowing third-class carriages to be attached to every
train between Leigh and Bolton. This is a matter of
great importance to the small tradesmen of the former
place, who are thus enabled to transact their trifling
business without being compelled to be the Whole day
from home.—Manchester Guardian.

Yesterday evening, at about half-past eleven; a fire
broke out in the steward's room of the bfillbank prison;
by the prompt and judicious measures of the Governor
it was, however, got under and extinguished ber..re one
o'clock in the morning.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
UNION-HALL.

Yesterday Mr. George Walter, of No. 42, Lom-
bard-street, was charged before Mr. Traill with com-
mitting a violent assault on Mr. John Young Aker-
man, Secretary of the Greenwich Railway Company.
From the complainant's statement it appeared that
on the 19th instant, he entered one of the first-class
carriages of the above company, and had scarcely
taken his seat when the defendant walked up to the
door, and, a 'dressing him, used some irritating lan-
guage, and at the same time got into the same car-
riage. With the view of preventing any unpleasant
consequences, which might arise if they both pro-
ceeded in the same carriage, the complainant alighted,
and, on getting out on the platform, he was followed
by the defendant, who was armed with a stick, and
who having applied the epithets rascal and scoundrel
to complainant, then made a blow at him with the
stick, which he warded off, when he again repeated
the attempt. Complainant, on finding him so deter-
mine." on committing violence, struck him in his own
defence, when some of the servants of the Company
interfering, they were separated ; and, for his own
preservation, he considered it necessary to adopt the
present proceedings against the individual by whom
he had been assaulted without provocation.
The defendant produced the stick with which it
was alleged he committed the assault, said that it was
a light bamboo cane, and that if a person were struck
even with great violence with it, it would not produce
much damage.
Mr. TRAILL said that the indignity of even being
struck slightly with such a stick, or cane, was exas-
perating to the feelings of any man. The Magistrate
then asked the defendant what explanation he wished
to give, or whether he was desirous of calling any
witnesses ? The defendant said he wished to call a
gentleman who Ns itnessed the whole of the transac-
tion, and who would be enabled to give a very diffe-
rent version of the affair. That gentleman, however,
was not present, but if the magistrate would post-
pone the case he (defendant) would have an adver-
tisement inserted in the newspapers, as he did not
know his address, calling upon him to attend to give
evidence.

The complainant said he had no objection to an
adjournment of the case, but in the meantime he
called on the magistrate to make the defendant find
bail, as he really went in personal danger.
The defendant said he would give his honour that
he would have no communication with the com-
plainant until the day the inquiry was resumed.
The complainant said that even with that promise
he would not be satisfied, unless the defendant pro-
mised to " take the pledge" (the reporter understood
it), or the magistrate required him to find sureties.
Mr. Timm, said that he felt it his duty to adjudge
the defendant to enter into his own recognisances in
the sum of 501., and find two sureties of 251. each, to
keep the peace for twelve months, as a protection,
against any injury to the complainant, and that the
further investigation of the assault might stand over
until a future day.

The complainant, however, having expressed that
he had no vindictive feelings against the defendant,
and that he would be satisfied with the above sureties,
the defendant said that he was aware he should have
some trouble in finding the witness he alluded to, and
that, therefore; he was contented the matter should
rest as it was, upon his finding the required bail.
The defendant's solicitor, and another gentleman,
entered into sureties, and he was discharged.
Edward Edwards was brought up for re-examina-
tion, being found in Mr. Bright's house, at Ncrth
Brixton, for an unlawful purpose; and Margaret
Sheen, the nurse in the family, was charged with
stealing a satin waistcoat, belonging to her master,
and also with harbouring the other prisoner in the
house.

The circumstances attending the discovery of the
prisoners at four o'clock on Saturday morning, lying
together before a blazing fire in the complainant's
kitchen, and of the female dropping her master's satin
waistcoat on the way to the station-house, have
already appeared in our police report of the preced-
ing day.
Mr. James, the prisoner's solicitor, put some ques-
tions to the complainant, with a view to show that
both their characters were good up to the period of
the above transaction ; that Edward's father, who was
in attendance, was a highly respectable man ; and that
he, together with other friends, were in Court, pre-
pared to tender bail in his behalf, if it was found
necessary.
The complainant, in answer to certain questions,
admitted that he had never missed any property but
the satin waistcoat, which must have been taken out
of his drawer; that Sheen had access to the pantry
where the plate was kept, but he had not missed any;
that she was in the habit of bringing up the key
of the kitchen to her mistress every night be-
fore she went to bed ; and that on the night in
question she brought up the key as usual; and that
she must have left Edwards in the kitchen, and after-
wards gone down stairs to him when all was quiet;
that the discovery would not have taken place but for
the crying of the infant, which might have met its
death owing to the neglect of the nurse while with
her paramour in the kitchen.
Mr. TaAtLn said he should send the nurse for trial
for stealing the waistcoat if the prosecutor wished to
press the charge ; but it appeared the garment was
very much worn, and of little value, and he there-
fore doubted very much whether a bill would be found
against her, as he (the magistrate) had very recently
noticed that a strong representation was made by a
grand jury on the subject of committing persons for
trial for stealing articles of a trifling nature, deeming
it the most proper course to have such cases summa-
rily dealt with. He (the magistrate), however, in
this instance, would consult the feelings of the c,m-
plainant on the subject, and would either commit for
trial or dispose of the case himself.
The complainant having expressed a wish that the
latter course might be adopted, the nurse (Sheen)
was therefore committed for two months to hard
labour for unlawful possession of the article, and
Edwards was adjudged to enter into his own recogni-
sance of 401., and find two sureties of 201. each, to be
of good behaviour for twelve months.

HOUSE BREAKING.— Joseph Astelford, a man
dressed as a mechanic, was charged with breaking
into the dwelling house of Mr. Court, at Meeting
House-lane, Peckham, and stealing three suits of
clothes and other apparel.
A brother of the prosecutor stated that at eight on
Saturday morning he left the property safe in the
bed-room of a small house attached to his father's
residence in Meeting House-lane, where he and his
brother slept. The front door was left on the latch,
and could be opened with a common latch key.
At the rear of the premises, which had connexion
with his father's house, a large dog was kept which
would not only make a noise but attack a stranger. At
eight in the evening he entered by the back door, and
proceeded into the bedroom, when he found that the
drawers had been broken open and robbed of their
contents. Ile also found the front door ajar, and
he had every reason to think that the entrance was
effected by that door, as it was seldom opened by
any one.
Constable, 47 M, stated that about ten minutes
past eight o'clock he was on duty in the Kent-
road, when he saw the prisoner with a bundle
under each arm. Ile asked where he got them ?
He replied that he was employed to carry them
by a man he never saw before. He afterwards
contradicted himself by saying he had found
them. After he had said so he dropped the bun-
dles, and ran away, but he pursued and took him
into custody.
The prosecutor identified the whole of the pro-
perty. The drawers and desk had been forced with
some brass compasses and a pair of snuffers, which
were lying about, and were broken to pieces.
In answer to the charge, the prisoner said he picked
up the bundles. A 3 for the robbery, he was quite in-
nocent of it, and did not even know where the house
was situated. He wished to be remanded, as some
clue might be obtained of the real offenders.

Mr. TRAIL'. said he intended to do so unt.
Thursday.

THE LATE FATAL STEAM-BOAT
COLLISION
CLOSE OF THE INQUEST.

The inquiry into the circumstances attending the
late fatal collision oil* Greenwich between the Orwell
and Sylph steatn-boats was resumed yesterday be-
fore Mr. J. C. Carttar, coroner for Kent.

Mr. Wilkinson (of the firm of Cobbold and Wilkin-
son), and Mr. Cattarns (of the firm of Cattarns and
Fry), attended, as on the previous occasion, to watch
the case. The inquest room again was densely
crowded.
The first witness called was

Dr. Mitchell, of Greenwich, whn proved, from a
post mortem examination, that Sullivan d►ed from
suffocation in the water, and Shepherd from the
severe injuries he had sustained about the head and
body.

Commam!er Henry Smith, of her Majesty's steam
frigate Rattler, being sworn, said I was a passenger
on board the Sylph, on the afternoon of Tuesday week,
and was standing abaft the engine-room when that
vessel left the Greenwich pier on her way towards
Black wall. The weather was so thick at that time
that I was induced to remain on deck. There was a
man in the bows looking out forward After proceed •
ing a short distance I heard the noise of a steamer ap-

pr'Oaching us. I looked out forward, but saw nothing.
Immediately afterwards the man on the look out said
something to the captain, when he called out " Stop her,
go astern." I then saw a large steamer bearing down
upon us, at about twenty-five yards distance. At
that time a collision was inevitable, and when the
captain saw the large vessel so close to him, he folded
his arms and said, "By God, it is all over with us!"
I could not see the shore on either side at that time.
When the collision took place the motion of the
Sylph was quite stopped, and if a boat had been under
her bows we should not have injured her. I am of
opinion that the speed was on the Orwell when the
collision occurred. She must have been going at a
good speed, because she cut quite through the deck
of the Sylph, and from the position in which the
latter was, it was impossible that she could have
contributed much force to the collision.

Mr. Cattarns here produced two models of the
boats, that of the Sylph showing the extent of the
injury she had sustained by the collision.
Examination continued—l am decidedly of opinion
that the Sylph was motionless when the collision took
place. Had the Orwell put her helm astarbeard as
the Sylph did, no accident would have occurred. I
think the Sylph was going down the river much
quicker than a prudent captain would have brought
her, considering the fog which prevailed ; and I am
of the same opinion as to the speed at which the Or-
well was coming up. In such a state of the weather
there should be some regulation to prevent vessels
from proceeding at more than half speed. My im-
pression was, that we were travelling much quicker
than we ought to have been, and I kept on deck in
consequence, fearing the possibility of an accident.
After the collision I remained on the quarter deck of
the Sy]ph until all the deck passengers were got off,
when I went on board the Orwell. I then called out
to the man in charge to back astern and get the two
vessels clear, as I saw that the people were prevented
from getting out of the cabin of the Sylph while the
♦essels hung together.
By Mr. WILKINSON—The engines of the Sylph
were eased before I saw the Orwell. It was the fact
of her being eased that attracted my attention, and I
then looked out forward, and saw the Orwell's bows
close upon us. I judge of the speed of the Orwell
by the nature of the injuries inflicted on the Sylph.
I think she must have been going eight miles an hour
at least.

Capt. Smith was re-examined by the coroner, and
again questioned by Mr. Wilkinson, but nothing im-
portant was elicited beyond that which is above givee.
He declined to give an opinion that the commaeder of
the Orwell was to blame, and at the same time said
that he thought the captain of the Sylph had done all
he could to prevent accident.
Mr. George Edwards, of Sutton, Suffolk, being
sworn, said, I am a mariner, and was on board the
Orwell when the accident occurred. I wa4 standing
near the paddle-box, on the starboard side, when 1.
saw a steam-boat ahead about one hundred yards.
The vessel appeared to be across the river, with her
bow a little downwards. I heard Capt. Wrackham
give the order to stop her and beck her astern. The
collision took place directly after. I do not know
what speed either vessel had upon her when the acci-
dent occurred, but the Sylph, when I first saw her,
seemed to have headway. Capt. Wrackham was for-
ward at the time.

By Mr. Wilkinson—l was nearer to the engine-
room than Captain Wrackham was. I heard no one
give any order to the engineer. I could have done so
had any one spoken to the call-boy.
Robert Fuller, mariner, of Ipswich, said--I am a