The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-09 00:00:00

pothetical case of Hotspur' s spirits, and did not come when 1
they did summon him, that the addres was fictitious.
The allegaiions against Mr. Taylor and Mr. Garrett were
then withdraw., by Mr. B. uce, with ample apologies towards
those gentlemen for the injurious and groundless imputations
of the petition upon their station and character.
Mr. Shakell, the great railway proprietor, of the Charter.
house, was next examined, and gave his evidence with such
naiveté and coolness as to set the Committee in great good
humour. This gentleman's case has been so often before the
Pubic in various other proceedings of a similar nature, that
it is almost usele-s to state that he is a retired cornet, possess-
ing 26/ Der annum as the reward of his military services;
501. or 604 from the charity or benevolence of the ,Charter-
house (where he resides when in town) ; a rich brother.
living at Hockly-hall, Maidenhead, Berks ; a good reference to
' the said hall, whereat he is sometimes a visitor ; and a great
taste for railway speculation. He admitted that he had applied
for shares on the strength of Hockly•hall, and got them ; that
he did not keep any of them, as " he knew better than that,"
but sold them at a moderate premium.
Did he make much money ? asked an Hon. Member. •' Not
half as much as he ought," was the r'.ply.
Has he any interest in the line?—Not he, indeed.
After a very facetious examination, the Committee decided
that the gallant offi,er had, in giving hi. brother's re.itb nce as
his own, procure.] for himself a fictitious credit he did not de-
serve. _ _ _

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON
THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.
THE INQUEST.
The Coroner's inquest on the remains of the unfortunate
stoker, Richard Peat, took place on Thursday, at the Falcon Inn,
Littiebury. The proceedings commenced at eleven o'clock,
when, after the preliminaries of swearing the jury and viewing
the body were gone through, the first witness called on was
John Herbert, a labourer on the line, who deposed to having
seen the deceased at Stortford on Monday morning in good
health and spirits. He identified the deceased.
Robert Scott, another labourer, in the service of the com-
pany on the line, deposed that he was sitting near the chalk
bank between Chesterford and Littlebury, a mile from the
latter place, on Moat:ay last, jiwt before the accident took
place. Witness was at dinner at the time alone. He saw the
mail train coming down the line from London. It was as near
one o'clock as could be, and as it came past he saw one of
the carriages off the rail. He saw the engine cross the road and
turn over. The trait, came cn the west side of the road. The
engine turned round with her head towards London. He saw
nothing of the stoker who was killed, for he (witness) was sent
off by some gentlemen to assist the passengers, snit afterwards
he was engaged in getting the luggage and carriage' clear.
There were three men on the engine. He had been on the
line twelve menthe, and he aid not think that the train went
faster than it did at any other time previously. He bad been
at work tire da)s near the ye else: e the accident happened,
or whiles a quarter of a mile both ways, with eight other men.
These at the momeat were sitting on the side of the edge at
their dinner. Four trains had passed before during the day.
Thought that the jump of the engine must have injured the
rail. The rail had been examined by the foreman, John Elam-
wood, after the half-past nine train from London had passed,
and nothing was f,.und the matter with it. The foreman, was
in the habit of doing so three or four times a day. He stew
him examine the line both betore aiid atter breakfast. 'The
train came off the eastern side at the western line. The line
runs in that part nearly north and south.
William Feriiihough, an engineer, in the employment of the
company, and superintendent of the locomotive department.
deposed, that he left London by the half-pest eleven o'clock
mail train. John Young was driving. The engine ass No.
54. The deceased acted as fireman. Witness rode upon the
engine from London to the time of the accident. The engine
was a new tine, and had only been running two or three weeks.
He was on the engine in the ordinary course of his duty. The
engin gas a six wheeled one, and in his judgment a good one.
The trains came as well a-, usual down to Wendon. lie did
nut know at whet time they left Wendon, but it was his imi ree•
sion they were a little behind time. He was not very certain
of ihis fact, no' eined he positively swear to it.. They pro-
ceeded from the Wendon station, as on every day previously
since the opening of th • line, at the ordinary speed. He was
merely a looker-on, and did not speak at this time to the driver,
who had the entire control of the engine. If witness had perceived
anything incorrect in the management he would have spoken to
the driver. After passeng through the second tunnel he per-
ceived the driver reduce the speed by working in the third
notch of expansive gear, as he thought, and the steam nearly
cut off. It e as between the tunnel and the second three-
arched bridge, but exactly where, he could not say. There is
an inclination at that part of the toad. He then saw the en-
gine on the ballast, instead of on the rail, but felt no jump.
The accident took puce from the sec ,nri bridge, at the distance
of about three times the length of the train. The engine
ran in a straight direction on the balla-t, about the length of
the train, until she struck the in•ide rail of the up line, and
then she curved round to the right, and turned on to her left
side. Witness held fast hold of a cock on the left side of the
engine. He did not lose his presence of mind, and thought
he might be saved by holding fast if she went on straight
He was thrown tiff when she, turned over, and was blinded
and confounded among the tragmen,s. When he came to his
senses he found himself under the back part of the engine,
healed the fire-box. He supposed, from the concussions he
received, that he was torn limb from limb, and almost killed.
He remained half a moment, and, finding there was
no steam or water flying about, he crept out. He did
not see anything of the deceased for a quarter of an
hour. When witness got free lie shouted out the names of
the driver and fireman. The former answered, and he saw
him reeling about on the side of the road. Witness was so
exhausted he was obliged to sit down for a short time. The
deceased was found about a quarter of an hour afterwards under
the engine, arid then it was only his arm was seen. The en-
gine was removed last. It was plain the deceased muss have
been killed immediately. for the whole weight of the engine
was on him, and one or two of the fire bars having been broken
the coke came on to him and burned him. When the engine
was removed deceased was on his back on the inner rail of the
up-line. Witness had been down the hne every day since the
opening of the line except the previous Saturday He thought
they were trace bug at the rate of 30 miles an hour. When
they approached the inclined plane they slackened their speed
as is usual to do. The accident happened on the incline.
Before they slackened speed they had been travelling about
35 miles an hour. It was his opinion that the driver WAS
driving properly at the time of the accident in every respect,
and for a quick train, not at an improper or over speed Had
he been going at such a rate it would have been his duty to
tell him to go slower. He had done so to other men on the
line once or twice before., The driver was only known to him
about a month or two. He considered him as good a driver as
any in the service. He had been on the Manchester and Leeds
line, and was remarkable for his caution and carefulness. He
was more backward in his driving than otherwise. Witness
was on the engine when she was first tried, and he considered
her competent to be sent out with a quick train. She was,
technically speaking. truly built. She lifted her wheels like
all engines. • He did not consider the lifting of the wheels den-
' get ous, unless it was a very violent lifting. As to the cause of
the accident, nn thought something threw the engine off- The
left-hand side of the foot plate, where he was standing, did not
lift at all. He had reason to suppose that there was something
on the rail—that something was wrong in the stationary affairs
of the line. It occurred as if a bar had been lying across the
line. A stone would not be likely to throw it off by catching
11 the flange, for it would be instantly crushed. Before the en-
gine get on the ballast he did not perceive any jumping or late-
rat oscillation. That morning he himself had examined the
engine previously to starting from London, and found that
everything was correct.
Mr. Duncan, solicitor to the Company, stated that the driver
was on the Manchester and Lead= Railway for seven years.
and on that line there was an inclined plane of seven miles of
1 in 150.
Witness, in continuation, deposed that a tender had re-
cently come off the road when going at a very slow rate be-
tween Cambridge and Eiy. He thought that thirty miles an
hour was not too rapid nn a curve, and an inclination. By
his watch they were about seven minutes behind time at
Stortford. He considered the engine not top-heavy for a
large and powerful engine, and as far as top-heaviness was
concerned, if the road was safe, she was safe too at fifty miles
an hour on the level, and thirty down an inclined plane.
John Herbert recalled—He had walked up the line shortly
before the accident, arid every thing was clear. Ne rails or
tools were lying about.
Mr. Joseph Jackson, the seperintendent between Cam-
brioge and Brandeis, under Messrs. Grissell and Peto, de-
posed that he left London by the half-past eleven o'clock
train on Monday, in a first-class carriage, in the hinder part
of the train. It was the first of the first-class next the
engine. He thought they might have been two or three
minutes behind time on leaving London. He never travelled
in that fast train before, but he knew its speed from seeing it
pass alone the line before. They were going along " comfort-
ably," as he thought, when, at the moment of the accident,
the first thing he felt was a difference in the beat of the en-
gine. He then put his head out of the window, and saw the
gravel flying up ; and the engine curving en the right side en-
abled him to see it. A lady was sitting in the carriage with
him ; he held her back, to avoid as much as possible any con-
cussion. A bump then came, and then another, and all was
at a dead stop. He then got out and took our the lady, after
which he went to look after the passengers. The e gine was
lying on her side. He found the driver and Mr. Fereihough,
and then he saw a hand projecting from under the enetne,
which he knew must be the stoker's. He knew he must be
dead, from the weight of the engine. Everything was done
to remove the engine, which wits a work of some time, and
depended on the number of hands employed. When the
stoker was taken from under the engine, the police emit
charge of the body. The death took elute from presser", not
from scalding, and mutt have been instantaneous. Witness
afterwards examined the line, and found it torts up Int some-
thing like a hundred yards of both rails of the down line.
There was a rail injured at. one end, and he saw in a moment
that that was the cause of the accident, without going farther
A piece of it was not broken off, but bent right down. He
traced the flange of the wheel, on the bent part, and it oc-
curred therefore to him that that bit of metal was not quite
sound, at least not so sound as the rails generally are. It was
the end of the rail that was bent. Re thought there was a
taw in the rail which could not be discovered previously.,
Before the accident occurred they were going, in his opinion, at
an ordinary pace ; and he did not think that thirty miles an
hour dawn the incline was too fast. Between the engine and
the carriages there was a horse-box and a luggage van.
The broken rail was here brought into the room through the
window, and it was inspected by the jury.
Williem Cox, a labourer on the line, deposed that he was at
work near the spot where the accident occurred on Monday,'
end passed innhnut a quarter of an hour previously, and the
line appeared to be perfect and right in every point. Had
there been anything to obstruct the train, he must have seen it,
as it was his habit of observing that portion of the line three or
four times, to see all was right He saw the train coming from
where he was on the chalk bank, on the east side. It appeared,
to him to be going at a faster rate than ever he saw it going,
before. He saw the engine rocking when at a distance ofi
about fifty yards from him. He then saw the engine jump up,
leaving a space of between six and seven inches between the.
wheel and the metal. Then she came on to a joint, and from
this to the ballast. She plooghed the road up and curved
round and went into the chalk bank, falling right over. After
that he assisted the passengers out of the carriages, but saw
nothing of the &ceased. The road was in as good repair as it
could be. He thought the cause of the accident was in the
great speed at which the train was going, which in his judg-
ment was about fifty miles an hour. He had worked on rail-
ways for about eight years. and could tell their rate of speed
very well from experience in looking at them.
A conversation occurred here between the Coroner and
several gentlemen connectedwith the Company has to the curve
and the inclination at the place of the accident, from which it
appeared that the curve had two miles radios; and \lr. Hanson,
the director of the traffic, said that whether the curve had an
inclinition or not made very little difference.
Mr. Phipps, the engineer of the line, in answer to the
Coroner, was of opinion th it the train might have proceeded
at from thirty-five to forty miles an hour down the incline,
and he agreed with Mr. Jackson as to the immediate cause of
the accident.
Mr. Lawford, oise of the resident engineers on the line, in
answer to a question from the Coroner, said he got out of the
aftertr ai train
taitme Wendon,Tne ywhhaedr,e
nhoewtehroeurg, thought
ethey had
behind arrived rfievyre nit
minutesat oalln
leaving London.
The CORONER said the great point to arrive at was whether
the train went at an improper speed or net ; and he should like
to have Mr. Phipps sworn, and take his opinion on the accident
as far as he could give it.
Mr. Phipps was then swum, and deposed that the accident
must have occurred from the rising of the fore part of the
engine, which might arise from the depression of that par.
ticular joint of the rail, or from preceding joints putting the
engine in a state of oscillation. This he was inclined to hold
to in preference to the opinion that the train went at too great
a speed, which would have made no difference in such a slight
inclination. Certainly an engine and train might travel down
it with perfect safety at thirty-five miles an hour. He thought
the engine one of the best.
Mr. Hanson here stated it was one of the tsve that took
down the Directors and their friends en the openine excursion.
Mr. Fernihough said, is answer to the Coroner, that the
engine was worth 1,8001., and the damage to it he estimated
at about 2501.
Mr. Phippn in continuation, was of opinion that over-speed
did not always cause a jumpine of the engine. She would
jump more. probably, from irregularity in the road—he meant
by irregularity depress; in in the joints.
It was the duty of the inspector of the line and his men to
see after this.
Mr. Feraihnugh explained how Cox's testimony could not be
depended on for accuracy. That witness hail stated that the
enginejumped six or seven inehes ; that he sew spice between
the flange of the wheel and the rail, and at the distance of fifty
yards, which was impossible
The CORONER stated that if it was the fact, as Mr. Law-
ford had stated conversationally, that the train arrived at
Wendon in time, it might be fairly inferred the driver could

have no object in increasing his speed. He thought, however,
that it would be satisfactory to have that gentleman sworn.
Mr. Lawford, the engineer between Stortford and Cam-
bridge, deposed that he lett London in the train on Monday,
and examined his watch and the clock at Shoreditch, which
agreed. He looked at his watch again when he arrived at
Wendon, and found they had arrived in time to a minute. It
ought to take 63/4 minutes at 31) miles an hour to reach the
spot where the accident occurred from Wendon. Nobody
could tell at what moment it occurred. He got out of the
train at Wendon.
The CORONER said that it was very much to be desired that
General Pasley be examined, as he had investigated the cir-
cumstances of the accident, and in all probability had come by
this time to a conclusion as to how it originally occurred. They
had got at the immediate cause, but. not at the first one. if
even some intelligent passenger could be brought forward, he
might throw some light on a matter which was still involved in
some mystery.
One or two of the jury expressed their coincidence with the
toe
Coroner's opinion.
The CORONER then said that, under all the circumstances.
adjourn the inquest until General
hpea,tll4u,sgehyti
diet
nc hise court
some consultation it Was agrr,..'d adj,,urn the inquest
to Wednesday next, at twelve o'clock.
otty
b

ALLEGED )1 EDICAL ILL-TREAT-

Mr. C. Brown, of the St. James's Chronicle, a 2,50 N.
shareholder, was next examined. lie was set down in the
petition as residing at 30, Blackfriars-road, whereas his real
residence is at 38. He stated that the indignant owner of No.
30 was near " pommeling " him, on the supposition that the
wrong address had been given on purpose. and that the charac-
ter of his house would be injured by it.
The Committee decided that due diligence had not
used by the petitioner to ascertain the real address of Mr.
Brown.

MEN T.

On Thursday forenoon at nine o'clock an inquiry, adjourned
from Tuesday last, was resumed before Mr. T Wakley. M.P.,
at the White Horse, Great Saffron hill, on the body of Eliza-
beth Anne Crouder, aged 39, the wife 01 a po r labouritig man
in the employ oi Mr. Merry weather, engine mainitacterer, of
Lung-acre. The itiquiry was attended by a large number of
medical practitioners.
Sarah Thornton was first called. hSee said she knew de-
ceased, who resided at 54, saffron hill. On Wednesday week
last the deceased was suddenly taken in labour, and Mr.
Hawkins, surgeon, of 54, Hatton-garden, was called in to
attend her. hrethr. to t
a maleut elevenh
o'cioiik that morning deceased
g
again seized with violent pale, and expressed her conviction
i .biic.
sh
, rtly
after the deceased was
to Mr. Hawkins that she was about to give birth to a second
child, and put it to him whether he would not re-
quire further assistance. In reply to this Mr. Haw-
kins said that deceased was going on favourably, and added
that if there were twenty medical men present, they could
render no assistance. From the appearance of deceased,
witness felt convinced there was a second child, but Mr.
Hawkins denied it, and said that all that remained was a small
portion of the " presenter." Mr. Hawkins remained with the
deceased up to five o'clock the next morning, when he went
away to procure some medicine for her. The witness here
entered into a minute detail of what took place between the
interval of the birth of the first chile, acid Mr. Hawkins's
leaving the deceased, the greater portion of which is unfit tor
publication. The facts deduced went to show that Mr.
Hawkins used forcible anti undue means towards deceased, the
effect of which was to cause great laceration, and ulti:nately a
protrusion of the intestines. During the period Mr. Hawkins
was pursuing this course of treatment towards her, the 'le-
ceased, who was suffering the most excruciating agony,
frequently compla:ned of his behaviour.
.ors. Elizabeth Smith proved that she was caled np at
half-past five o'clock on the morning of Thursday week to
attend deceased; she remained with her until her death,
which took place at half-past six the same evening. Previous
to dying, the deceased declared that. Mr. Hawkins had mur-
dered her, and she made a similar declaration to the minister
who was sent for to afford her spiritual consolation

Mr. Downes, 3. Tooley-street, 2,500/. ; Mr. Dawes, Dar-
lington lilac*, Borough, 2,0001.; a❑d Mr. Hitchcock, 52,
Broad-street, 50,000/ , were then successively examined, and
proved that the allegations of the petition were not well-
founded, inasmuch as their names and places of abode were
not fictitious and false.

Major Sherman, 51, St. Mary-axe, 50,000/. ; Mr. Itryant,
10S, Leodenhall-street, 1,0001. ; Mr. Strange, Leadenly-ill-
street, I,o'lo/. ; Dr. Hamilton, 106. Crawford street, 1,500/. ;
Mr. Dance, East-street, Red Lion square. 12,5001. ; Mr.
Ridcock, dairy man, Storey's- gate, 500/. ; Mr. Haines, the
Treasury, 1,000/. ; Mr. 'Monday, warehouseman, Elcom-
terra re, Islington, 1,000/. ; Mr. Pitman, 5, Powis-place,
Great Ormond-street, 5,0001. ; Mr. Cox, 7, Dyer's-buildings,
Holborn, 10,(x)01, went next in order, and occupied the Com-
mittee tip to their adjournment.
Mr. Cox, it was understood. preyed refractory, and refused
to answer some questions put to him, whereupon he was warned
of the consequences, and allowed a special act of grace till to-
morrow to refl,cr upon his conduct, and amend it, if so ad-
vised by his iotervehing coguaitons. 1n all the other cases it
was understood that. the result of the investigation established
the eharseter and position of the persons assailed in the peti•
tion ; that Mr. Bruce made the best amend he could in some of
them ; arid that to others various members of the Committee
expressed the regret they felt at seeing gentlemen whose sta-
tion-and respectability they themselves could vouch for placed
in so awkward a pnsition.
Up to five o'clock the w tnesses were tolerably quiescent, as
it was expected the Committee would rise at that, the usual
hour. However. six o'clock came, but with it no adjourn-
ment. As the persons in attendance were strictly forbidden to
depart without leave, unless they wished to undergo all sorts or
inflictions from Speaker's warrants and Sergean's-at. Arms, it
may be imagined that they were very wrathful, especially these
who were lusting after the flesh-pots at home, or who had dined
early, and saw no prospect of supper. A, seven o'clock, there-
fore, there were general signs of mutiny. Grumbles were
heard. The House of Commons in general, and that Select
Committee in particular, were favoured with a sort of notice
not very complimentary or elegant, and several resolute gentle-
men were actually heading a march down stairs, when it was
announced that the Committee had adjourned. " Pray, Sir,
is it till eleven or twelve to-morrow ?"--" Why they've only
risen to dine ; they meet again at nine o'clock." This was
thought to be a joke, for a few moments, till Honourable
Members confirmed the sad reality, and at nine o'clock, accord-
ingly, all the witnesses were again assembled in the lobby,
in the worst possible humour. One old gentleman declared
that " they were more like a council of Red Indians than a
Christian House of Commons." Another piteously inquired
" How am I to be up before the Lords to-morrow at eleven
o'clock if I'm kept up this way ?" 0 hers enlarged upon the
sufferings of their domestic circles at such an unexpected and
unusual absence, and a country witness, when it came to
eleven o'clock, informed his sympathising friends that he
never had been up to such an unearthly hour for the last
twenty years.
As the time wore on the impatience of the witnesses in-
creased, and the above complaints and grievances were in-
creased in vehemence and intensity. Mr. Bruce, Mr. Croucher,
the railway, the contract deed, everything or body that could
be assailed, was anathematised with hearty good will, until word
was brought out that Hon. Members would sit till three or four
o'clock, when theelderly witnesses went off in despair, and, search-
ing for soft spots on the tables and benches of an empty com-
mittee-room, formed a kind of railway bivouac, more novel
than picturesque. The more mercurial gentlemen amused
themselves with playing leapfrog, distorting the witnesses'
names as they were summoned in. Mr. Cox 1 Fox ! Nos. !
&c., wakening the policemen by alarms of tire, and ringing the
division bell with great energy. Indeed, it is said that such a
scene was never witnessed before in the House of Commons,
and that the records may be searched in vain for any similar
instance of a Committee sitting beyond midnight. Hon.
Members who serve on railway committees must certainly be
provided with the constitution of a steam-engine. It was un-
derstood that their labour to-day was not altogether passive,
but that some very active business took place inside, and the
occasions of doubt and discussion were certainly not unfrequent,
it' one might judge from the number of times the room was
cleared. It was hoped that the Committee could decide upon
the cases before three o'clock, and accordingly the printers
were ordered to be in reaiiiness ; but finding, at one o'clock
this morning, that a great number of witnesses remained to be
examined, they gave in, and adjourned at that hour to eleven
o'clock.
A number of ref-actory witnesses were specially invited to
attend by a Speaker's warrant.

fhe CORONER—When the deceased charged Mr. Hawkins
with murdering her, is it your opinion that she was aware that
she was in a dying condition ? Witness—Certainly. She
thanked us all a quarter of an hour before her death for our
kinowss towards her, and she then said that Hawkins had
murdered her.

By the Jury—l heard deceased ask Mr. Hawkins whether
he did not require other assistance, but he reiu-ed to call in
any one until deceased's husband insist 41 upon having another
medical gentleman sent fr, Mr. Thorne, another surgeon,
came on the Thursday morning about nine o'clock, and on
seeing deceased he instantly deelared that 'here was another
child, and that she was in a hopeless condition. After the lapse
of a few minutes he succeeded in delivering deceased of the
second child. This infant was full-sized and dead, but the first
child was alive and well. "The deceased had had nine children
previously.
Mr. John Thorne, of No. 4, Mylne-street, Pentonville, said
he was a surgeon, and was.sent for to see deceased on the
morning of Thursday week. On examination of deceased, he
found Itrge portions of the intestines protruding, and the head
of a child presenting itself. The face of the deceased was
pallid, and the pulse feeble ; indeed it appeared as if the vital
power was fast sinkinw. Seeing this, Witness lott no time in
delivering deceased of the second child, which he effected with
a whalebone fillet. Mr. Gibson; another surgeon, had also
arrived, and delivered deceased of the second '°placenta." and
returned the protrudine intestines. He then called witness's
attention to a large laceration in the posterior portion of the
vagina. Stimulants were given to deceased, in consequence of
her sinking condition.
Mr. Gibson, surgeon, of 115, Holborn-hill, and Mr. Bartlett,
of 24, Hatton. garden, another surgeon, who were celled in,
corroborated, in all the main points, the evidence as to the
condition deceased was in.

.....
Mr. J. Hall Davis, of 17, Russell-street, F teroy-square,
physician, and lecturer on midwifery, said he had made a post
rigorism examination of. the body. Dr. Forbes, Mr. Thorne,
and Mr. Gibson were present at that examination. Mr. Haw-
kins was not there, although he (v/itness) had sent him notice
in writing when it was to take place The witness proceeded
to describe the lacerations before alluded to, more particularly
the rent in the vagina.
By the CORONER-1 have no doubt but that the latter in-
jury was done w ith the hands, in efforts made to separate what
was considered by the medical man as the " placenta." The
injuries she had thus received were the cause of death.
Tne CORONER. here inquired of Mr. Hawkins if he wished
to make any statement himself, or that he (the Coroner) should
call any witness in his behalf?
Mr. Hawkins desired that. his sister might be sent for, as she
had a conversation with the deceased on the morning she was
first taken ill. This was d-ne. but the whole of her statement
wee, flatly contradicted by the husband of the deceased, and the
witnesses Thornton and Smith.

.....
The CORONER recapitulated the evidence. The evidence
adduced certainly implied an extent of ignorance truly in-
explicable; how any man, possessing a medical education,
could have pursued the course adopted by him was truly asto-
nishing
Ihe jury found, " That the death of Elisabeth Anne
Crouder yrs..; produced by the ignorance and unskilful con-
duct of James Hawkins."
The CORONER—Are you aware, gentlemen, that such a ver-
dict is tantamount to one of manslaughter?
The Foreman_ We are, Sir.
The CORONER said, thrn he bad no alternative. but to com-
mit Mr. Hawkins to Ni-wgate on the charge of manslaughter
Mr. ilawkin4 applied to be admitted to bail, but the Coroner
said he had an power ti do so ; and he was committed, on the
Coroner's warrant, to Newgate.

LEEDS AiND BRAI)F()RI) RAIL
WAY ComPA.,%Y.

The half-yearly meeting of the Proprietors in this railway
was held at the North Alidland Railway station, Leeds, at noon,
on Wedinsday last George Hudson, Esq., Chairman of the
Board of Direcrors, presided. There was a large attendance
of shareholders. Great importance attached to the meeting,
owing to the arrangement wh'eh has just been entered into be-
tween this Company, the Leeds and %lanchester, and the West
Yorkshire and West Riding Junction Companies.
The following report was read by the secretary t—tt Since
the last half-yearly meeting your Directors have obtained
the sanction of Parliament to the Bill for making an exten-
sion of the Leeds and Bradford Railway, from Shipley to
Colne, with a branch to Howarth. The engineer is
now busily eruaged in staking out the line, and no time
will be lost in obtaining pssession of the land. Your Direc-
tors will, in a short time, be prepared to let part of the new
works, and they have already secured the rails and chairs, on
moderate terms. From the neighbourhood of Skipton rail-
ways, in continuation of the extension line, are now projected
in nearly every direction, so that the Leeds and Bradford is
Ilk-1y to prove a more important trunk railway than was origi-
nally contemplated. The engineer reports favourably as to
the progress of the works on the original line, which your
Directors have every reason to hope will be completed wit hin
the time fixed by the contracts. The recent Parliamentary
contest between the West Yorkshire and the Leeds and West
Riding Companies has issued in an arrangement on a dlr_
ferent basis from that recommended by your Directors. In
that arrangement, however, the right of this Company to the
traffic between Leeds and Bradford is distinctly recognised, and
your Directors have no reason to doubt that this principle will
be fully carried out. The subject of a branch line into Wharf-
dale will be brought before the Shareholders at a future oppor-
tunity—in the meantime, surveys are going en."
The SECRETARY then read the statement of the accounts,
from which it appeared that the total disbursements of the
Company, up to the 30th of June. 1845. were 141 9761. is. 44.;
and she receipts on calls, &c., 145,7:10/. Bs. 10d., leaving a
balance slue from the bankers of 3.8041. 7s. 6d.

HFR MAJESTY S EMBARKATION. WTOOLWICiI,
Ann. pianoforte was brought to Wool-
wie 7.—A. veryht.daybyon superb
eofErard
's vans, and immediately put on
board the Royal Victoria and Albert steam-yacht for her
Majesty. The river opposite Woolwich is new very animated
in consequence of the number of steam-vessels at their moor-
ings. and the numerous boats passing to aced from the royal
yacht, the Black Eagle, the Liehteing, the Porcupine, and
the Monkey steam-vessele, intended to proceed to Antwerp on
the occasion of her Majesty's visit to the Continent. and the
Cycloop, Duteh steam-vessel, preparing for the embarkation
of the King of the Netherlands. The Lightning steam-
vessel, Master-Commander Petley, and the Monkey eteam-
vessel, Master-('ommander William Bryant, are expeeted to
sail to-morrow merning :irh several of the royal caeriaeres on
board, to be landed at Antwerp. The Monkey steam-vessel
has also taken on board to-day a considerable quantity of new
gear and a new screw propeller from Messrs. Penn and Son's,
for the use of the Fairy, eteern tender to ,he royal yacht, in
case those articles should be required during her Majesty's
progress up the rivers of the Continent.
Cite le!)NDoe AND YORK RAILWAY —The prompt
c raditallegations of Mr. Bruce's petition
against
Yorkand Relwar, in nue particular in-
et
thec tioLnond,:n given
stanee within the knowledge of a Member of Parliament, who
was attending in his place when the petition we ,s presented.
has been followed tip by further disproof of is charges in the
Committee. In truth, the promoters of the petition already
show a senso of the consequences which they have incurred by
haviutt rashly made a wide and sweeping statement. lab-. Bruce,
the petitioner, disclaimed a'3, knowledge of the facts per-
sonally, and said he drew up the document on the ieformation
of Mr. Parkes and Mr. Humphreys, who appear to have egre-
giously misled him. Mi. Perkes, having in vain endeavoured
by an excuse, which was overruled, to get en adjournment,
then applied to be allowed to select 17 out of the 66 'eases, in
which motion he was overruled also, the Committee properly de-
ciding that they would take them all in due course. Taking
them so then, the list was berm unsuccessfully eneueth for the
petitioner. Nevertheless, we do not and c .nroit doubt but that
some of the allegations which he has been mule to make will
b; established. But the question, after all, for Parliament to
decide will be, whether there is a :sufficient admixture of frau-
dulent subscribers to contaminate and disqualify the whole
number, and to defeat a great undertaking. If fifty righteous
men could save a wicked and condemned city, how many of the
opposite kind shall it take to condemn a company ? We de
not implicitly sympathise with toe ndignation of gentlemen
at the bare questioning of their adequac • to meet demands
to which they voluntarily come forward and make them-
selves liable for. In some sort they provoke the in-
quiry. But, on the other hand, we are bound to re-
probate the random attack upon solvency by rivals no better
qualified. Such a system resembles the speculative and fishing
objections against voters, which it has been f •und necessary to
restrain by a prevision for giving costs when they are made
frivolowdy and without cause. Enough has already transpired
to satisfy its that the proof':; of Mr. Bruce's assertions will fall
very tar short of his allegations. Unless his agents can make
out a case of guilty participation or coneivance, or negligence,
and want of proper precaution, and would bring it under the
Galway precedent, they will not be entitled to have the Bill
thrown out. The Select Committee have ,et about their task
with an energy which is the more laudable as it ie most un-
common, but although they had net at two o'clock this morning
concluded a sitting which commenced at eleven A.M.. we fear
that the delay already incurred will render the passing of the
Bill this session impossible.— Times.
SOUTUAMPT,)N, AUG 7. i'ii'-Oriental Company's
steam-ship the Duke of Cornwall, arrived at the Motherbank
at one o'clock this morning, and landed the East India and
China mails, which were forwarded to London by the two
o'clock A.M. mail train. She left Alexandria July 20, Malta
July 26, and Gibraltar Atign-t 1. The Cornw ill has a full and
valuable cargo, and the following passeneere.—Ahdell Effendi,
Mr. Benham, Miss White, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Knox. Mr. Black,
Miss Cotton, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Clifton, Mr. Kouch, Mr.
Hurst, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Gal.atti, Mr. Macdonald, Mr.
Cagell, Mr. Cleverley, Mr. Battrey, Mr. Wedderburn, Mr.
and Mrs. Northmore, Miss Wilson, and Miss Harman. On
August the sth she exehanged colours with the West India
steam-packet the Forth, in lat. 46.04, lone. 7.26. The same
Company's steam-packet the Queen, Captain Russell, left the
docks for Gibraltar, with the Peninsular and other made, an
average cargo, 25 passengers, and three very fine horses, for
Gibraltar. The Duke of Cornwall is expected to be released
from quarantine to-morrow.
FOOT-RACE IN HYDE PARE.—On Thursiiy a sane.
mile running match came off in Hyde Park between Hollis of
Brampton and Weller of Pimlico. The stakes were Si. aside.
At the start Hollis took the lead, which he maintained for half
a mile, when his opponent came up, and a spirited race ensued.
They ran well together, both making greet exertions for vic-
tory, and which Weller achieved. and was accordingly declared
winner. the one mile of ground was completed by the winner
in five minutes nineteen second,.

The report was unanimously agreed to, and after passing
resolutions of a formal nature, the meeting adjourned.

LONDON AND COUNTY JOINT-STOCK BANK.—
On Thursday the half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors
of the above bank was held in the board room, No. 71,
Lombard street, City, William Hawes, Esq., in the chair.
The report of the directors, read by Mr. It. P. Nicholls,
the seeretaty, stated that they had declared a dividend
on the capital stuck of the Company of 5 per cent.,
tree of income-tax. The business of the bank continued
to increase steadily, and the balance, 1,6931. 175., now pro-
posed to be placed to the guarantee fund, would, with the
surplus of the last half-year of 2,5541. 15s. 6d., and in-
terest thereon, make an increase to that fund for the year of
4,4411. 10s. 6d. In announcing the ternainaion and settle-
ment o, the law proceedings in which the company had been
engaged, the directors called the attention of the proprietors
to the improved prospects of the company, and to express
their opinion' that the cessation of those proceedings, and
the release of a large sum so long unemployed for profitable
investment, would, at an early period. justify a satisfac-
tory increase of dividends to the proprietors. The loss
arising from the law proceedings would not exceed the sum
now placed to the credit of the guarantee fund; and it was the
intention of the directors, at the next meeting, to submit for
the consideration of the proprietors a '
resolution to apply that
fund, or such part of it as might be required, to its liqu.dation.
Tue repo-t having been adopted, and a dividend of 5 per cent.
declared, the balance--heet was read. It stated the gross pro-
Eta of the year to amount to the sum of 33,7961. 9s. t Id. A
vote of thanks was then pas=ed to the chairman and the direc-
tors, and the meeting separated.
NIGHT BALLOON ASCFNT FROM CREMORNE HOUSE.
—Thursday night Mr. C. Green made his 306th ascent in his
" Albion" Balloon, from Cremorne House, it being the second
night aerial trip this season. On the occasion there was a very
numerous company in 41.e-geoetooveraird an additional variety of
amusement was provided. The balloon was placed in the front
ground, nearly adjoining to King's-road, arid a strong barrier
,as erected to prevent the immense throng from approaching
ten near the men- emplo)ed in arranging the preparations for
the ascent. This was to have taken place at ten o'clock ; but
in consequence of the necessity of taking every necessary pre-
eaution against an accident, it did not occur till nearly a
quarter to eleven o'clock. By this time, it being intended to
hare a pyrotechnic exhibition after the balloon had reached an
elevation of about 2.000 feet, a wooden frame work, about
five feet in diameter, was attached to the car, with which
was connected the apparatus to which the various fireworks
were fixed. About 4 cwt. of sand, in bags, the grappling irons,
the barometer, &c., were also deposited in the car. Mr.
C. G
the word that he was ready, upon which
).e ii liberated'. himself, the band playing " God save
zeend,a then
t,iy Have
the Queen." The ascent was slow, and, for several hundreds
of yards directly perpendicular, the aeronaut being greeted with
the loud cheers of the company. Having attained the altitude
intended, a beautiful display of fireworks took place. An illu-
mination, successively, of white, pink, and gr,en colours was
presented, which was followed by a discharge of Roman candles.
A change occurred, which caused the frame-work to revolve,
leading to a discharge of various-coloured stars. The whole
concluded by a loud report, accompanied by a shower of silver
fire. The balloon was carried in an easterly direction. c
d
fireworks, the height he reach
Sub-
sequently a youth named Herbert made an ascent in a small
balloon, amidst a discharge of h
being about fifty feet.
e have had a
OKKNEY, KIRKWALL. JULY 2 W 6
grand whale hunt here this week, which, although not at-
tended with success, has afforded some -port to the irhabitants.
Ou Thursday last about 100 whales were discovered sporting
their figures in our bay, when a grand turn out of gentle and
simple was soon made, and every boat and lethal weapon that
cculd be mustered were put in requisition. The bottle-noses,
however, proved to be « too far north" to be caught by land-
lubbers. It is supposed they are still in the bay taking a breath-
ing, to be ready for another Chace.
EARLY HAILvE,T.—i crot) of corn, st).!4c:Lf-
ingi to Mr. Smith, Content Garden, Wallace-town, was cut on
Saturday last. It was sown on the 25th March, and came into
ear on the 16th June. Seventeen weeks thus elapsed between
towing and resping•ekr Obiwter.

•A.T11.1.1 MARKUT. FRIDAY, AUG. I.
From the number aril quality of the stock, and the attendance
of buyers, this w►s dectd,:dly the best rnarke, of the season,
though no advance can he stated on prices since last market,
the month's keep being consequently lost to the farmers. Three
years old Gaboways brought from 71. tft 91., according to
quality. For 40, and one la, of 50, three and rising four years
old, ten guineas were paid. This price bad been previously
off•red for the 50 at the last Stranrier market Although
prices did not come up to the expectation of the farmers, there
was a great deal of business done, and by five o'clock most of the
lots were disposed of.

.+~'

T t SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING AUGUST 9, 1845:

LATEST PitltiES OF SHARES

IN RAILWAYS, BANKS, ASSURANCE, ANI)

() FUER COMPANIES' STOCK.

From the Official List,
I'UBLISIIED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY EVENING.

LONDON. FRIDAY, AUGUST 8.

nii.XZWAYS.