The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVgNING, APRIL 8, 1844,

THE LATE FATAL CONFLAGRA-
TION 1N OXFORD-STREET

INQUEST ON THE BODIES OF THE SIX
SUFFERERS.

On Saturday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, the Coroner's
investigation was commenced by Mr. Higgs, the
deputy. coroner for Westminster, before a jury of
fourteen' respectable tradesmen, at the Malpas Arms.
pablia-house, Charles-street, Grovesnor-square, on
the bodies of the si± unfortunate persons, namely,
Mrs. Eliza Williams, aged 31 years; Eliza Williams,
her daughter, aged 4 years ; William Williams, her
infant; Sarah Hodgson, aged 25 years • Charlotte
Fisk, aged 30 years (the servant) ; and Henry Jacob
Pickering, aged 12 years ; who lost their lives at the
dreadful fire at the Crown and Cushion tavern and
wine vaults, at the corner of Gilbert-street, in Oxford-
street, on the night of Thursday last.
The jury having been sworn, proceeded to view the
remains of the unfortunate deceased persons which
lay in the dead-house attached to St. George's Work-
house. On the return of the jury to the inquest-
room the following evidence was taken :
William }luck, a police-constable of the C division,
No. 98, stated that on the night of the fire (Thursday
last) he was on duty in Gilbert-street, Oxford-street.
At about half-past eleven o'clock he was standing
with his back against the counting-house of Mr.
Williams, spirit and wine-merchant, known as the
Crown and Cushion. at the corner of Gilbert-
street, and Oxford-street, when ha saw a blue
flame on the counter. At that time he noticed the
barman in the same part of the premises standing be-
hind the counter. All the lights were burning through-
out the house. The barman seeing witness, said "For
God's sake, go and call the engines, for we are all in
a blaze." He (witness) then sprang his rattle,
shouted " fire," and called a cab, into which he got,
and ordered the_ driver to drive to the King-street
station of the Fire-brigade, and request Mr. Foga to
bring the engines. A green door was parallel with
the counting-house and staircase, but witness could
not tell whether it was open or closed. The cabriolet
was driven with all speed to King-street, when wit-
ness ordered not only the engines, but also the escapes
belonging_ to the Royal Society for Protection of Life
from Fire. He next went to the engineers of other
engines, .and gave information of the calamity.
One of the jury thought that the policeman would
,have done better to have sent some one for the en-
gines, and have remained himself on the premises, to
have rendered assistance to the inmates.
The CORONER said he had no doubt the officer did
what he considered was the best.

The evidence was corroborated by police-constable
33 C, who added that on his getting in front of the
Crown and Cushion, he observed flames breaking
through-the side door, into Gilbert-street, but there
was not much fire then. It appeared to witness to
be that moment bursting forth.
The next witness examined was William Hewitt,
who said that he was a barman to Mr. Williams.
On the night of Thursday last his master was not at
home. When the fire broke out the shop was
open, and he was serving customers at the bar.
The hour Mrs. Williams retired to bed he could not tell.

He.heard and saw -Goodwin pumping up the spirits
at the bar; Goodwin was quite sober at the time, and
lived on good terms with the family. When the
flames were beginning to spread, some one brought a
ladder, which was placed against the parlour window
over the counting-house, but the fire growing stronger
it spread with indescribable rapidity.

The CORONER—Did any one escape by means of
the ladder ? Witness—No sooner was it placed where
I have stated, than Miss Fritchley got upon it, but
she was obliged to jump down to escape being burnt
to death.

A juror—Do you think, Mr. Hewitt, if a person
had gone up stairs at the first, the inmates would have
been able to escape ? Witness—l don't think they
would, because the intense heat caused the bottles to
keep cracking, and the contents (liquor) becoming
ignited, the flames spread quicker.
The Coßoseß—How long have you lived with Mr.
Williams ? Witness—About three weeks, and I may
almost be termed a stranger.
Mr. William Thompson, an upholsterer in Gilbert-
street, here stepped forward, and begged to say a few
words. On hearing the alarm of fire on the night in
question he instantly hastened to the spot with a fire-
escape Which he kept in his possession. A very few
minutes had then elapsed after the outbreak, and
hearing that there were people in the house he went
to the next house for the purpose of getting on to the
ro')f, where he considered there would be a chance of
saving the' parties, but he was prevented from
going up by a policeman, who was standing at the
door, and who refused any one admission into the
premises. He told him his intentions, when the mob
outside exclaimed that they had all been got out. He
was positive that had the police allowed him to pass
he could have saved many of the unfortunate persons,
for there was sufficient time to reach them from the
roof, which was the only accessible means of getting
into the premises, the flames having the entire posses-
sion of the bar and counter.

Robert Tozer, an engineer in the brigade force,
WAS next called. He stated, at a quarter to twelve
o'clock on Thursday night, he received information
of a fire breaking out at the Crown and Cushion
tavern, he forthwith proceeded to the spot, with the
engine and firemen belonging to the station of which
he had charge, namely, Baker-street, Portman-square.
On arriving he found the premises nearly on fire from
the shop to the roof, and the flames were extending
out halfway across Oxford-street. Two other en-
gines had previously arrived—one from King-street
station, and the other from Marylebone Court-house,
belonging to the parish. They were directly got to
work ; and, after working the one he brought
in front of the house, he took the hose on to
the roof of the adjacent premises, and played into
that on fire. After extinguishing the flames, they
commenced to search the ruins for the deceased persons.
The first they came to was between one and two
o'clock, which proved to be that of the boy Pickering.
He was lying on the flooring of the second floor front
room, which partly stands, and was not much burnt.
The next—namely, that of Mrs. Williams—was found
on the remains of the uppermost flooring, and near
her laid the two servants with the children in their
arms. Witness described the condition of the re-
mains when first discovered, which caused a most
painful sensation throughout the court.
By a juror—He did not think ten minutes elapsed
from the time of receiving the intelligence until he
arrived with the engine. His station in Baker-street
is within half a mile of the place. A fire-escape had
reached the fire before his arrival, and he saw it fixed
against one of the adjoining houses. The conductor
of it told witness that he was afraid of placing the
machine against Mr. Williams's house in case the
canvass caught fire, for the flames were bursting out
of the shop with great violence.
A relative of the sufferers—Do you not think that
the lives could have been saved at the time your en-
gine arrived, had the police and the fire-escape people
taken proper measures ? Witness—No, sir, I think
not, for every part of the house was then in flames,
and the poor creatures must have all perished long
before that period. I am, however, of opinion, having
examined into the circumstances, that both the lives
and the house might have been saved had the count •
ing-house door been closed; it was, unfortunately,
left wide open amidst the confusion, and this ac-
counts for the flames extending throughout the
house with the astonishing velocity they did.
A juror—lt is but proper that engines should be
provided with blankets, in case of an emergencyof this
description, in order that persons can escape by throw-
ing themselves into them.—Witness replied that
nearly the whole of the engines belonging to the Lon-
don
Fire Establishment were provides with canvass
sheets, which answered the same purpose, and also
lengths of scaling ladders.
The only witness now to be examined was John
Goodwin, the other barman, who, on being called, ap-
peared to suffer great mental anguish. Having been
cautioned by the Coroner that he need not make any
statement to criminate himself, he said he was willing
to give all the information that laid in his power. He
was then sworn, and stated that since the fire he had
been living, at No. 26, Thomas-street, Grosvenor-
square. He had acted as foreman in the service of
Mr. Williams, for three years, and his duty, amongst
other things, was to see to the vats and casks on the
premises being properly filled. On Thursday morn-
ing Mr. Williams said he should expect him to pump
up the gin into one of the vats, but he wished it
not to be done till after the house was closed.
The vat contained three hundred gallons. He
(witness) would have attended to Mr. Williams's
instructions, and, not- have commenced till after
the shop had been closed, but finding the business slack,
after half-past eleven o'clock at night, he set about
the task. The pump was erected near the counting-
house door, and the spirit was conveyed out of a
puncheon in the cellar up into the vats above the bar,
and counter. He bad not commenced pumping but
one or two minutes before he found the spirit flowing
over the small casks in the counters, which he was
much surprised at, having filled them in the early part
of the day.
The CORONER inquired if he could form any judg-
ment how that arose ?—Witness said he suspected
that after he had filled those casks, he had neglected
to turn off one of the cocks, for he found instead of
pumping the gin into the large vat, it was being eject-
ed into one of the casks.

Evidence continued—He instantly stopped pump-
ing, and went to the counter, and took down a shutter
which covered the casks, to ascertain the one that
was overflowing, and no sooner had he done so than
a great quantity of spirit came down, and some fall-
ing on the burning gas, the burr.er of which was int,
mediately beneath, ignited it. He instantly ran into
the cellar, and obtained two pails of water, which he
threw
.over the burning spirit, and partially
extinguished it, And. for
the purpose of. efr

fecting • it • safely,
.he ran for another pail of
Water, when on his return he discovered the count-
ing-house in one mass of flames. Witness further
added that all human efforts were made to save Mrs.
Williams and her family, but the flames were so
frightfully rapid in their progress, that it was utterly
impracticable. Ile attempted to rush up the stairs to
their help, as did many other persons, but could not
ascend, the fire meeting them mid driving them back
into the street.

The CORONER then briefly addressed the jury, and
they, after a few minutes deliberation, returned a
verdict of "Accidental death."

The inquiry occupied nearly five hours. It was
stated that there was between 700 and 800 gallons of
spirits on the premises at the time of the outbreak of
the fire, the whole of which was consumed.

EASTER SUNDAY.
THE STEAMERS AND THE R4ILWAYS.

The weather yesterday was most stspicious. The
holiday folks were early stirring, and .feens sunrise till
sunset the pent-up artizans, their wives, and families,
were hastening down to Greenwich, Woolwich, Graves-
end, and other places, in the steam boats, or seeking a
cheap pleasure. trip by the numerous railways. _ •
Greenwich was, as usual, the chief p:ase of resort for
the Londoners. There was of course no'business done
in the fair, the amusements of which commence this
day, but it was filled with people continually passing
between the lines of booths and shows. The park was
also crowded, and this beautiful place was never seen to
greater advantage. Numerous groups were continually
running up and down Holiday-hill, promenading the
green sward, or taking a view of the great metropolis
Prom the terrace in front of the Observatory, where the
old pensioners realised a good deal of money, by allow-
ing the visitors to peep throtigh their telescopes.
Greenwich fair presents the usual appearance.
Richardson's travelling theatre, in which a tragedy
is to be performed in twenty minutes, and a panto-
mine in half that time, during the next three days,
and the great Crown and Anchor booth, being the
principal objects of attraction. The tea rooms, pub-
lic houses, and other places of entertainment, have
laid in great stores of provisions for the consump-
tion of the visitors. The trains on the Greenwich rail-
way were running from London to that town, and vice
versa, every quarter of an hour during the day, and we
believe the numbers conveyed each way did not amount
to less than 15,000; but the numbers who chose that
expeditious mode of conveyance were trifling as com-
pared with the thousands brought down by the steamers
of the Watermen's Company and those of the Woolwich
and Greenwich Companies. Some thousands proceeded
to Woolwich and Greenwich via the Blackwall Railway;
and the Brunswick wharf, at the terminus, was crowded
during the day, and a band of music, tho expense of
which was defrayed by the directors, was in attendance.
There is an extensive prospect of the river and the op-
posite shore of Kent to be obtained from this wharf, and
it promises to be a favourite place of resort on fine
Surrlays. The warren at Woolwich, where the bands
of the Royal Artillery and another regiment, were play-
ing favourite airs during the afternoon, was covered
with well-dressed people. The Gravesend steamers also
conveyed good freights of passengers, and there were
twenty vessels employed in the traffic, who landed 10,000
persons, during the morning, at the Rosherville, Terrace,.
and Town-piers, and brought them back in the evening,
after they had ranged the fields in the vicinity of the
town, or dined at the various ordinaries. '
The Brighton, Dover, and Southampton Railways,
only charged half fares between these places and Lon-
don; and also to Tunbridge and other towns one the
lines, and hundreds who had never seen those places be-
fore, took • advantage of the cheap rate of travelling to
visit them. The experiment is to be continued during
the Easter holidays, and is likely to answer well, and
thousands will be enabled to visit the beautiful scenery of
the home counties at a small expense, and in a reasonable
space of time.
The number of passengers who filled the above bridge
steamers yesterday would almost defy calculation.
There were not fewer than thirty iron and wooden
steamers continually calling at the various piers, em-
barking and landing passengers: Some of those boats
proceeded only as far as the Red House, others to Chel-
sea,' a few to Putney, and five were solely engaged in the
Richmond trade. A new steamer, called the Echo,
which left the Adelphi-pier for Richmond, steamed along
in fine style, and attracted a good deal of notice.
The extraordinary number of 105 steamers were em-
ployed yesterday on the Thames in the conveyance, viz.,
20 for Gravesend, '3O above-bridge, 11 watermen's
steamers, 12 of the old Woolwich and Greenwich Com-
paey; 3 Of the Herne Bay Company, 2 (the Flirt and
Coquette), between Blackwall and Greenwich, 2 for
Southend and Sheerness, i for Ramsgate (the Queen
Victoria), the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal
(the vessels of the Margate and General Steam Naviga-
tion Company), and half-a-dozen steam-tugs. This is an
amount of steam power not surpassed on any Other river
in the world.

INFORMATION FOR THE EASTER HOLIDAYS.
The following places are open to the admission of the
public, and may not be uninteresting to our readers during
the present holidays
St. Paul's Cathedral, open daily; charge to see all,
4s. 4d.

Tower of London, open daily; charge to see all; is.
Weitminster Abbey, open daily; charge to see all, 6d.
The Monument, open daily; charge to see all, 6d.
Greenwich Hospital, open daily; charge to see all, 3d.
Custom House, open daily; free.
Mansion house, open daily ; free.
Guildhall, open daily ; free.
Duke of York's Column, open daily ; charge of 6d.
Adelaide Gallery, Strand, open daily ; charge of is.
Polytechnic, Regent-street, open daily ; charge of is.
Society of Arts, Adelphi, open daily, except Wednes-
day ; admission by order.
• British Museum, Monday and Wednesday ; gratis.
Chinese Museum, Hyde Park, daily ; charge of is.
Napoleon Museum, Piccadilly, daily ; charge of is.
Geological Museum, Craig's-court, daily ; gratis.
United Service Museum, Scotland-yard, daily ; by
order only.
Royal Military Repository, Woolwich, daily; gratis.
Cosmorama, Regent-street, daily ; charge of Is.
Burford's Panorama, Leicester-square, daily ; charge
of Is.

Diorama, Regent's Park, daily ; charge of Is.
National Gallery, Charing.cross, daily ; gratis.
Royal Academy, Charing-cross, daily • charge of Is.
British Institution, Pall-mall, daily : Charge of Is.
Dulwich Gallery (except Friday), daily ; gratis.
SoCiety of Painters, Pall-mall, daily ; charge of Is.
Prize Cartoons, Suffolk-street, daily ' • charge of Is.
St. James's Gallery and Ancient Masters, daily ;
charge each of is.

ARRIVAL OF THE WEST INDIA

MAIL. -
SOUTHAMPTON, SUNDAY AFTERNOON.—The Royal
Mail Cempany's steam-ship Dee, Captain Helmsley,
arrived at half-past one o'clock this afternoon, from the
West Indies, Mexico, &c., bringing the usual mails. Her
dates of departure are as follow:—Tampico, Feb. 24 ;
Vera Cruz, March 3 ; Demerara, sth ; Trinidad, sth ;
Jamaica, 10th ; Barbadoes, 10th; Havannah, 11th; Gre-
nada, 12th; St. Thomas, 17th; and Bermuda on the 23d,
having no communication with Fayal.
The_Dee brings no news of importance. Everything
was quiet in Mexico, and nothing was heard of Santa
Anna.

The West India Islands generally were in a healthy
state. At St. Thomas's the small-pox was gradually de-
creasing, and, in fact, may be said to have entirely sub-
sided. The authorities were issuing clean bills of health.
The Dee, however, was put into quarantine at Havannab,
and remained seven days, in consequence of having
touched at that island.

The Inconstant frigate, with Mr. Bankhead on board,
was off Vera Cruz on the evening of the Ist of March,
but in consequence of a" norther" springing up, she was
necessitated to put to sea again, and had not returned
when the Dee left.

The Governor of St. Kitt's was much better, but still
in a very delicate state of health. The last accounts
state that he was gradually, though slowly, recovering.
Sir Charles Adam was daily expected at Bermuda
when the Dee left. The Dee remained there two days
beyond her time, waiting for the Thames to bring up the
mails. Her Majesty's ships Ringdove, Albatross, and
Spartan, were ordered off to the coast of Africa, in con-
sequence of the great increase of the slave trade. The
Albatross, however, proceeded to Halifax first.
.The Dee brings home 214,320 dollars on merchants'
account ; 308 lbs. of gold dust, 870 lbs. silver, 85 serons
of cochineal ; two boxes of vanilla, valued at 3,0001., and
two boxes of pearls, of the estimated value of 1,200/. She
also brings home 44,000 dollars on account of the Mexi-
can dividends—viz., 20,000 from Tampico and 24,000
from Vera Cruz ; 18,000 more were left behind at the
latter place, in consequence of a stiff " norther" blowing,
rendering it impossible to ship them.
The Dee spoke the Ringdove on the 13th of March,
all well. Her Majesty's ship Albatross arrived at Ber-
muda on the 19th of March, and sailed the same day
for Halifax. The Company's steamer Thames arrived
at Bermuda on the 23d of March with the mails, and
the Dee immediately started for England. Her Ma-
jesty's ship Scylla was also at Bermuda. The Tweed
was at Havannah on the 11th of March, and the Teviot
at St. Thomas's on the 17th, all well. The Trent is the
next steamer home, and nearly every berth is taken.
The barque John Dennistoun, of Greenock, Young
master, from Liverpool to Mobile, was totally lost on
the 2d of February, on shore off Cape San Antonio,
crew and materials saved. Part of the crew are at
Havannah; the master and articles saved were at Key
West. The mate and nine seamen came passengers in
the Dee.

The ship Ayrshire, of Greenock, Barker master,
from Mobile to Liverpool, with cotton, was also totally
lost in Hanover Sound on the Ist of March, crew, cargo,
and materials saved. The mate and ten of the crew
came home in the Dee. It is a singular coincidence that
both these unfortunate vessels belong to the same owner.
The brig Two Friends, Ozier master, of Jersey, from
Newport, South Wales, was lost and abandoned on the
Colorado Shoals on the 28th of March ; master and crew
saved, and arrived at Havannab. Four came home pas-
sengers in the Dee.

IThe Dee passed. the Dutch barque " J. 48, J.," of
Portland, running westward, on the 7th ult.
The Dee brought home the following passengers :
Mr. Stein, Higson, Mrs. Higson, Mr. Benoist, John
King, servant, from Vera Cruz ; Count Sazamet, from
Havannah ; Dr. and Mrs. Gilgeous, from Demerara ;.
Rev. J. Cox, from Dominique ; Miss Hill, from Antigua ;
Van Bremen, from Carthagena ; F. Henry, Mr. and
Mrs. Lowe and child, Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Sercomb, and
three children, from Jamaica ; Miss A. Noreen, from
St. Thomas ; ,Wm. Jamens, Dr. Goodriche, Mr. D.
Silva, from Jamaica ; Mr. Morgan, purser of the Scylla,
from Bermuda.

ARISTOCRATIC TASTE.—Sir Robert Peel, in a dis-
cussion in Parliament relative to the admissibility of
the British public to cathedrals and other works of
art, observed, " he believed the damage which occurred
was generally the work of the vulgar rich." In the
New Monthly of this month, a remarkable instance of
the correctness of the Premier's deduction is to be found
at page 541, in " Lady Londonderry's Visit to the Courts
of Vienna," &c., she says, " Lord L. wrote our names
on one of the columns in front of the entrance of the
Parthenon, to be read, perhaps, in after years by our
children and cbildren's children." What immortality
The Earl of Eglintoun has sold the great Eagle
sham estate, one of the finest in the west of Scotland, to
A. Gilmour, Esq., late of Glasgow, for 217,0001. The
rental averages from 9,0001. to 10,0001. per annum.
The Observateur Beige mentions that General
Goblet has resigned his seat in the Belgian Cabinet. lie
Minister of foreign Affairs.

FACTORIES BILL.
TO THE EDITOR OF. THE SUN.
DEAR SIR,—A wise-acre, signing himself a "Ten
Hours Man," whose letter you inserted (probably
without reading it) in Thursday's Sun, bases his
profundities on the assumption that the anchester
mill-owners, whose letter to him Sir James Graham
quoted, had stated, that they. "employed*3o,ooo
persons, and paid 40,0001. in wages."
If this sage had made use of his eyes, he would
. have discovered that the real statement made by these
gentlemen was, that they "employed 30,000 hands,
and were rated 44,0001. to the poor-rates." It is
scarcely necessary to add another word.
The comments of the deputation on Lord Ashley's
statements, have completely taken the ground from
under the feet of that benevolent nobleman, but
miserable statistician—whose knowledge of the human
system and muscular power appears to have been
sufficiently limited to induce belief of scores of
thousands of operatives being able to travel from 120
to 250 miles per week, on foot, month after nwnth.
Oh, that good men would learn the difference
between a chesnut horse and a horse chesnut before
they began to legislate!
It has been well said, that "an ounce of common
sense is worth a hundred-weight of oratory."
Imagine a gentleman, who thinks himself qualified'to
direct and alter the principles on which a trade of
forty millions per annum is based, naively believing
the statement of a " MATHEMATICIAN" ! 0 that, in
some . branches of the manufacture, the operatives
walked thirty-seven miles per day ! This, at the
rate of three miles per hour, would consume twelve
hours and a third; yet the Noble Lord never thinks
of asking what is done in the remainder of the day ?
When a man walks in a factory, it is to do something;
he is not paid merely for walking !
The difference between the Noble Lord's statements
and the fatly appears to be only seventy-five per cent.,
so that, by the simple operation of dividing his quan-
tities by four, we get a very close approximation to
truth!

As the majority of the House of Commons have
decided that wages and profits can be regulated by
legislation, and as I am as warm a friend to the
operative as Lord Ashley, I beg leave to propose that
the same operation which is necessary to be performed
with his numbers, to make them agree with fact,
should be performed in regard to the hours of labour,
viz., that the present number should be divided by
finir, and no one be allowed to labour more than
three hours !

A SUBSCRIBER.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, SUNDAY.—The Queen and his Majesty the
King of the Belgians, the Ladies and Gentlemen of the
Royal Suite, and the Household attended Divine ser-
vice this morning in the private Chapel of the Castle.
The Hon. and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay officiated.
Her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians attended Di-
vine service this forenoon in the Roman Catholic Chapel
on Clewer-green. Her Majesty was attended by her
Suite, and after the service returned to the Castle.
In the afternoon her Majesty and the Queen of the
Belgians took a carriage airing. Their Majesties were
accompanied by her Royal Highness the Princess Royal
Major-General Wemyss, Equerry in Waiting was in at
tendance on horseback.

Yesterday the Queen and their Belgian Majesties
took their accustomed walks and drives in the park.
The Earl of Dunmore arrived at the Castle on a visit
to the
.Queen.. Captain Francis Seymour also arrived
yesterday on a visit to Her Majesty. Her Royal High-
ness the Duchess of Kent, and her Lady in Waiting
Lady Anna Maria Dawson, joined the Royal Dinner
Circle at the Castle yesterday evening.
The Royal Family were taken their usual airings yes-
terday.

M. Dedel, the Netherlands Minister, embarked at
Blackwall on Saturday, for Rotterdam. His Excellency's
absence will not exceed a fortnight or three weeks.
Lord Stanley left town on Saturday morning for
Knowsley Hall, Lancashire, the seat of the Earl of
Derby.
.

Dispatches from the Governor of the Cape of Good
Hope were received, on Saturday,'at the Colonial-office.
Dispatches were also received on Saturday, from the
Governor of Van Diemen's Land.

The Bishop of London preached the sermon yester-
day morning in the Chapel Royal, St. James's. The
prayers were read by the Rev. Dr. Sleath, the lessons by
the Rev. Dr. Wesley and the Rev. Horsley Dakins, and
the Communion service by the Bishop of London,
assisted by the Rev. Dr. Sleath. The.anthem, "If we
believe that Jesus Died" (Boyce), was sung by Mr. J. B.
Sale and Mr. Hawkins. Sir George Smart presided at
the organ.

The— Duke of Leeds, the Marquis of Winchester,
Lords Cathcart, Tyrconnel, Wharncliffe, Vivian, Ernest
Bruce, and Leveson, and Ladies Wharncliffe, Hawarden,
and Vivian were among the nobility present.
The Earl of Dunmore left town on a visit to her
Majesty at Windsor Castle, on Saturday.
Dispatches were sent off from the Colonial-office, on
Saturday evening, for the Governor of Hong-Kong.

MEETING OF THE INSTITUTE
OF FINE ARTS.

The annual meeting of this Association was held
on Saturday evening, in the Council-room of the
Society of Arts, John-street, Adelphi. Emerson
Tennant, Esq., M.P., was called to the chair, and the
business of the evening commenced. A letter was
read from Sir M. A. Shee, the President of the Royal
Academy, stating that in consequence of his advan-
cing age, and the attention which his duties as Presi-
dent of the Royal Academy required, he was pre-
vented from accepting the office of Vice-President of
the Institute of Fine Arts which he had been invited
to accept. The Secretary then read the annual
report of the Council, which stated that
after a lapse of a year, the Council had
reason to hope the most cheering results to art from
the influence of the institution. Eligible premises had
been taken for the institute in Newman-street, with a
reading-room for the members, and a library was also
in progress of formation. A petition to Parliament
for increased means of acquiring knowledge in art
was stated to be on the eve of presentation, and
through it a lasting benefit is expected to be conferred
on the arts of this country. Artistic information, con-
sidered to be important, has been communicated to the
Commissioners of Fine Arts, and an extensive corre-
spondence had been established with eminent foreign
professors of art. The announcement that the num-
ber of members had increased last year from 110 to
300 was received with loud cheers.

The CHAIRMAN then addressed the meeting, and in
a very appropriate speech, remarked upon the im-
portance of cultivating a taste for the fine arts in
England. He alluded to the aid which decorative
art gives to the manufactures of this country, and
the diffusion of pure taste amongst the people by
sculptors, painters and engravers, through the medium
of manufacturers, and he said he felt confident that
manufacturers must he improved, and consequently
prosper, through the influence and assistance of a
society like that.
Mr. PARK, the sculptor, then read a paper entitled
" The Triumph of the Anglo-Normans ;" a proposed
series of sculptures to occupy the whole range of the
wall of the projected court inclo sing the New Palace-
yard, with groups and single statues in advance, mark-
mg different ages, discoveries, and characteristics ; to
be executed inßavacciene marble, the use of bronze being
opposed to the perpetuity of art from the temptation to
destroy offered in the value of the material. Mr. Park
proposed that a continued line should be formed round
the court, not higher than 10 feet, within which sculp-
tures in bas-relief should be received, and that on pe-
destals should be placed statues and groups, so dis-
posed as to be seen all round. The bas reliefs and
statues would combine to illustrate the manners and
costumes, and the historical and poetical characteristics
of the people, from the earliest ages of antiquity down
to the present time.
Mr. TEMPLETON next read a paper " On the Ad-
mission of Works of Art in Churches." After which
Mr. Finden was called to the chair, and the thanks of
the meeting being voted to Mr. Tennent, the assem-
bly separated.

The following is the House List of Governors and
Directors of the Bank of England for the year ensuing:—

FOR GOVERNORS.
William Cotton, Esq., Governor. John Benjamin Heath, Esq., Deputy Governor.
FOR DIRECTORS.
Edward Henry Chapman, Esq. James Morris, Esq.
Arthur Edw. Campbell, Esq. Sheffield N, eave,Esq.
George arde Norman, Esq.
Bonamy Dobree, Ls q. IN
Abel Lewes Gower, Esq. John Horsley Palmer, Esq.
Thomson Hankey, jun., Esq. James Pattison, Esq.
John Oliver Hanson, Esq. Sir John Henry Pelly, Bart.
Kirkman Daniel Hodgson,Esq. Henry James Prescott, Esq.
Henry,Lancelot Holland, Esq. Christopher Pearse, Esq.
Thomas Newman Hunt, Esq. Sir John Rae Reid, Bart.
Charles
Latham Fredk H . uth, Esq. William R. Robinson, Esq.
Alfred , Esq. William Thompson, Esq., and
Humphrey St. John Mildmay, Alderman
Esq. Thomas Tooke, jun., Esq.
The Election for Governor and Deputy-Governor will be
held at the Bank on Tuesday, the 9th, and for Directors on
Wednesday, the 10th inst., from ten o'clock in the forenoon
till four in the afternoon. •
T-

_IME AT LEEDS.—The agreement of the
merchants,l manufacturers, and woolstaplers of Leeds, to close
their places of business at four o'clock in the afternoon of
every Saturday, and to allow their servants to leave for the
day as shortly afterwards as the unavoidable exigencies of
business will permit, in the expectation that, according to
the representation made to them, the leisure thus afforded will
be devoted to beneficial purposes, has received the signatures
of the principals of Stansfield, Brown, and Co., and upwards of
sixty other houses. The railway carriers, to the number of
thirteen firms, have signed an agreement to withdraw their
wherries from the streets at the same hour, four o'clock ; and
the North Midland Company, in compliance with the same
agreements, have decided to close their gates at the goods
station at half-past four every Saturday afternoon, which
latter arrangement came into effect on Saturday last.
POST.-OFFICE ARRANGEMENTS.—On and after the
12th instant, the Edinburgh night mail will :arrive at
Carlisle at 10 A.M., instead of 9. 20, as at present. The
Glasgow mail will arrive at 10 A.M., instead of 9. 15 A.M.
The Dumfries at 9.53, instead of 8. 53 A.M. The London
night mail will arrived at 2. 3.5 P.M., instead of 3. 10, on
and after the 13th instant.—Carlisle Journal.

Rey. Martin Wright, curate of Redmarshall, has been
appointed by the rector of Sunderland cue of the curates
of that parish.

•
1 MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.
1 • TIMES.—The project which at the last meeting of
Proprietors of South Sea Stock was announced to be in
contemplation,. was made known this morning. Propo-
sals are now made to form a public company, to consist
of Proprietors of South Sea. Stock, for the execution of
trusts, . and to be called the « Trust Company." Such
portions of capital stock'of the South Sea Company as
the Proprietors may think proper to subscribe, noz less
in amount than 500,0002, are to be set apart as a gllkt-
rantee fund. This fund will be open. to contribution by
such Proprietors until six months after notice shall have
bean given of the commencement of business; but after
thst period, subscribers will have to pay in addition the
difference in value between the original stock and the
trust capital stock. The fund so subscribed will be un-
der the Management of the present Direetorg or ex=
Directors of the South Sea Company, and will consist of
a Chairman, asputy7Chairman, and . nine other Direc-
tors. The business of the intended Company to be
carried on at the South Sea House or elsewhere, as the
provisional Committee or Directors may decide. The
liability of the subscribers to be limited to the amount
of the guarantee fund, but it is distinctly understood
that the trust funds deposited are in no way liable for
any general loss. It is proposed to undertake in the
first instance such trusts only as relate 'to personal
estate, and all property, held in trust will be invested in
' the names of trustees to be appointed by the Directors.
A commission is to be charged on the amount adminis-
tered according to a scale to be fixed hereafter. AU in-
vestments of trust property to be in Government funds,
or in South Sea Annuities, or in real seeurities, unless
otherwise directed by the trust. 'A deed of settlement is
to be prepared for carrying these and other objects con-
nected with the management of the proposed company
into effect.
The income-tax does not press more severely, or
rather unjustly, in any quarter, than upon the in-
surance companies. It is well known that these in-
stitutions of necessity pay income-tax by deduction
upon a sum far beyond their profits ; for all their
income is taxed, and a part only is profit. The busi-
ness of life insurance consists in investing the pre-
miums received, and accumulating them at compound
interest, to meet future losses. This accumulation
of the income of their investments is the basis of a safe
or prosperous career, for an office that should treat this
income as profit, and divide it among the parties inter-
ested, would infallibly soon become bankrupt. Yet as
the investments are either in-the funds or mortgages, the
whole income is taxed by deduction as if it were profit,
and the offices pay, consequently, much more than they
ought.

The practical working of this has turned Out even
worse than the theory, for many of them have recently
had notices of surcharge from the surveyor. They ap-
pealed, most of them, to the Commissioners for general
purposes, who, being men of business, and knowing
something of life insurance, immediately relieved them.
Others have appealed to the Special Commissioners ap-
pointed by Government, and have been subjected to
great annoyance in so doing, for though it is made aff-;
parent enough that an office has paid the tax on a sum
far exceeding the entire profits arising from every source,
the Special Commissioners endeavour 'to impose a
further tax, on the allegation that there is a profit apart
from the income of investment. From the complicated
nature of life insurance accounts, the offices are neces.!
sarily exposed to great trouble and inconvenience in the
detailed investigation to which they are subject under
this impression, which is of course a fallacious one.
The case is exciting the more attention in the City,
because it is one of a class embracing banks and other
investment companies, where, by the machinery of the
Act, parties are made, by deduction, to pay a tax greatly
beyond the rate professed to be imposed by Parliament,
and for this the Act affords no remedy.
This form of taxation, hard enough when it is im-
posed tacitly by deduction from income, becomes offen=
sive and oppressive when sought to be actively enforced
and extended by the Government officers.
A correspondent offers a suggestion to the Chancellor
of the Exchequel, connected with the management of
the public debt,' somewhat startling perhaps, but which
there can be no harm in letting go to the world at large.
By the means pointed out, and without the imposition
of a single fresh tax, he anticipotes the Pentire liquida-
tion of the national debt." This is to be accomplished
solely by the aid of the money saved, and to be saved,
by the reduction of the Three-and-a-Half per Cents., to
be applied exclusively to the redemption of the debt
(say at par), and allowed to accumulate at compound in-
terest. He estimates that, in 95 years, the whole .debt
of 800,000,000/. may by such means be paid off ; but
that, if this course is persevered in, the fund-holders
will probably be glad to accede to a further reduction of
interest, and these savings being applied in the like'
manner, the liquidation might be completed in 50 years,
or less. Great glory would, as this writer thinks,
redound to the statesman who planned, and great
strength to the country which executed, so magnificent
a project ; but the difficulties which beset it are, we fear,
insuperable. Not to mention the necessity it involves of
perpetuating the income-tax, to which alone the present
surplus of revenue is owing, and for the relief from which
all persons are eagerly looking to this and other sources
of saving, it is a delusion to suppose that any course of
financial policy can be persevered in during 50 years, or
during one half of that time. This is the old error into
which Mr. Pitt fell, in regard to his wonder-working
sinking fund, and it is but a few years since that states-
men have arrived at the conviction that a sinking fund
cannot subsist by borrowing, and that its only legitimate
basis is a surplus of income over expenditure. This, it
is true, the writer in question contemplates, but then he
must keep on the income-tax, which will not be tolerated
at all, or, at sny rate, for such a purpose. •

IRELAND.
DEPARTURE OF MR. O'CONNELL FOR CORK.
Dumas, APRIL 6.—At three o'clock yesterday after.
noon Mr. O'Connell left his residence in Merrion-square,
for Cork, where he is to be entertained at the Munster
provincial banquet on Monday next. The Hon. Gen-
tleman was accompanied by Mr. William S. O'Brien,
M.P.; Mr. John O'Connell, M.P.; Dr. Gray, Moms.
Thomas Steele, Richard Barrett., and the Rev. Thomas
Tierney, P.P.

The Cork Reporter of Thursday contains the follow-
ing :—" Mr. O'Connell, accompanied by Mr. John
O'Connell, will sleep in Clonmel on Saturday evening,
and will arrive in this city on Easter Sunday about four
o'clock, P.M. He will be entertained at dinner the same
evening by the Mayor, at whose residence Mr. Smith
O'Brien and a large party are invited to meet him. Let-
ters continue to be received from the most remote parts
of the province, requesting to have tickets secured, and
the dinner list is rapidly approaching the numerical ex-
tent for which accommodation is provided."
LORD DE GREY'S REPEAL MAGISTRATE.
The Nenagh Guardian, the Orange organ of the dis-
trict, recently announced that Mr. T. O'Brien had been
ordered from Nenagh to the county of Down ; and the
Newry Telegraph, the Orange organ in that county,
confirmed the announcement ; but there has been, it up:.
pears, another countermand. Ireland is Peel's diffictilth
and Mr. T. O'Brien is the difficulty of his Irish Viceroy.
In the Nenagh Vindicator of this day appears the
following :
"Mr. Thomas O'Brien' S.M., has been countermanded!
The Executive has sent him orders to remain where he
is until he shall resign, we suppose."
The Nenagh Guardian contains the following:—
" Mr. O'Brien, R.M., accompanied by a strong party
of police, was engaged on Thursday in the protection
of a bailiff of Mr. Hill's, who was serving ejectment no:-
tices in the parish of Youghal. A serious riot had
taken place upon the previous day, in which a boy's
skull was fractured. Mr. O'Brien has taken his dying
depositions. Mr. O'Brien left yesterday (Friday) for
the fair of Castle Otway, the usual scene of many riots.
ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY TO DALKEY.

The Mercantile Advertiser says—" We are happy to
state that the Atmospheric Railway, since its opening to
the public on this day week, has been most decidedly
succesful. Trains start from Kingstown and Dalkey
every half hour during the day; and although the sea-
son has not yet opened, the traffic is very considerable.
The fares are, for first-class, 3d.; for second-class 2d.
The amount received on Sunday from these small sums
was 321.
ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY IN FRANCE.
The Evening Post states that the French Government
have determined on the adoption of the atmospheric
system, so successfully carried into effect for the first
time between Kingstown and Dalkey.

THE LATE WAR IN CIIINA.—NARRATIVE TRII
VOYAGES AND SERVICES OF THE NEMESIS.—No series
of events of modern times has called more peremptorily
for a prompt and competent record of their origin, pro-
gress, completion, and practical bearings on the pros-
pects of the civilised world, than those connected with
the late war in China, and the reading public will las
glad to learn that such a record has just made its ap-
pearance, from a quarter no less qualified by circum-
stances, than by talent and education, to perform the
important task in a fitting and efficient manner. Mr. W.
D. Bernard, the author of the work, is a gentleman of
classical attainments, who visited China for the express
purpose of making himself personally acquainted with
all the changes that have occurred, and are in progress,
there, in connexion with late events, as well as MR
things open to observation and study in the manners and
habits of the people; and his Historical Narrative of all
the events of the war is rendered doubly valuable snd
interesting by embodying as it does the entire operations
of the Steam Navy, but in particular of the famous
iron steamer The Nemesis, which, on account of her pe-
culiar construction, acted a more important and con-
spicuous part there than any other portion of the Britisk
forces. This portion of the Narrative comprises the
substance of the Diary and Notes of Captain Hall, Com-
mander of the Nemesis, and includes a large amount of
matter, which is as novel as it is curious and interesting
AN EXTRAORDINARY FRACAS.—On Saturday
morning, about half-past eight o'clock, a gentleman was
observed waiting in front of the White Horse Tavern,
Fetter-lane, arme with a riding whip of unusual dimen-
sions, and apparently in a state of great agitation. on
the arrival of one of the omnibuses connected with gig
London and Birmingham Railway, the person in ques-
tion loudly called out to those inside, " Is Mr.
there ?" A gentleman, after a short pause, answered
that his name was that of the individual for whom in-
quiry was made. The interrogator, thereupon, furiously
told him to get out of the omnibus, but which the
other declined doing, at the same time desiring to know
for what purpose he was required. " I want to horse-
whip you," replied the enraged gentleman, " for your
infamous conduct to my daughter last week." Ile. then
seized the person so charged by the leg, and endeasouritd
to drag him out of the vehicle, applying also.the formi-
dable weapon in his hand to the bogy of the Said alleged
delinquent without mercy. The assailant repeatedly
vociferated, " Mr. Chaplin, come out, come out, and see
me horsewhip this miscreant." He likewise uskUniany
other epithets of the most opprobrious description. The,
byestanders at length interposed, and the omnibus finally
drove off.—Sunday Times.