The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-20 00:00:00

THE AWFUL ACCIDENT AT THE

LANDSHIPPING COLLIERY.
(From the Cambrian of Saturday.)
On the afternoon of Wednesday last, one of the most
dreadful and destructive events ever known in Pembrokeshire
took place at Landahipping Colliery, the property of Colonel
Owen. The short time which has intervened has not allowed
a sufficient opportunity to obtain full particulars of the sad
catastrophe ; but the following circumstances connected with
it are believed to be substantially correct. The colliery has
for very many years been in full work, giving employment
to a large number of men, women, and boys. It appears that
on Monday last a lot of men and boys were set to work in a
level, which was about a quarter of a mile long, and extended
a considerable distance under the bed of the river Dungleddy,
and which had not for about three years previously been
worked, for the reason, it is said, that it was not considered safe
to carry on operations there, the colliers having reported that
in one place there was a leak of salt water over their heads.
In the afternoon of Wednesday there were between forty and
fifty awn and boys employed in various parts of the level. Three
of the boys, who were nearest to the mouth of the pit, were
alarmed by hearing a violent rush of water in the interior of
the works ; they instantly ran to the pit's mouth, and were
only just in time to save their lives, by climbing up the sides
of the pit, before the water filled the level—had they been a
moment later, the water would have overwhelmed them, as
it did all their unfortunate companions who were in the in-
terior. It was immediately afterwards found that a portion
of the ground underneath the mud on the side of the river, a
little above low water mark, and directly over the level, had
given way, and the tide, which was then flowing, was ob-
served to rush with great force into the fissure, so as to
drown the works, and render the escape of the hapless col-
liers utterly hopeless. Tidings of the sad calamity were
quickly conveyed to the village where the workmen had re-
sided, and as soon as the nature and extent of it were ascer-
tained, a scene of the most heart-rending kind was
exhibited among the surviving wives, mothers, and other re-
latives of the unfortunate colliers which it is far easier to
imagine than to describe. Immediately after the poor boys
had come above ground, the landing-tub was lowered to
assist any who might be at the bottom of the pit, but when
it was pulled up it was found to contain nothing but water.
Some short time afterwards, the steward of the works went
down, but he could discover nothing but pieces of timber
floating on the water. The greater portion of the poor men
who have thus met a violent and untimely death, have left
wives and large families to deplore their loss. In addition
to the incalculable amount of distress and destitution which
the surviving relatives must inevitably sustain, the injury to
the proprietor, and the other colliers in his employ, is tre-
mendous, as it is thought that all the works on the estate
communicate internally with each other, so that it is probable
the water has extended through the whole, which may pos-
sibly occasion a total cessation of them, or, at all events, a
vast outlay of money to stop the fissure and expel the water.

THE MURDER AT PLUMSTEAD.—CONFESSION Or
THE MURDEREit.—We understand that John Bodle, who was
found guilty on Tuesday last, and sentenced to twenty years'
transportation, for extorting. money from Lord Abingdon's
butler, under threat of making a diabolical charge, and who,
about ten years ago, was tried at Maidstone for the murder
of his grandfather, by poison, on which occasion he was ac-
quitted, has confessed, since his confinement in Newgate,
that he did commit that murder, and that no one but himself
was concerned in the horrid transaction.
The Right Hon. the Speaker of the House of Com-
mons had his second Parliamentary dinner on Saturday last,
at his private mansion in Eaton-square. Covers were laid
for3o. Lord John Russell, Viscount Palmerston, Viscount
Howick, Lord Marcus Hill, Lord Robert Grosvenor, Mr.
Byng, Right Hon. Geo. Stevens Byng, Sir Geo. Grey, Sir
John Cam Hobhouse, Right Hon. IL Labouchere, Right
Hon. Francis Thornhill Baring, Right Hon. B. Macaulay,
Mr. Vernon Smith, Sir Wm. Clay, Mr. Chas. Wood, Sir
Thos. Wilde, Rear-Admiral Deans Dundas, Mr. Tufnell, Mr.
Chas. Buller, Mr. Pendarvcs, Mr. More O'Ferrall, Mr. Ord,
Mr. John Parker, Mr. Wyse, Colonel Fox, and Right Hon.
R. L. Shell, constituted,the party. Lord Seymour, Sir Thomas
Troubridge, Hon. Fox Maule, and Mr. Pigot were unavoid-
ably absent.
PPanic s s's THEATRE.--Another version of
L'Homme Blasé was produced at this house on Saturday
night under the title of Blase; or, the Man in search of a
Sensation. The piece is so good in itself, and Reeley's
acting was throughout so perfect, that little was left to vbe
wished for. In the first act his languid nonchalance, the
heavy immobility of his features, as he gaped and dragged
himself about, eonveyed a characteristic picture of the most
hopeless of biases, and his scene with the widow, in which,
by-the-bye, he was admirably supported by Miss :Noel. had
the true colouring of nature, while its effect was irresistibly
ludicrous. Paul Bedford was also very effective, being snoree.
quietly humorous than lie is usually accustomed to
Mademoiselle Prospere had the part of Louise allotted to her,
and acted it in a neat and unassuming manner, greatly to
her credit. The 17,..ece was completely successful.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
ROUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 19.
Their Lordships met at Five o'Clock.
LIBEL AND DEFAMATION BILL.
Lord CAMPBELL gave notice that he should to-
morrow move the second reading of this Bill pro foratt,
with a view to its being referred to a Select Committee.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he thought the
Committee had better be the same as the one appointed
lust year.
GAMING TRANSACTIONS (IVITNESES' IN
DEMNITY) BILL.
The Duke of RICHMOND moved the second reading
of the Bill to indemnify witnesses giving evidence before
a Committee of their Lordships' House on the subject of
gaming. It had been found impossible to make a search-
ing inquiry into the subject of gaining witho'ut
_having
th evidence of persons who had been implicattxl in
gaming transactions. It could not be expected that
men would willingly give evidence .m the subject
while their testimony might render them liable to Otti
tam actions. He felt that the result of this inquiry
would at once dissipate the erroneous views taken id
some parts of the country, that the object of thiS Bill
was to save rich persons only from the effect of qui; tam
actions. Unfortunately, there was a great deal; more
gambling amongst the poorer classes than there was
even amongst the rich. His object in bringing this Bill
before their Lordships was to obtain such evidence as
would enable their Lordships to legislate on the subject.
The Bill was then read a second time.
IRISH REGISTRATION. . „.
The Marquis of NORMANBY presented a petition
from Drogheda, praying that the same municipal fran-
chise as in England should be established in Ireland.
PRIVY COUNCIL.—PATENTS.
Lord BROUGHAM brought in a Bill, and moved that
it be read a first time, for continuing the patent of Lord
Dundeuald for a further term of seven years. The Bill,
as we understood the Noble Lord (who, from illpess, was
imperfectly heard), was to give to the Judicial Committee
of the Privy Council the power to recommend an exten-
sion of the time for patents. He proposed to empower
a Committee of that House to inquire into the subject
matter of a petition—that the Committee should report
to the House, and that then the House should address
the Crown upon the subject, and pray the
Crown to take it into consideration, and, the subject mat-
ter being referred to the Judicial Committee of time
Privy Council, the Crown should be empowered to grant
a longer term. His only doubt had been whether it
should not be by a joint address of both Houses—rather
than an address from either one—that his proposal
should be carried into effect.
Lord CAMPBELL said he entirely approved of the
principle of the Bill. But he wished to submit
for their Lordships' consideration whether the time
had not arrived at which it was desirable to extend the
privileges of patents to a longer term, say fourteen or
twenty-one years. The powers of the Judicial Com-
mittee could, in his opinion, be now wisely extended
and he, therefore, suggested that to it should be given
the power of divorce a vinculo matrimonii. He thought
that the time and duties of Parliament should be confined
to objects having reference solely to the interests of the
empire, and that they should not be called upon to
relieve the adultress or the scoundrel husband. These
matters ought to be left to Courts, and he knew
no better tribunal than this Judicial Committee of the
Privy Council. By giving this power to the Committee
of the Privy Council, they would provide a remedy for
the poor, which could now only be had by the rich.
The LORD CHANCELLOR thought it would not
be adVisable to mix up matters of divorce in the
Bill now presented to their Lordships. If his
Noble and' Learned Friend (Campbell) would bring
in a Bill en the subject of divorce and its adjudication
by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Cogneil, it should
have his best consideration.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE would take that op-
portunity of stating, that in opposing large powers to the
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, when the Bill
giving those powers was before their Lordships, he was
actuated solely by a prudential motive m going step by
step where a new tribunal was being constituted.
He should say that the Judicial Committee of the
Privy Council would be an infinitely better
tribunal for this sort of business than that which now
existed. It would have also another great recommen-
dation—that of cheapness, and the law would then be
protective, not, as now, to one class alone, but to the
whole country.
Lord BROUGHAM wished only to observe that the
suggestion now thrown out had not escaped the atten-
tion of the framers of the Bill, constituting the Judicial
Committee of the Privy Council. There was in that
Bill a clause not exactly giving the absolute power
to the Privy Council, but giving to it power to in•
quire and report—making it, in fact, auxiliary
to that House. His} plan would be, never to part
with the jurisdiction now possessed by that
House, but that the Judicial Committee might
report to the House, and, wider sanction of the Nouse,
give its judgment in these cases; because he was then,as
now, very jealous of transferring the jurisdiction/which
belonged to them. He said at that time it was better
,
to go step by step. 'elie thpught giey, had better go on so
ve now.• The subject was one' oh infinite importance, re-
quiring great consideration, but, in his opinion, the
course hinted. at by his Noble and-'.. Learned
Friend (Lord 'Lyndhurst), was by ?as the
most judicious. He (Lord Brougham) would frame a
special Bill for this object which, with the help of the
Consistorial Court, the Right Rev. Prelates, the Law
and Equity Judges would, he hoped, attain the point
aimed at, and make the law as available to
the poor as it now was to the rich. Certainly, as the
law at present stood it was a law for the rich, and not
for the poor, not only to the wrong of the party, but to
the great injury of the morals of the poor.
Lord CAMPBELL said he should be the last person
to transfer the peers of that House or of Parhament
to the Privy Council or any other body. The question.
however, of a divorce a vinculo matrinionii he thought
ought to be referred to a judicial tribunal.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE said that after the divorce
was obtained, then came the question of whether the
parties should be allowed to marry again. That he ap-
prehended to be a question for Parliament alone. Under
these circumstances the expenses of such proceedings
would not be diminished, inasmuch as, in thofirat place,
a trial must be had, and then a Bill in Parliament.
Lord REDESDALE did not think m sexpense
would be saved by taking questions of this *:, before
the Privy Council, except, perhaps, as to the gth of
the inquiry. Before the Privy Council such case' would
be probably disposed of in one day, whereas before their
Lordships' House the inquiry would occupy a longer
time. Under the present system great expense was me
curred in the shape of fees to agents, solicitors, and
various other persons. Not only were these charges
on one stage of the bill, but they were repeated in every
stage, although no word perhaps, had been said during
the progress of the bill through these stages.
Lord BROUGHAM said he was one of the trustees
to an estate, respecting which a Bill had lately been
obtained from Parliament. The trustees had just re.
ceived a bill of 367/, that being the Parliamentary
agent's bill alone. Upon this Bill not a single witness
had been examined. The whole expenses of this Bill,
which was unopposed, and merely obtained for the pur-
pose of granting leases, was 1,200/.
After a few words from the LORD CHANCELLOR.
the Bill was laid on the table.
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS BILL.
On the motion of the Duke of BUCCLEUCE the
Metropolitan Improvements Bill was read a third. time
and passed.
OFFENCES AT SEA BILL.
On the motion of Lord WHARNCLIFFE the Offence*
at Sea Bill was read a second time, and ordered to b•
committed to-morrow.

PRESBYTERIAN MARRIAGES IN IRELAND,
The Earl of RODEN rose to put a question to the
Noble and Learned Lord on the Woolsack respecting a
deeply-interesting subject to a large portion of the
people of Ireland. It was with respect to a Bill at present
before their Lordships with regard to Presby•
terian marriages in Ireland. As a meeting of the
Presbyterian Society of Ireland would be held in Belfast
on Thursday next, they would naturally be anxious to
know as to the probable time when a definite judgment
would be given upon the subject of mixed marriages in
Ireland. lie wished therefore to know when it wain
probable that that judgment would be given.
The LORD CIiANCELLOR said he had had a corn.
munication with the late Lord Chancellor, and it had
been arranged that the judgment should be given on
Friday next. What the result of that judgment would
be it would be difficult for him to say. Four Noble and
Learned Lords had already given in their opinion, but,
of course, he was not at liberty at present to state it.
It would be sufficient for him at present to say that oa
Friday next the judgment would be given.
COMMUNICATION WITH. IRELAND.
Lord MONTEAGLE said, that upon the subject of •
railway to Holyhead, although he did not wish to press
the Government for a decisive answer, inasmuch as itwas
under the consideration of the other House just now,
yet he should urge upon the consideration of the Go.
vernment the great importance of having the utmost
facility in the communication between this country and
Ireland.—(Hear, hear, from the Duke of Wellington.)
To give effect to this it was essential that the harbour
of Holyhead should be as safe as possible. He was induced
to allude to this subject; because he felt the great inter.
eat which it excited in the public mind in Ireland.
The Duke of WELLINGTON fully agreed with the
Noble Lord upon the importance of the subject of 4
speedy communication with Ireland, and the Government
were fully impressed with the necessity of doing all is
their power to forward this object.
The Duke of BUCCLEUCH laid upon the tablecero
tain returns relating to the Post-office.
FEES IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY.
The LORD CHANCELLOR in laying upon the
table, the return of the fees received in the Court of
Chancery, said that in consequence of the late altera-
tion made in that Court, the amount of fees fell short
of the income of last year, and this was partly owing
to the compensation lees, which would have the same
effect upon a future occasion.
Their Lordships then ad'nurned.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 19.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual hour. _ •
Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition frommß
dale, praying for certain improvements in t)Ion
from
the,
Sir G.STRICKLAND presented a petit
might not be in—
military establishment of the I.!n
atisfaclon at the assurances of
pacificrelations witp
Anti-Corn-law Association of Presttron, praying that the
sPowers in her Majesty's speech.
creased, and expresostehder
one from Maidstone, C 011.•
from
Mr. S. CR AWI 0 presented a petition from Read.
Sudbury, and froze
from the Chairman of 'the Complete Suf..
iiciogn4ta3i2ni;nsgalsio,66:
pricagmiteiosn;
frage Union at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, praying for the
extension of the Suffratee, and the establishment of com•
Marlow,itar;gin' am
mercial and religious li rty.
Sir JOUN TROT LOPE wanted a pe‘itiou fro.