The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-11 00:00:00

vessel called the Joseph and Sarah, off the Powder
Creek, in Long Reach, in the parish of Dartford, laden
with ninety-five bales of contraband tobacco, together
with five baskets of French apples, and twenty-three
other baskets. Mr. Simpson, with four men, boarded
the vessel off Greenhithe, and found two men in charge
of the vessel. The vessel and cargo were brought up to
Woolwich, and the prisoners, Henry Wilkins and Henry
Jones, were taken in custody by the inspector of the
Woolwich police before Mr. Grove. They pleaded
guilty, and in default of paying the penalty of 1001. were
committed to Maidstone gaol.
At the annual meeting of the Bedfordshire Agricul-
tural Association, held the other day at Bedford, the
proceedings of the day presented three interesting and
gratifying features—first, the ploughing was immeasur-
ably better than on any former occasion ; secondly, the
bulk of the finest animals were shown by the tenant-
farmers ; thirdly, the chief portion of the speeches de-
livered after dinner had reference to the condition of
the agricultural labourer, and suggested practical plans
for its amelioration.

The theatre at Taunton has been disposed of to
a builder, Mr. Pettit, who intends if not its entire demo.
lition, at all events the entire and speedy removal of •
its dramatic capabilities.
The valuable rectory of North Creake, Norfolk, has
become vacant by the death of the venerable Archdeacon
Bathurst. The living is worth 1,000/. a year, and is
the gift of Earl Spencer and the Bishop of Norwich. By
the death of the Archdeacon, the living of Ilollesly,
Suffolk, has also become vacant. It is in the gift of W.
Bolton, Esq. The Rev. J. B. Collyer, M.A., vicar of
Wroxham, with Salhouse, Norfolk, has been appointed to
the former.

ANOTHER DISTRESSING ACCI-
DENT AT PLYMOUTH.
EIGHT LIVES LOST.
It is our painful duty again this week to record an
event which has thrown several families into the greatest
state of affliction, by the death of eight persons, who
were drowned yesterday (Wednesday) while sailing in
a boat over the ridge of rocks which stretches from
Drake's Island to Mount Fdgcumbe, and which is com-
monly known by the name of " The Bridges." It is
well known the passage over this ridge of rocks is at-
tended with peril even in fine weather, at certain periods
of the tides, but more especially so in tempest and
storm. The accident to which we refer, and which,
as we have before stated, involved the loss of eight
fellow-creatures, took place under the following me-
lancholy circumstances :—A married female, named
Amelia Smart, and who resided at Devonport, hired a
boat, under the management of two watermen early in
the morning, for the purpose of proceeding into the Sound
to bid farewell to her husband, who was about to leave
this port as a seaman on board the Rhadamanthus
steamer. She reached her destination in safety, and
having had an affectionate interview with him, she bade
him adieu, and the watermen then proceeded to the Re
sistance troop-ship, one of them having a brother-in-law
on board that vessel, and whom he was very desirous to
see. While the boat lay alongside the Resistance, an ap-
plication was made by several of the seamen on board to
their commander, for leave to go on shore ; and this
favour having been granted to eight of them, they left in
the watermen's boat, full of spirits, in anticipation of
speedily joining their friends in Devonport ; but, alas I
these fervent hopes were never realised, for, on reaching
Drake's Island, while sailing dead before the wind, a heavy
sea rolled over the stern of their frail bark (at the time
overladened) which swamped her, and she immediately
capsized, precipitating the whole of the party into the
water, three of whom alone remain to give a statement of
the melancholy catastrophe—two of the seamen and one
of the boatmen. One of the bodies (the female)
was picked up a short time after the acci-
dent, and conveyed to Mutton Cove, and another
(a youngster named Cummings) was washed on
shore, at the island, where a Coroner's in-
quest will be held on it as soon as the boisterous weather
at present prevailing shall have subsided, so as to
permit of the safe transit of the Coroner on his melan-
choly errand. Three out of eleven were providentially
saved. The event, when taken in connexion with the
melancholy loss of life which occurred within one mile
of the island last week, while it cannot but call forth
the sympathies of the public for the bereaved, appears
to us to demand the recognition of the unsearchable and
absolute providence of the Most High.
The names of the unfortunate persons who have by
this accident met with an untimely end, are—Thomas
Mayne, seaman on board her Majesty's ship Resistance;
Cummings, ditto; Holberton, ditto; Thomas,
ditto; Liscombe, ditto; Atwill, waterman, plying
at Mutton Cove; and Amelia Smart, wife of a seaman
on board her Majesty's ship Rhadamanthus.
An inquest was held by A. Bone, Esq., Coroner, at
Devonport, last !night, on the body of the unfortunate
woman, whose body has been brought ashore, and the
jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death by drown.
ing."—Plymozals Journal.

- - -
THE LATE LADY HEYTESBURY.—The funeral of
Lady Heytesbury will be strictly private. Her Lady-
ship's remains will be conveyed for interment to the
family vault at Heytesbury, An Admiralty steamer
has arrived to convey the body to Bristol. His Excel-
lency the Lord-Lieutenant's brother and son will pro-
ceed by the same conveyance either on Saturday or
Monday next.

STAMP AND TAX-OFFICE ASSURANCE SOCIETY