The Sun.
London, England, 1826-05-25 00:00:00

DREADFUL ACCIDENT.

The neighbourhood of Oakley-street, and the Orphan's .AsOutn,
Lambeth, was yesterday thrown into the utmost alarm by an
accident, which, we regret to learn, produced a melancholy ;uteri
tice of human life. About half•past eleven in the morning.the
inhabitants were alarmed by a shock of the !earth, accompanied
by a crashing noise as violent as that which would be produced
by an earthquake. Many persons immediately ran from their
houses into the road, some from fright and others front- Curiosity.
It was aseertained that the shock had proceeded from a part of
Maudelay'S extensive steam-engine manufactory, the walls of
Which it appeared bad given way under the pressure of its pon-
derous-iron roof. Great anxiety was naturally evinced for the
safety of the men who it was• known were, at work in that part
of the premises, and the fears of many were unfortunately
realized ; for, we understand that eighteen human beings
were taken from the ruins, three of them quite dead, and
several of them -in such a mutilated and bruised state, as
left but slight hopes of their recovery. Soma of the scents
which followed the general report of the accident in the
neighboitrhood ,were distressing beyond • description. Crowd.;
of the female relatives of the workmen assembled round the pre-
mises, naturally anxious to ascertain whether -their friends were
safe; and some of them arrived just at the moment when the un-
fortunate object.; of their solicitude. were dug out of the ruins in a
dreadfully mangled state. .The screams of the women and chil•
dren, whose misery was thus past doubt, added to those of several
who wereatillin suspense, were truly heart-rending. About the
number of persons, actually within the walls when the roof gave
way, the accounts were various, and many of them, as .m*l,
much exaggerated. Some said that 100 nien were at the mo-
ment employed „on and under the roof, -more than half of 'which
nutuber,were among the sufferers; but this we have reason to be-
lieve is quite an over-statement. As far as we could learn, from
inquiries made on the spot, the total number employed in that
part of the building did not exceed 18 or 80, of whom 18 were
severely wounded: One man (a domestic servant belonging, as
we learned, to Mr. Maudslay, and .who was standing near the
wall) was killed on the spot. Three persons, it was added, had,.
at four o'clock in the afternoon, .died of their wounds.

As to the cause of,the accident, there can, we think, be but
one opinion—namely, that'the walls were much too slight to-suss-
Ulu the weiglitof the itonienie mass of iron which constituted the
roof. The building was but recently erected, and was not quite
finished. It was about 100 feet in length, from SO to 40 in
.width, -and about ta 0 feet high (to the eaves.) It was stated on,
the premises (amongst many other erroneous accounts),' that the
accident was occasioned by the 4' centres" of the rooting :not being
sufficiently strong, and not by the want of •aufticient solidity in
the walls. A very cursory view of the premises will, however,
be sufficient to show the inaccuracy of this statement. Had the,
roof fallen from weakness in the centre, the whole would have de-
scended within the wall, with little damage to the latter, except
at the top; but this was not the case,. for the wall at ono side, to
within five or six fret of the ground, was thrown forward into an
adjoining street. We did withar whether suyperson•was seen
passing at the moment, but, up to a late hour yesterday, no trace
'of any sufferer atthat side bad: besot discovered.
(..)1 course, it would be uurousonable to impute IsiamUje
Individual in a case of this kind, which, could never be the result
of design in any quarter. •It would he less justifiable in the pre-
sent case, as we understand that Mr. Maudslay, (who, it should
be added, was on the roof a, short time before' the accident hap-
pened) is is very-kind and hurnane,suan, and extremely attentive'
to the comfort, of those in his employment. Still it is impos-
sible not to observe, that the appearance of the walls do by no
means indicate the solidity and power of reeistance, which Would
be required to support such is roof as lhat,' which, judging from
the 'massive *squints ma saw , scattered about; 'they were
'intended ...to 'bear. We mention thisi as the impression on our
mind from a ,siew of the premise, but without intention of
casting an imputation in any cluArter. Indeed, it is impossible
to suppose, that In any case (not a Government job) is man
would so construct a buildiug as that it should fall about the ears
of the person. employed in it almost as soon as finished. We
cannot, however, shut our eyes to the fact, that this is the third
instance-(though the first with Ilfessrs. Maudslay) in the metropo4
lie, within three years, in which the walls of iron-roofed buildings
have given way :—.11(1 slight proof that something remeins yet to
be learned, or practised, in the formifon of those roofs, or in the
construction (Atha walls intended to support them. ,

The sale of useful and ornamental works for the
benefit of the distresssd Spitalfields Weavers has, we
are . informed, be.en fixed, by the-Ladies' Patronesses,
for -Monday and Tuesday next, at the. lisutrier-square
Rooms..

igable Magistrate, R. Iron-
Our Worthy and indefat
monger, Esq. leaves us in a few days for Stafford, for
which place be is a candidate, and where we under-
stand he is very populan—jirighton Gazette.

LONDON,
THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 25, 1826.

The City was much agitated yesterday, by reports
being circulated of intelligence having been received in
town, by express, from Vienna, of an arrangement of
the differences between Russia and Turkey ; and they
were so far credited as to • occasion a rise of nearly.
per Cent. in Consols, and a corresponding advance
in most other public securities.
Reports of important events of this nature must
always be received with great caution, and the rumours
which have been circulated appear to us to render
such caution, on this occasion, even more than ordi-
narily necessary. It is stated " that the question re-
lative to .the occupation by the Russians of the for-
tresses cm the frontiers of , Turkey, and the nonfulfil-
ment of certain other provisions of the treaty of Bu-
charest have been referred to arbitration ; and that two
Commissioners have been appointed on the part of
the Turkish Government, to proceed to St. Peters-
burgh for-the purpose of settling it, under the media-
tion of the Austrian Ambassador in that capital ; that
these Commissioners are to carry letters congratulating
the Emperor NICUpLA.S on his accession, and pro-
fessing amity and good will ; and that the evacuation
of the provinces of Moldavia and Wallachia, with the
appointment of the .Hospodars under the protection
of Russia, are to precede the departure of the Com-
missioners, assurances having been given to the Divan
that.the abandonment by Russia of the Frontier F0r.,1
tresses will be strongly urged on the Court. of St..
Petersburgh by the rest of the European Powers.
This arrangement is said to have been brought
about by the British Ambassador; to rest on the au-
thority of most respectable letters from Vienna, and to
have been conveyed to this country with extraordinary
.
rapidity." b

Such is the substance of the intelligence sYti t 9
have been received, and it appears to us to boar he
stamp of improbability so strongly on its leading fea-
tures, that we have little doubt of the whole being a
fabrication. Is it not altogether improbable, that at
the moment the Divan is said •to agree to an
arbitration relative to one point of the Treaty,
it should- ! abandon . the Provinces of Moldavia
and Wallachia, the possession of which affords
so important an advantage in any negociation rela-
tive to the surrender of the fortresses on the Asiatic
Frontier of Turkey, and is the only security against
the Accomplishment of any views of ambition which
Russia may entertain towards Constantinople
itself ? And is it not also improbable that
the British Ambassador should ,promise the 'in-
terference of all the European Powers, to induce
the Court of St: Petersburgh to fulfil a treaty, the
.stipulations of which have been so long, and so much
.violated by both nations ? We suipict, theiefore, the
authenticity of this intelligence, and that it has. been
circulated . for the purpose of raising the •price of
Funds, an object which it appears to have effected.

The Paris tapers of Monday, which 'arrived- last
night contain no news of importance. Thee following
article from the Quotidienne, dated Madrid, is the
only paragraph worth copying. Frorri this- it would
appear, that Spain entertains some intentions of re-
newing • her endeavours to regain some of her lost
authority in Mexico, an attempt, which, if made, can
only terminate in further disaster and disgrace.

MADRIDi MAT 11

The Gantt* of to-day contains a decocuarcreauanrortedifneh.itso "Athfiejesptuyk,eodre-
dering that a lazaretto shall be established at Vigo, for the crews
of vessels coining from places subsequent to pestilential disorders.
Those vessels which have had any deaths on the passage shall ma.
n.
tdiosgaogrteeao PbolerteAirleabounuan
aton:eicrlfaoternlyi g
l'lnfantado. It seems his We'd!' rec6iDleldukahoehillyninnoiattfoofaruirnlngtor.aocutakiouoif
a manner, that his Excellency would have resolved to resign irn-
dtmhuederetii aEbtrioe,nultilaitrylt not
esh persons
otaulhfrordouretmilaei i
h, u
idn about
jlu,:tlhvieurrlieewni
received.
r al
en; interest etiat
howeveri:o teant:
oithaegsratplihe
oreftrßeaatyoonfnethwe
nplace,ourtc
ande to ytialeu.T
it. We have just learnt the arrival, at the Havannab, you
the
Gasser° of the line, and the Sqfirs brig, after a passage of $3
days. It seems certain that 4000 of our Lost troops will he em-
barked in the Hera and 4/yesiroe,

lo'cltprosent gituAatioli °think% Asia troops, and the squadron

which is going to be collected in the island of Cuba, will enable the
government to send an expedition of eight or ten thousand meu to
assist the Spanish party in Mexico.
- FRINCE Fowns.—Pants, May 22.—Five per Centa.f 96. ;
Three per Cents., 64. 20c. ; Bank Stock, 2,010 f. ; Neapolitan
Rentes, 73£ 25c. ; Spanish Rentes, ; Ditto,Loan, 45f 4°•
Exchange on London, one month, 25f. SOc. ; three ditto,
35f. SOc.

The French Papers tell us of a misunderstanding
said to have arisen between the Cabinets of Prussia
and the Netherlands—they assign several causes Of
dissension. First, there is, they say, manifested on the
part of Holland an indisposition to carry into effect
certain provisions of the Congress of Vienna, with re-
gard to the liberty of navigation on the Rhine.
Secondly, she refuses to pay, on behalf of her Duchy
of Luxemburg, her fair contribution to the charges
of the confederation ; and Thirdlv, " Proh pudor,
e prism fides invidaque virtus," she has acknow-
ledged South American independence. The flame of
dissension has, they tell us, been fanned by certain
disagreements, said to exist between the Continental
Governments with regard to Grecian affairs.
The Editor of the Journal des Debats, as lie sat
at his post watching (important charge) over the wel-
fare of Europe, first saw the evil and gave the alarm.
This worthy, to a clear vision of the present, adds as
clear a sight into the future; and we are happy toin-
form our reader's, that he prognosticates a bloodless
termination to the quarrel. Prussia, says he, Will i""
demnify herself with heavier duties on the productions
of Holland, and assuage her anger with vexatious
regulations on her trade.

:• At a late hour this afternoon we received by EX'
press the Etoile, dated yesterday morning. At noon,
on the 19th, Prince Galitzen passed thrOugh Brussels
on his way from St. Petcrsburgh with dispatches
from his Government to the Russian Minister at the
Court of the Netherlands. It would appear that these (Lis'
patchesare of an important nature, the Prince havingint-
mediately continued his journey to the Hague, where lie
would arrive on the 20th inst. The German Papers
which were received in Paris on the 23d contain no
news either from Turkey or Greece.
The Genoa Gazette adds to the statements already.
given with regard to the destruction of Missolonghi,
a letter from Livourne, stating that that place pre- ,
seinedof a
theefortfied town.apipearanc iil
of alnalcAetioim,,
r marsh, rather than
that
ceal the extent of his loss, had forbiddderersirthiegalt:procOaci:
of any vessels from the lonian Islands to the shores of
Missolonghi.
The disturbances at RoUen appear, by accounts
dated from that city so late as the 23d instant, lo
siltlllagtectdhPertoe
have continued to a considerable extent, notivithstand.
between the Catholic and Protestant inhabitants, arc,
•
FilzNca MAY .2,17._5 per Cot., 96f. 35c. ; per
6lf.
-Diet
orts .of the
The proceedinds in the House of Peers, hO.
the Authorities
were not .important. :another attempt disturbances
atis NismeS,tt
to suppress them.
ade
m
throw
althe Bill waspassed by
•
a majority of I.q.
out the Metropolitan Turnpike BM, but
.o.n..presenting a Petition from the P
Vincent and Dominica, praying that 110 farther into!
ference with their property should be made without
inquiry into the condition of the Slaves, and the ge7
neral state of the Colonies, the LORD CHANCELLOR,
drew the attention of the House to the facts, that in
e
as proposed by
efforts
vious
have
condition of their cultivation by Slaves ; and that theily
been
eeopefi
some cases lands had been purchased of the Crown °
Government of this Country had at one time Act°
refused to limit the importation of Slaves into
facts, if any arguments were wanting, would est"bli'
the Legislature of that Island. Vest
the just right of the Proprietors of Colonial ProPerthY
'enters of St.:
to remuneration from the public, in the event Of
policy on which the Government has hitherto acted,
being changed, with a view of bringing Bbo,ti
the emancipation of the Slaves. If such a des`rii
ble end can be • accomplished with a due regar
to the just rights( of individuals, we shall, as wt stid
yesterday, be foremoit in advocating it ; but ardel' te",
as we admire liberty in the abstract, and much 85
should rejoice to* see the blessingS of freedom.enie
by every human being, who Byes under the protec-i°i.
of. the British Constitution, we yin never, COse°
to g, do evil that good may prevail;''. and, tbeter
without a full and complete compensation to Pt..ns.
i• •
tO
sons who, on the faith of the Government, • luive
vested their Capital in the Colonies, we shall resl-
al
nation will be prepared to meet the expences of sut
a compensation is a difFerent question; if .it eantw,
~
which those who examine the state of our finance' •
lieve—
then we must postpone the agitation of the 9u"h•
ject until the resources of the country: enable it n
act with justice and honour in the adoption of tz
humane and liberal policy.
l,:any further invasion of their propertypropertyWhether

In consequence of the alterations which have. beef!„ce of
made in the Bonded Corn Bill, in the 11°7; or
Lords, a postponement of the period before axe"
the Dissolution has been rendered unavoidable; 3 %
we understand that it is not now expected to tP
place 'till Friday se'nnight.

There has been a strong demonstration of 1.6'11
in France with regard to the Machinations 0ft11.4.-
suit Missionaries.lt appears that thtige•Wifs'lls:"'