The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-02 00:00:00

MARKMYWORDS.

Mr. Etwall paired off in favour of Mr. Sheil's mo-
tion with Lord Villiers.
NOVEL -MATCH OF PIGEON-FLYING.--YeSterdU7 S
match, which had been made to fly two pigeons against 'ditch
other, was decided. The stakes were 51. a side, and the; con-
ditions were, that two pigeons belonging to respective owners
(pigeon-fanciers of Lambeth) should be taken a. distance
from London, and the first home to receive the stakes, the
domicile of each bird being attended by umpires to mark the
time of their return. It was arranged that Brighton should
be the starting place, and the pigeons, 1014.1 were of the
dragon breed, were accordingly conveyed by disinterested
and impartial hands, and, as was subseqwently ascertained,
let fly precisely at one o'clock (London time). The first
bird arrived (belonging to Spiers) at totn minute,' past two;
the other occupied eight minutes loter. The distance back
to London is calculated at 49 miles.
JUDICIAL PLEASANTRY.—During the trial of an
action for ejectment, Mr. Chilton, Q.C., bad occasion to
examine witnesses as to their knowledge of the boundaries
of a certain farm, the subject under consideration. One of
these was ninety-four years of age, the other two upwards of
eighty. The well-developed figures and florid looks of the
old men astonished the Learned Counsel, who inwardly con-
trasted his own attenuated and delicate frame with the yet
burly proportions of the fine old fellows. "It is astonish-
ing, my Lord," said he, addressing Mr. Justice Cresswell,
" how well men of such an age look--the place surely must
be healthy. I wonder what they do take ?" The Learned.
Judge gave one of his blandest smiles, dropped his pen, and
looking significantly at the Learned Counsel, said, " I'm sure,
Mr. Chilton, I don't know what they take, but I'm quite sure
they don't take briefs."—Carmarthen Journal.
A FAST TRAIN.—OH Sunday Mr. Brunel travelled
in the fast train from London to Exeter. The whole journey
was performed in four hours and three quarters, including
stoppages at Swindon Bath and Bristol, of twenty-two
minutes, so that the actual time of travelling 196 miles was
four hours and twenty-three minutes. The greatest speed
attained on the journey was seventy miles an hour, and at. this apparently frightful velocity there was no unpleasant
motion. Mr. Brunel declares that, if the directors would
permit, he would undertake to perform the journey to Exeter
in four hours instead of five.—Devizes Gazette.
BANK-NOTES.—It appears from a Parliamentary
paper, that in the month of August, 1844, at the passing of
the Act the 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32, by which tl-Ae
returns in England were superseded, the notes in circule:don
belonging to the Bank of England amounted to 21,980;a00/. ;
and those belonging to private banks, to 4,550,35'37. ; and
those belonging to joint-stock banks to 3,204,4.60/. The
bullion in the coffers of the Bank amounted at thlz same time
to 15,227,000/. The notes of the chartered, private, and
joint-stock banks in Scotland in circulation on the Ist of
February last amounted to 3,070,058/. ; those of the Bank of
Ireland to 3,983,0504 ; and those of private And joint-stock
banks in Ireland to 3,115,0661. On the .16th of August,
1844, the total liabilities of the Bank of F....ngland amounted
to 35,414,0001, and the total assets to 38,487,0004 The
notes in circulation amounted to 21,524!., and the bullion in
the coffers of the Bank to 15,579,00'04
THE FAIRY.—This new iron steamer, intended as a
yacht for her Majesty, was built by Messrs. Ditchburn and
Mare, of Blackwell, and the engines have been constructed
by Messrs. Penn and Co., of Greenwich. On Monday and
Tuesday she proceeded down the river to test her speed, and
we believe she has far exceeded the most sanguine expectations
of her constructors. It is stated that after twelve trials at
the mile laid down by Government in Long-reach, her speed
was found to be fifteen miles per hour, which is the greatest
rate a vessel has ever been propelled by a screw. Such a re-
sult is highly creditable to the parties above-named, and says
a good deal in favour of a propelling power, which up to this
time has not been much adopted.
THE LATE STEAM EXPLOSIONS AT BLACXWALL.—
The subscription which was set on foot soon after the explo-
sion of the steam-pipe on board the Gipsy Queen steam-boat
at Blackwell, for the benefit of the widows and orphans of tlie
sufferers, has amounted to nearly 1,800/. The trustees and
committee have invested 800/. for the permanent benefit of
the orphans, to place them out in trades or situations when
at a suitable age. Since the 12th of November last when the
unfortunate occurrence took place, the widows have received
permanent relief, as well as a weekly allowanccording to
their circumstances and number of their children
ACCIDENT TO ONE OF THE FIRE BRIGADE.-011
Tuesday morning, during the fire in the Minories, the fire
brigade experienced several very narrow escapes of their
lives. Samuel Girard and another of the Farringdon-street
station saved themselves by hanging to a beam, when the
front wall fell out, and George Carew, of Watling-street,
was on a ladder in front of the adjoining house, with the
engine branch in his hand, throwing water into the second
flour, when, unfortunately, the ladder slipped, and Carew fell
to the pavement. The man was instantly conveyed home to
Watling-street very much injured, but no fatal results are
anticipated.