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

THE SVIStruIiONDON, .4:0-NDAY_ NQRNANG, APRIL 84 1844.

_ , ---
THE- LATE FATAL CONFLAGRAI dreadful fire at .this Waav,nland'Cghion tavern an
TION 1N OXFORD-STREET l -. • . . ~
. . wine Vaillts, at the cornet of Gilbert-street, in Oxford
No event has occurred for many years to the western i -street, ..
on the night of Thursday last. . • -
portion of the metropolis which. has prOduced so painful 1 The jury having been sworn, ptoceeded to view the
a sensation in the public mind as the deplorable fire that remains of the unfortunate deceased persons which
took place, at a late hour on Thursday night, at the Rose ' lay in the dead-house attached to SL Georges Work-
and Crown wine-vaults; • occupied by Mr. Williams, I house. - On the return of' the jury to the inquest-
No. 287, Oxford-street, and which, as stated in The Sun 1 room the following evidence was taken : • ,
of yesterday,. Was attended with the laerifice•of six bu- ' William Pluck, a police-eonstable of the 0 division,
man lives, as well as a greaLloss of property. No. 98, stated that on the night of the fire (Thursday
It • appears that the premises had been- but recently : last) he was on duty in Gilbert-street, Oxford-street.
erected, and. were fitted up by Mr. Williams-in a most At about half-past eleven &clock he was standing
gorgeous-style, and at u vast expense, for what is gene- E with his back against
and wine-merchant, against the connting-house
,of Mr.
rally!termed " a gin palace." The bar occupied nearly. t .
the whole of, the ground floor of the•building, and was Williams,. spiwine-merchant, known as the
Gilbert-
.handsomely appointed. A number of large rats, sup- , Crown and. Cushion. at the corner of Gilbert-
ported by stone columns, extended almost-to the second -! street, and - Oxford-street; when he saw a blue
floor, and were well stocked with -.spirits of every de- i. flame on the counter. At that time he noticed the
scription. , • I barman' in the same part of the premisesstanding be-
lt has since be?n ascertained that at, the time of the hind the counter. Allthe lights were burning
two of through-
'
alarm- being first given Mr. Williams was from home, out the house. The barman seeing witness, said "For
he having
.left the premises in . charge .of
his barmen. of -.the names' of Charles Goodivin 'and God's sake, go • and call the engines, -for we are all in a
- blaze," ' He (witness) then - sprang his ' rattle,
William- Robinson. Mrs. Williams, with her- two chit- shouted' "fire," and called a cab, into whie.h, begot,"
dren, one of the age of four years- and' a half, named
,
Eliza,- the other" named: William.' and age& ,about. and ordered the driver to drive to the Kin street
night-months, with the female doinesties, one named station of the Fire-brigade, and request. Mr: Foga to
Charlotte Fish; time other Sarah Hechion, and a sister of bring the engines'. A green door was parallel with
Mrs. Williams (Miss Fritehley), had retired to rest at the counting-house and staircase, but witness. could
the tune: - The other inmates were. the porter, named, 'not tell Whether it was open or closed. - , The 'cabriolet
Henry Parker, 'and Jacob, the pot-boy. It seems that was driVen with all speed. to King-street, when Wit-
some of the customers, of Whom there *ere a great many ness ordered not only the engines, but also the escapes
•
standing in front of the bar, obsetved a body of flames belonging to the Royal Society for Protection of Life
to break out suddenly from the top -cif one of 'the gin
..from 'Fire. - He next went to the engineers of other
vats, containing a large quantity of that spirit. Such
an unusual circumstance, as might be imagined, spread engines, and gave information ofthe '
calamity.
.
One of the jury thought that the policeman would
the greatest alarm and terror among all around. One -
in.in instantly ran to the street door, and shouted out have done better to have sent some one for. the en-
" Fire ;" another flew within speed to the engine-house gives, and have remained himself on the premises, to
in Marylebone-larie. - 7 have rendered assistance to the inmates. - .
Many. of .the persons who were in the bar tendered- The CORONER said. he had no: doubt .the officer did
their assistance, and used every 'effort to prevent the ex- what he considered was the best. - • • .
tension ..of the flames, but before many: seconds . had The evidence was corroborated by police-Constable
elapsed every soul was obliged to make a precipitate re- 33 C, 'who 'added -that on his getting in front of the
treat into the street. The spirit in the vats ran over in
a flaming stream, setting the whole of the bar, counting- Crown and Cushion, he observed flames • breaking
through the side door, into Gilbert...street, but there
house, and spiritstoies in a general blaze. ' ' -
was', not much fire then. It appeared to witness to
The scene that- followed was of the most heart-rending be thal moment bursting forth.
.- . .
character. It having been. ascertained from the barman
that hiamistress, .with her. two children and the rest of The next witness examined, was William Hewitt,
who said that he was a barman to Mr.• Williams.
the domestics, 'were in. the upper part of the building,
the most bitter lamentations were raised, accompanied On the night of Thursday last his master was -not at.
with loud cries of e For God's sake save them;" and home. When the fire - broke out the shop was
"'Seed for ladders." One or more humane . persons vo- open, and -he was _serving customers at the bar.
lunteered to rush into the house to rescue them, but no The hour Mrs. Williams retired to bed he could not tell.
sooner did they enter the premises than they were driven He heard and saw Goodwin pumping •up the spirits
out by the heat of the blazing spirits, which poured forth . at the bar; -Goodwin-was -quite 'sober at the time, and
from every quarter of the building, and . ran down the lived on good terms with the family. When the
pavement into the gutters and- carriage:way in a river. flames'
of fire. -' • • .• 7 . were beginning to spread, some one .brought a
. • • -
The onlyperson who was observed to leave the-pre- . ladder, which was plaCedagainstthe parlour window
raises • was the sister Of the unfortunate Mrs..Williaths, . over the counting-.house, but the fire growing stronger
and,she, it Will,becricollected; escaped freth the counting-. -it spread with indescribable rapidity.. .. - .
housii wind,44-4,..-she was. assisted by a person living.. at The CoRoNER—Did any one. escape .by means of
Mr. Wattioyes;.ti butcher, residing exactly opposite. Her the ladder ? Witness---No sooner was it placed. where
preservation is oonsidered truly .rairaculoue,, for she had_ .I have. stated; than Miss. Fiitchley.got upon it, but
haidly gained the pavement before the whole building, she was obliged to jump down to escape being burnt
from the'bar to the roof, became enwrapped in one cem- to death.
plete vivid sheet of flame, whilst, at _the same moment, A juror—Do yoti think, Mr. Hewitt, if a perion
the sky was illuminated to such an extent that the fire
was had gone up stairs at the first, the inmates would have
discernible from all parts of the west of London.
been able to escape? - Witness—l don't think they
It was then about a quarter to twelve, and for upwards
of an hour afterwards the work of. destraction continued ' .
• would, because the intense heat caused the bottles to
with unabated fury,- destrOying everything the plate con- keep cracking, and the contents
i (liquor) becoming
tained. Seven-large engines of the London Fire Estab- ignited, the flames spread quicker..
liniment, and those of the County and West of England .. The Cocotea-.-How long have you lived with Mr.
Companies, with one belonging to the pariah, - arrived in Williams P. Witness—About three weeks, and I may
quick succession, and were all brought into active ope- almost be termed a stranger:
ration, and were the means of checking the progress of Mr. 'William Thompson, an upholsterer in Gilbert •
the conflagration. - ' - • . street, here stepped forward, an begged to say -a few
As soon as the ruins were sufficiently cooled, the' bri- words: 'On hearing the alarm of fire on the night in
gade men got over the roof of the adjoining houses, question, he. instantly hastened to the spot with a fire-
and by raising 'the ladders reached the party-wall of ' thewhich he kept in his possession. Avery few
premises, and, up
-on looking over it, saw what appeared escape
minutes had then elapsed. after the outbreak,. and
to be the body of a man.lying _on the fib w of the second-
bearing that there Were people in the' house he went
stoFy front. At first the ruins appeared in such slot-, to the next house for the purpose of getting on to the
tering condition as to render it dangerous to approach.
but he was. prevented • from
'Ladders,. however, having been placed over the most roof, where he considered there would be a chance of
dangerous -portien". of the- floor,- the firemen .found saving._ the parties.,
the body to be that of the poor pot-boy Jacob, going up, by a policeman, who was standing at the
who appeared to . hive - died . from auffocatims, for his door, and who • refused • any one admission into the
hands covered his faim, and he was lying flat on the - premises. He told him his intentions, when the mob
floor, not flinch burnt. The firemen -having lowered the
outside' exclaimed .that they had all been got out. He
remains down the front of the building into the street, was positive that had the police allowed him to pass
they proceeded to make ferthet -search. and in the he could have saved many of the unfortunate persons,
, •
course of another hour and •a half they found the re-
for there was sufficient time to reach them from the
roof, which was the only accessible means of getting
mains of' five other persons—three women and two chit-
into the remises the flames having the entire posses-
dren: They were discovered entangled in the burnt
rafters in the back floors, but it was impossible to re- . _ , 1
stroyed. It was alrightful - sight. and many of the fire- Robert Tozer, an engineer cognise them, all traces of human form having been -de- sion of the bar and counter.
in
i the brigade force,
men, in removing what they suppost,d to be the bodies was next called. He stated, at a quarter to twelve
or the two servants, were actually moved to tears. , Each o'claockfiroen.bTrheaukradingayonoighatt,
thehe receivedcrown
and
dfocrmusahtiiri
servant had'a child. clasped, in .her arms. The body of of
Mrs. Williams was subsequently found dreadfully burnt. tavern, he forthwith- proceeded to the spot,. with the
e The police, upon being made acquainted with the dis- engine and firemen belonging to the station of which
covery, sent intelligence to Mount-street workheuse, and he had charge, namely, Baker-street, Portman-square.
the authorities,- there sent shells, in which the black al- - •
arriving he found tb sprennses nearly- on'fire froin
ened remains Were placed, and they were then handed `'n
over to the Custody of the beadle. Upon Mr: Williams the shop to the roof; and the flames were extending
Oxford-street.
reaching home, his. State of, mind on learning what had out halfway across• Two other en-
-
befallen his wife and family can be better imagined than . gines had previously arrived—one from King-street '
described.`' • • • station, and the other- from-Marylebone Court-house,
' - ' : ' . .
Notwithstanding the vigilance of the police, a number belonging, to the parish. They were directly got to
-of daring depredations were committed; among them work; ' and,. after working the one he brought
was the- robbery of 50i in gold from Mr. Treelock, who in front of the . house, he took the hose on to
resides next
_door to. Mr. -Williams. Much discussion the roof of the adjacent premises, and
.played 'into
has arisen among the inhabitants as to the ifficaeyof that on- fire. After extinguishing the flames,- they
the fire escapes. Had . they been standing under the,• 'commenced to search the ruins for the deceased persons.
window when the fire, broke out, in all probability they The first they came to was between one and two
would hive been of no greater service than they were,
o'clock, which proved .to be that of the boy Pickering.
He owing to the vast quantity of spirits which became ig- - . e was lying en the flooring of the second floor front
nited at the same isomenaand whieh-entered every room
. .. ---.- .. . room, which partly stands, and was not much burnt..
The next—namely, that of Mrs. Williams---was
in the 'place simultaneously. liams-•-was
We have. received the following statement' from one
of the survivors, Henry Parker, the porter, concerning on the 'remains of the uppermost flooring, and near
the cause of the fire. He states, that as' was his custom, her laid the two servants with the children in their
he left the bar at about half-past- ten o'clock .togo to arms. Witness described the condition of the re-
bed. On his way up stairs lie went into the kitchen, mains when first. discovered, which caused a most
which was on the second floor, for a liglitedoandle, and painful sensation throughout the court.
whilst there he Saw Mrs. Williams, her sister. and the By a juror—He did- not think ten minutes elapsed
two female servants, who were preparing to retire to
from. the time of receiving the intelligence 'until he
arrived With the engine. -
bid, and the youngest child was in the cradle. He
wished them all " Good night," and preteeded to his
a mile fire-escape had
bed-room. Shortly afterwards he heard Mrs. Williams is within-halfof the place. A . _
and the rest ofthe family go up stairs to bed. Mrs. reached the fire before his arrival, and. he saw it fixed
Williams and the oldest child slept in the front room, 'against one of the adjoining. houses. The conductor
His station in Baker-street
second floor. The two servants' sleeping-room was the of it. told witness that he was ' afraid of placing the
:of the shop with great violence. • '
one above;. and they had charge of the Want. The machine against Mr. Williams's house in case the
sister of Mrs. Williams slept on the same floor. and the. canvass caught fire,- for the flames were bursting out
`theea
sures sufferers-Do?
pot-boy in a room adjoining. He had not been, he.
thought, more than an hour in bed when he was sud- - A relative of,OtstiE that
denly startled, and upon getting out of bed found a great
the lives could have be dat the time your en-
-quantity of smoke and heat ascending the staircase, ac- en-save .
compamed by a loud noise as of persons calling, '. Fire I gine arrived, hadthe o le
police and the fire-seta pe p
taken proper m
fire' ' in the street. He could not - tell whether, any think
.
but he directly ran down stairs, and not, for every part of the house was .tben in `flames,
person called him' • •which the counting-and the creatures •allperished long
upon reaching the landing into
i
house opened, he found he could get no further on ace before that period.
,I am, however, of (minion, having
count of a great body Of fire being at the bottom of the examined into the circumstances, that both the lives
staircase. In consequence of that be went into e. and the hpuse Might hive been saved
.had the Count-
lititessy—auNon
parlour, where he saw Miss Fritchley in her night clothes,( ing-house door been- closed ;it was, unfortunately,
and 'trying to: get open. the window. He _ opened left wide open amidst the Camfusion and this cc-
it for her, and called out for help . and for a ladder,
the
. counts for the flames. extending throughout'
the
then saw the carman, Charles -Goodwin, who was On e house with, the astonishing-velocitythey did.
staircase, and out to him to come. down, but it was .A .
___
~..
of the J
itnpossible, for the fire had got hold of one portion
Having uror It is but proper that engines should be
provided with blankets in case of an emergency Of this
staircase, and was rapidly extending upwards._ description,
. .
~.
seen MIAs Fritchley safely secured,-. he- attempted to fol- ditin, in order that persons can escape by throw-
low her example by getting out oca the window, but in ing themselves into tbem.—Witness replied that
A • doing by a body of nearly the wh • • them._
'
an instant he was prevente from-so , whole' of the engines belonging to the Lon-
flames bursting from the windows beneath.• He-then don Fire-Establishment were. provided with canvass
turned back. and resolved to hasten to his room at the sheets, which ' 'answered the same ;purpose, and also
top of thti house; and on running up-stairs he was nearly lengths of scaling ladders. '• ' -
deprived of his senses -; -in fact, he fell several times from •
rhe only witness now, to be examined was John
the oppressive heat and columns of smoke that rose u.
a Good Win, the other barman, who, on being called, ap-
the staircase. He distinctly heard Mrs. Williams aa
peared to suffer greatmental anguish. Having been
her servants scream ' for help. He called to them to' .
cautioned b th C
• e Wolter that he nee no ma e an
-know where they were, and 'the screaming still' con-
stateme tto - ' .
n criminate himselA he said was willing
tinuing, he tried to get at, them, but he became so .
all the informationlaid •
alarmed, that he made to the'top of ,the house with all to give
speed and got intelis room: He then snatched hold of was then sworn, and stated that, since the fire he had
a pair of trowsers, and jumped out of a small window on. been living ,at - No. 26, Thomas-street, Grosvenor-
to the roof Of one of the . adjoining -houses, where 'he square. He had. acted. as 'foreman in. the service ,of
remained Until-discovered: 'N\ hen informed where the Mr. Williams, for three yeari, And his duty, amongst
bodies •of his Mistress and the 'other unfortunate crea-• other things, was to see to . vats and casks on the ,
tures were found, he said that they had endeavoured to premises being properly filled. On Thursday, morn- •,'
make. their (escape, but had taken the wrong room, out
ing Mr. Williams said he should expect him to
of which there was no means of egress; and this opinion , . into . he wished pump's
ofthe vats,
the gin one
is :confirmed by Tozer, the fireman,' who had to tear up . ,
away some iron bars in - front-in erder to lower the bodies . , _ .
tillafterthe
not to be done .
down. 'Hi further adds, in respect to the origin of the The . vat contained three hundred gallons. He
calamity, that Goodwin told him (which has since been (witness) would have attended to Mr. • Williams's
ascertained to be the case) that it arose from- the spirits instructions, and not have commenced • till after
itrone of the vats flowing - over• into the counting-house the shop had been closed; but finding the business slack,
on to the 'gaslight beneath._ This it • seems was occa - after half-past eleven...crock at night; he set about
siOned by Goodwin pumping the spirit from the cellar the task. ' The pump Was erected near the counting-
. into 'the-vats in ' the bar as previously mentioned, and house door, and the spirit was conveyed out of a
over-filling them. Goodwin has beeirever since the ac- the cellar the
, puncheon in
' llar up-into the vats above bar,
cident almost distracted. - . • •
• and counter. He had not commenced pumping but
The damage done' by the fire is detailed- in the -sub- - before b found
joined list, which is a copy of the official report as sent one or two mina..
counters,
minutes e the spirit •.flowing
in yesterday morning to the different insurance-offices
:- casks in the which he '
over the small .
~
" The fire which broke out in C section of the' brigade much surprised at, having filled them in the early part
_ . . _ .
on 'Thursday night at the premises of Mr. W. Williams,' of the day. -
sign of -the Rose and Crown, corner'of Gilbert-Street, The CORONER inquired if he could forth any judg-
Oxford-street, consumed the whole of the -furnitnre'and ment' how that arose?—Witness said • he- Suspected
contents. It extended completely through the house to that 'after he had filled thoSe casks; -he had neglected
tire 'roof, part of which, together with part of the floors, to turn off one. of the POCki, I for he ;found instead of
is standing. Much damage done to cellar stock by • ' '- t the-large t I he' - -
mewing the gin on 9 va ~i was mg eject-
water. Six engines belonging to the brigade were in Pd into.. f ei.s,ks.- -
e .One. e the.
..,
attendance, with the parish engine and those belonging
to. the County and West of England Companies.- 'Thed;--liO instantly
Evidence oontinue. . , stopped puny-
building, with stock in trade and furniture, is insured in "and. went to the counter, and took down a shutter
ing,
..
to
~ .
the Licensed Victuallers' office. Six. ees are lost. which coVered :the casks, 'ascertain: the one that
No. 288, Oxford rtreet, Mr. C. Maeda potato dealer was need owing, and no sooner had he done so than
—building damaged-.by fire, and roof injured ; furni- a great ;quantity of spirit came down, an 4 some fall-
ture extensively damaged by removal.. Insured in. ing on the burning gas; the burner-of stinc-h•Was im-
the Sun. . . ' - - • • - mediately 7 beneath, ignited ,it. lie instantly ran into
"NO. 286, Mr. Cook,,:baker—shop front extensively the cellar; 'and obtained two pails •of water, which he
scorched. Insured in the Union. ' ' threw. over . the ,burning' ' Spirit, and
,partially
" No..44;Giltiert.street, Mr. Mitcham, tailor--a similar -• . - • -bed' 't and for the- purpose' of . 1
extinguis -i . • - ' a
damage to building.: • , • -
,it. wait he r ran. for another pail of
• fecting •
" .No. 1, Gilbera.street, FaTrulock„ potato dealer, front: , ' • - he
,when on is returndiscovered the count-
of shop burned, arid furniture damaged by removal- our .
water. . Insured in the Sun." - . - f flam -
ing-house. in one 'mass 0 ea. 'Witness further
added: that all human efforts were -made to Sere krs:
Williams and - here family,, but .the 'flames Were •so
frightfnlly-rapid in theirpregresS, that it was utterly,
iinpracticable. He.,atteMpted to rush tip the stairs to
their help, as did many other, persons, but• Could not
ascend, the fire meeting them -and , driving theni back'
into -the street. . . • . • . . • ..
The CORONER thin- .briefly addressed
_the jury, and
•• .
they, after .a few minutes deliberation, returned a
verdict of " Accidental death." , •
,
Th 6 inquiry occupied nearly five hours. It was
stated that there was between .700 and 800 gallons of
spirits •on the Preiniiei at the' tine Of the outbteak of
the, firol 004914 4,which was Consumed.

CENTRAL CRI VENAL COURT.
During the recess which haS occurred since the ter•
mination of the last session of the Central Criminal
Court, the City Lands ComtnittAe have directed their
attention toward improving the communication from the
basement to the Old and New Courts, as well as afford-
ing a better systeth of accommodation and classifi-
cation to the nunierous and heterogenous masses
that each session congregates at the above place. Here-
tofore, the entrance to the Old Court and the ofijee of
the Clerk of the Indictments was by two stair Cases;

the first one a wide flight of wooden stairs leading.to a
passage which opens to the corridor separating the Old
and New Courts; the other was a kind of well-staircase;
consisting of stone steps, which led to the Indictment-
office, the gallery of the Old Court, and to the en-
trance for counsel and solicitors, and which, by
means of a dark passage, rendered still darker by
doors, led to an opposite flight, of steps, which
communicated with what is termed the press-yard.
These staircases were divided by a wall of masonry,
four feet and a half in thickness, running from the base-
ment to the top of the building. This wllll, as well as
the two flights of stairs, have been removed, and a wide
circular, or well-staircase, has been built in their place.
The flight, at the first landing, leads, and affords
every facility, to and from both of the Courts and
the indictment office ; the second flight leads to
Mr. Clark's private offices, the gallery of the Old
Court, and also to the gallery of the "New Court;
while the third flight leads to the top of the building,
and from the extreme width of the stairs several persons
can pass and repass without the slightest inconvenience
to each other. With regard to the alterations on the
basement of the building, it has already been noticed
that it has been divided into three compartments, but
without any arrangement as to classification; this evil
has been remedied, for the north division is set apart
for the prosecutors and witnesses who may have to
attend in the Old Court, as well as to afford ingress
and egress to. the Grand Jury-room. The centre com-
partment is to be exclusively devoted for the friends of
the prisoners, and witnesses to character. The south
or right hand compartment affords the same facilities
as the north end to the New Court ; and at the same
time here the most important alteration has been made.
Previous to. the last session all classes, male and female,
the innocent and the vicious, the respectable and
the dissolute, were herded together, intermixed with
a vast number of the new police—the members of this
protective force having nothing to do except to be
in attendance, and to be ready to answer when their
case was called on, too often made it the practice to
take the female witness, especially if she was respectable,
to some of the public-houses opposite, for the purpose,
it was alleged, to remove her from being contaminated
by the depravity with which she was surrounded, when
in many instances, the remedy adopted far outbalanced
the supposed evil, for being unused to such plaees, she
became stupified by liquor, and became an easy victim to
the passions of the constable. Not a session passed but what
was marked with seductions, bath in married and single
life, and to remedy this Monstrous evil, as well as the unhap-
py consequences which the want of a proper accommoda-
tion entailed, the City Lands Committee hare fitted up,
the room which adjoins the office of the treasurer of the
county.of Middlesex for the sole and exclusive accommo-
dation of respectable females who unfortunately are
obliged to attend the Central Criminal Court in the cha-
racter of prosecutrixes or witnesses. In this room every-
thing that is essential is provided, and for the purpose of
preventing any improper communication, a trustworthy
female is to be appointed to attend to these parties, and
to give notice when their attendance is required on the
trial, thus preventing any unnecessary communication.
Other improvements are about taking place, while the
arrangements above alluded to will come into operation
on Monday next.

THE EMPEROR NICHOLAS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Ssa,—l am induced to write to you, having acciden-
tally read your remarks on the conduct of the Emperor I
Nicholas in your paper of the 2d of April.
I am no admirer of his Imperial Majesty, but as I
happen to be acquainted with the facts relating to the
insurrection on his accession to the throne, I think it
fair to communicate them to you.
I am convinced that the Emperor. Nicholas never
stated to the Marquis de Custine that he gave the order
to the troops to go on their knees. This is a coup-
dc-theatre which the French Marquis could not resist ;
and you are also mistaken in supposing that Nicholas
did not expose himself on that day. The real fact was
this:—Some time after the revolt had commenced, the
regiment of Semenowski (Semenoffski) Guards, (in
which Nicholas himself had been brought up) marched
straight to the Winter Palace, with the intention either
of securing or murdering him. The head of the column
had no sooner entered the gateway of the palace, than
Nicholas rushed down the stairs, without a sword on,
and gave the command, " Semenowski ! halt 1 right
about face I to the Isaac's Place ; quick march !" The
regiment mechanically obeyed, and did march to the
Isaac's Place, where the other revolted troops were as-
sembled. The coolness and decision of Nicholas on this
occasion cannot be sufficiently praised; nor do I blame
him, as all the troops were Russians, for. not superin-
tending the rather expensive amusement of charging
squares of infantry with cavalry, which was resorted to
in consequence of the artillery which (as well as the
cavalry) was faithful, being unprovided with ammuni-
tion, which it was necessary to have sent for from
Czarskoseloe. If Nicholas had only remained what he
was when he came to the throne, the world would have
had nothing to complain of. R.

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Leeds Mercury.)
WAKEFIELD WOOL MARKET, APRIL 4.—We are
unable to report any moveable change in the demand
or price of wools of any description ; the market is
firm at the rates of last week.
LEEDS.—The balk cloth markets have been much
the same this week as we have reported for several
weeks past ; a moderate business has been done.
There have been most of the principal buyers from
London here this week ; their purchases, although
not very large, have, on the whole, caused conkider-
able briskness in the warehouses.
BRADFORD MARKET, THURSDAY.—The favourable
change in the weather is looked upon as being bene-
ficial to the home trade merchants, who generally ex-
pect a good spring trade, and the demand is far better
than last year at this period. The prices of all kinds
of goods are very firm, and as they have not ad-
vanced in proportion with wool and yarns, lower
prices cannot be submitted to. Yarns are not so
ready of sale as a few weeks back, but as the spinners
are very low in stock, there is no expectation of any
lower rates being current. There is only a limited
business doing in wool, and prices are barely main-
tained.
TRADs OF MANCHESTER, THURSDAY EVENING.—
The severe depression in the yarn market, to which
we adverted last week, still continues, and the low
rates at which a few sales were then made, have now
become the current market prices. The decline ap-
pears to have given a little more confidence to buyers ;
and, although the amount of actual business done has
not been very large, there is more disposition to give
orders than for some time past. The goods market is
rather firmer than last week, and a tolerable amount
of business has been done at the prices of last week.

The Clerk of the Ordnance (Captain Boldero, M.P.',
proceeds to Plymouth and other stations (luring the re
cess, on official business connected with the Master

General's department.
THE PEDLAR ArrAirt.—We understand that the
referees, appointed to adjust the Rev. Mr. Pedlar's breach
of promise of marriage to the daughter of the city High
Sheriff, Benjamin Salter, Es q., have awarded to the for-
tunate young lady 1,000/. Western Times.
The Hartlepool General Shipping Company have
agreed to dissolve the deed of partnership constituting
the Company, and to sell the ships belonging to them
forthwith.
Orders have arrived in Berwick to have a consider-
able portion of the barracks, which have been long un-
tenanted, prepared fur the reception of troops by the
15th inst.
JOHN FEosT.—A letter, now in Newport, written
at Pont Peer, Tasman's Peninsula, dated 17th October,
1843, conveys the intelligence that the writer saw Mr.
John Frost in the previous March, " on the Station,"
and that he appeared in remarkably good health.—
Monmouthshire Merlin.
THE COLLIERS.—It is a matter of great satisfac-
tion to state that the coal miners at Lord Middleton's
colliery, at Radford, Nottinghamshire, who had struck
for an advance of wages last week, returned to their em-
ployment on Wednesday last, his Lordship's steward
having complied with the wishes of the men, to pay them
4s. for a day's work of eight hours. The best workmen
hitherto in coal-pits have not been able to earn (besides
almost constant risk of life) more than from 12s. to 18s.
per week, and working many hours per day. Public
sympathy for the miners is now becoming universal.
HOAXING.—A completely successful but rather
mischievous hoax was played off in Dublin on Monday
last—the Ist of April. Placards were issued and posted
up which announced that a free passage to Drogheda
and back would be given on the railway to . all who
wished to enjoy the jaunt. In consequence, a vast num-
ber of persons collected at that point of the works where
they expected to embark ; and, seeing a train with
waggons approaching, they rushed forward, and en-
deavoured to secure themselves in an early place. The
overseers remonstrated, and tried to undeceive the un-
happy dupes ; but all in vain—to Drogheda they would
go and no mistake: The consequence was, a very serious
riot, and damage to the works of more than 1001.,
in
amount. The labourers on the road supported the over-
seers—the victims fought for their places, and the melee
was tremendous. Next day Henry-street Police-office
gave ear to a variety of complaints arising out of the
transaction, but the magistrates dismissed
,all the parties
good-humotiredly, " in honour of the day. '
Holm') BORE.—Mr. Punch, reside in
Mayfair, and I write to complain to you of a monstrous nui-
Millee existing in my neighbourhood. I allude to the crying
of mackarel and oranges so early as ten o'clock in the morn-
ing. These noises are an intolerable interference with the
repose of the superior classes ; auil I should like to know
what the lower orders would say if the hours, which they
think proper to devote to sleep, were broken in upon in a
similar manner? In connexion with this subject, there is
another point which I am desirous of mentioning, although
lam quite aware that it is of a delicate nature. Undoubt-
edly, it is very right and proper that people should go to
Church, and sonic meansof summoning them to service must,
of course, be resorted to. Ido not at all object to bells at
reasonable hours, but I must say, that to begin ringing them
at eleven o'clock on a Sunday, in a district, to the majority of
whose inhabitants attendance at the opera on the previous
evening is indispensable, is preposterously inconsiderate, not
to say, inhuman.—l t, Sir, &c,, A Fashionable Father of a
,‘..