The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-07 00:00:00

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.

_ - -
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE.
ARRIVALS.
SEPT. `29.—Circassian schooner, Major Phillips, from
the Mediterranean.

OCT. I.—Gem schooner, John Hambrough, Esq., from
Cherbourg.
4.—Stormfinch yawl, Lieut.-Colonel Bowers, from
Falmouth and Weymouth.

- SAILINGS.
SEPT. 28.—Reindeer cutter, John Moore, Esq., for
Lymington, to lay up.
29.—Charlotte cutter, Hon. W. White Hedges, Dart-
mouth and Cork.

YACHTS AT AND ABOUT •THE STATION.
KETCH.—Kestrel, Commander, Earl of Yarborough.
SCHOONE ns.—Georgian, Flirt, Circassian, Gem,
Xarifa, Hawk, Jack o' Lantern.

C UTTER S. —Phantom, Nymph, Intrepid, Ariadne, Me-
dina, Whim, Iris.
YAWLS.—•Stormfineh and Nautilus.
SEPT. 26.—Sailed from Gibraltar, for England—The
Royal Yacht Squadron Schooner Gitana, H. Burr, Esq.
30.—Arrived at Plymouth—The Royal Yacht Squad-
ron cutter Ganymede, J. H. W. P. Smith Pigot, Esq.,
from a cruise.
ROYAL VISIT.—The workmen are still employed
altering the passages, doorways, &c., at Osbourne
House, under the direction of the Inspector-General of
Palaces. On Saturday a vessel arrived with furniture
from London, and on Monday the Monkey steamer,
loaded with furniture, from Brighton. The Royal
nursery is said to be expected daily, and her Majesty,
immediately after the departure of Louis Philippe, who
arrives at Portsmouth on Monday next. We are also
told we are to have three line of-battle ships, and the
experimental squadron in our roads. From the exten-
sive alterations now making in Osbourne House, there
can be no doubt that her Majesty intends occupying it,
nor that it will be held for more than one year. No
such alterations of the general arrangement of any lady
or gentleman's house would be made if but to be occu-
pied for a week or two, and was to be entirely given up
on the let of May next. There is a report that forty
beds and bedsteads have arrived for the Guards, and that
they are to be quartered at Barton (part of the Osbourne
estate) ; the present occupiers leave it on the 11th inst.

OTTER lIUNTING IN THE SURREY ZOOLOGICAL
GARDENS.—Some few weeks since a very fine otter
escaped from his cage in these gardens, and took refuge
in the hike, which being amply stocked with fish—carp,
tench, &c.—afforded him a fine treat. All manner of
methods were tried to catch him, but without success ;
but at last his appetite took a higher flight, and he fan-
cied the gold-fish, two or three dozen of which he de-
voured in one night. This was rather too expensive a
treat for the proprietor, and ho determined to make a
last attempt at trapping him. A trap, prepared and
baited with a perfect bonne bouche, was placed in his
track, and last evening he was taken under the or-
chestra, but such was his ferocity that the trap (a
strong wire one) was nearly destroyed before he could be
placed in his old domicile. He is much improved in size
and weight since he escaped, and seems perfectly recon-
ciled to the restraint under which he is again placed.
We have this week to record the death of John
Overs, the author of " The Evenings of a Working
Man "—a little volume lately ushered into public notice
by Mr. Dickens, the steady, faithful, and beneficent
friend of the deceased. The following brief sketch, we
feel assured, will not be found uninteresting to our read-
ers, whose sympathy in behalf of those whom Mr. Overs
has left in very destitute circumstances, we would wish
to engage. John Overs was born at Birmingham,
July 2, 1808. His mother, who was a very su-
perior woman for her station in life died when
he was five years of age. He always remem-
bered her with the most ardent affection. He received a
very limited education, arid at the age of fourteen was
apprenticed to the cabinet-case making business. At a
very early period he devoted his hours of leisure to com-
position in prose and verse. The writer of this notice,
who knew Mr. Overs long before he became acquainted
with Mr. Dickens, has at present in his possession the
copy of an essay by John ()Tors on Spontaneous Gene-
ration, in: which the arguments of the advocates
of this doctrine are ably met, and satisfac-
torily refuted. It is a most original produc-
tion. Mr. Overs contributed occasionally to various
periodicals, especially Tait's Magazine and
auikshank's Omnibus. About four years ago he was
seized with chronic pleurisy, since which time he suf-
fered much, though he was occasionally able to pursue
his ordinary employment. For the last twelve months,
however, he was a confirmed invalid. His weakness
and sufferings graduully increased, and last Saturday
evening, at eight o'clock, he expired at his house,
Vauxhall-street, Lambeth. During his long illness
Mr. Dickens showed him invariable kindness. Through
hire Mr. Overs was introduced to Dr. Elliot-
son, whose constant attention he also experienced.
Mrs. Overs is left with a family of six children totally
unprovided for, the eldest of whom is not more than ten
years of age, the youngest only two months. We feel
assured that such a case as this has only to be mentioned
to the benevolent to excite their sympathies in favour of
so deserving a person as we know Mrs. Overs to be.
We are gratified to learn that Mr. Newby, the publisher
of " The Evenings of a Working Man," in the absence
of Mr. Dickens, is interesting himself in this most de-
serving case, and we earnestly trust that his generous
endeavours may be attended with success —Atlas.
ACCIDENT ON THE ROUEN RAILWAY.--The train
of merchandise which left Rouen at twelve o'clock on
Tuesday last, experienced an accident which might have
been attended with the most fatal consequences. The
conductors perceived between the station of Saint Pierre
and that of Gaillon, that the three first waggons, laden
with spun thread, were on fire. The train was imme-
diately stopped, and the waggons detached. In a few
minutes they were completely consumed. The train
again continued its course, but in a short time it was ob-
served that two waggons laden with coffee were likewise
burning. They were detached from the train, and were
totally ccnsumed, like the previous waggons. The dili-
gences, and the waggons which preceded the train of
merchandise, with which they were connected, continued
their course without having experienced any accident.
This calamity is attributed to some sparks of coke which
had escaped from the chimney. This is the first acci-
dent wine!' has occurred on the Paris and Rouen Rail-
road. The Company had immediately ordered that the
oaners'of the merchandise should be indemnified for their
loss, which is estimated at 40,000 f.