The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-14 00:00:00

HORRIBLE CALAMITY.

EXPLOSION OF THE PRINCETON'S GREAT GUN I
DEATH OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, OF COMMODORE
KENYON, OF VIRGIL BIAXEY, OF MR. GARD-
NER, OF NEW YORK, &c.
(From the Boston Times of March 1.)
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.—WASIIINGTON WEDNES-
DAY EVEND/0, FEB. 28, TEN O'CLOCK E.3L —This city is in
mourning. Another melancholy event has befallen the coun-
try. Having been an eye-witness to the scene, I will, as
minutely as possible, give an account of it.
Captain Stockton, of the steamer Princeton, invited some
three or four hundred ladies and gentlemen, including the
President and his family, the members of his Cabinet and
foreign ministers, some senators and members of the house,
and a large circle of his especial friends, to take an excursion
with him down the Potomac this day, and witness the beauty
and movement of his noble vessel, and the discharge of his
immense gun. All the invitations were most eagerly ac-
cepted, and at about one o'clock the company were safely
put on board the Princeton from a small steamer which took
them from the. wharf.-

The day was clear and pleasant, and there were as many
ladies on board' as gentlemen,• and everything promised a
delightful excursion. After a salute of twenty-one guns from
the small pieces, the big gun was put in readiness for the
firing of a ball, weighing 1301ba. "The ladies were all " piped
to deck," and obtained prominent places to see the discharge.
The word " fire" was given, and all eyes immediately beheld
the motion of the ball upon the water, giving some half-dozen
bounds, and going a distance of about two miles before it
finally sunk. The experiment was in every respect success-
ful, and all were delighted.
The party then adjourned to the cabin, and after the ladies
had feasted fully from the abundance so liberally provided
for them by the noble captain, the gentlemen took possession
of the table, Captain Stockton being at the head—the Pre-
sident upon his right—the members of the Cabinet (with the
single exception of Mr. Spencer, who was not on board), ar-
ranged according to their official station upon the left—Sena-
tors Benton and Woodbury, Mr. Catlin, and other members
of Congress, following on the right of the President. Toasts
and champagne sparkled together, and all were as merry and
happy as could• be.
In the midst of this, and as the vessel was nearing home,
the captain concluded to have another fire with his big gun,
and it was then that the fatal event occurred which I will
now detail.

The guniwas ranged—and the gentlemen whom the Cap-
tain most desired should see the operation were specially in-
vited up to witness it. The gun was fired—the breech ex-
ploded ! killing instantly Mr. A. P. Upshur, Secretary of
State; Mr. Gilmer, Secretary of the Navy ; Virgil Maxey,
Esq., of Maryland; Corn. Kennon, Chief of the Bureau of
Construction; and Mr. Gardner, of New York—seriously in-
juring Captain Stockton ' • also .one of the midshipmen, and
three or four of the hands of the ship; and more or less injur-
ing some six others of the ship's crew. Senator Benton was
standing on the right of Captain Stockton, as were also Mr.
Tyson, of Philadelphia, Colonel Strictland of the same city,
and others. _ _ _ _ _ _

Mr. Benton, immediately after the affair, complained and
suffered much from the effects of the explosion, but I did not
see, when I left the boat, that he was seriously hurt. Mr.
Tyson had one of the pieces of the gun pass directly through
his hat. The gentlemen killed were all standing upon the
leeward side of the gun, nearly in a row, when the ;gun
burst, the pieces went in that direction and killed them in-
stantly—not a groan was heard to escape their lips.
The President, but a moment previous to the discharge,
fortunately left its vicinity. As the smoke cleared away,
Captain Stockton with his hair and face scorched, and his
dress covered with powder, jumped with one spring to
the top of his gun, and exclaimed, " My God, would that I
were dead too." - _ _

It would be quite impossible for me to describe to you
the distressing scenes that followed, for I am entirely inade-
quate to the task.
Judge Upshur has a wife and three or four children to de-
plore his sudden death. The Secretary of War, Mr. Wilkins,
had a narrow escape ; he was standing near to Judge Upshur
just before the discharge, and remarked that, "if he was
Secretary at War, he did not like the noise, and would, there-
fore, move a little out of the way," and just as he moved the
gun exploded.
One of Senator Woodbury's daughters (the eldest I think)
was standing so near to the persons killed, that her dress was
completely spattered over with blood. Her escape was truly
miraculous, as was also that of others in the immediate vicinity
of the gun.
When the accident happened I was in the cabin listening
to a patriotic sang from one of the company, and as he was
singing the word Washington, the gun fired, and, said one
of the gentlemen " there goes the big gun in honour of the
name, let us also give three cheers to it," but the cheering
hardly commenced before the fatal event was made known,
and all were as silent as death. I have not more room
to mention the thousand incidents that occurred, and are
connected with the event—but must reserve them for another
opportunity.
When the company left the Princeton, which was about
six o'clock, everything was being done to take care of the
wounded and dead. The President, Mr. Wickliffe, Mr.
Wilkins, and others, remained on board, and will probably
come up to the city late this evening.
P.S. He has since returned. R.
(From the New York Herald.)
THE OREGON NEGOTIATION.—We learn from Washington
that the new British Minister has opened the negotiation for
the settlement of the Oregon territory with Mr. Upshur, the
Secretary of State; but that some difficulties have occurred
in the preliminaries, which may cause some delay, although
net insuperable in their nature. It is also generally under-
stood, that the President and his secretary are very solicitous
of settling, on an honourable basis, this vexed question—
perhaps somewhat arising from the fact, that Mr. Webster
monopolised all the honour in the Ashburton treaty. We
apprehend no difficulty, however, on this question between
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a treaty. Circumstances, however,
to give a new direction to events. The
however, against England, is at its very lowest
war
an
ry rejectingfceturnli n gtp ,
ebb at present among the " democracie," and it will be diffi-
cult to raise it from the " vasty deep." The Whigs,
Northern Abolitionists, and Southern Nullifiers, are all for
peace, on fair and reasonable terms, and they, all together,
outnumber in influence the Benton ultra section. The sin-
gular rise of a deep commercial excitement, caused by the
recent rapid advance in- stocks, cotton, and other staples,
the increase of the foreign trade, will all contribute to re-
press political agitation of a character injurious to peace and
prosperity.
THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL.—The new Italian Opera, got
up by Palmo, with Borghese as prima donna, is carrying
everything before it here. The Park opens next molith,
but no one knows with what. The various small theatres
are doing well.
Macready, at the last accounts, was at New Orleans,
making much money and laurels. He will be here in April
to play at the Park. The Seguin troupe were: at Mobile, on
I their way to the north. Ole Bull was at Havannah—Vieux-
temps, Cinti Damareau, Artot, &c. in Mexico. Henry
Russell was travelling and singing all his way up the Mis-
sissippi, on his way to the north. Forrest has gone south.
THE DEATH OF NICHOLAS BIDDLE.—In another part
of this paper, we insert an article giving a biographical sketch
of Nicholas Biddle, late President of the United States Bank.
Ills death came upon us very unexpectedly. We were not
prepared for such a sudden demise. Mr. Biddle's career and
character have some features which require a good deal of
elucidation and discrimination, in order to be properly under-
stood. As a private member of society he was one of the
most accomplished—most honourable—most amiable—and
most courteous amen. As a public man, in the Presidency
of the United States Bank, he conducted its affairs, during
the first years of its existence, with great skill, integrity,
and prudence. But as soon as the miserable, intriguing,
corrupt politicians of both parties, got hold of him, when he
wanted a re-charter, he went astray farther and farther, until
the institution exploded, and strewed, as we have seen, the
whole land with its ruins. The narrative of the deceptions
and duperies which have been practised by these politicians
on Mr. Biddle, during his career, would surpass anything ever
written in any language,
the annals of intrigue and cor-
ruption. We do not doubt at all that the high and honour.
able feelings of Mr. Biddle revolted against the schemes of
these wretches, and that the recollection of these deceptions,
practised on his unsuspecting nature, constantly pressing on
his wounded spirit, were the main cause of his sudden and
premature death. Mr. Biddle has left a very fine family.
We trust that some distinguished literary man of Philadel
phis, will give us a correct and full biography of Mr. Biddle,
including all the philosophy of his eventful life, which was
indeed full of lesson and moral.
(From the New Orleans Picayune, Feb. 3.)
By the John Barr, Captain Hollingshead, we received yes-
terday advices a fortnight later from Vera Cruz.
Intelligence had at last reached Vera Cruz of the arrange-
ment of the difficulties between the English and Mexican
Governments. The news was thought almost too good to be
true, as the commercial interests were not a little disturbed
at the prospect of a British fleet, entering the harbour of Vera
Cruz witk hostile intent.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.—On the 11th of February a most
alarming fire broke out in the Orleans Cotton Press, New
Orleans. The number of bales of cotton consumed is esti-
mated at 8,500 ; the loss of which, estimated at 40 dollars per
bale, would be 340,000 dollars. The damage done to the
building could possibly be repaired for 25,000 dollars, and
the engine and two screws for 10,000 dollars more, making
the total loss, as far as could be estimated b a rough calcu-
lation, 375,000 dollars, which we understand is fully covered
cotton in this city, and the building in the
y
by insurance; the
offices in this city, in London and Paris. This building was
considered the largest in the world.

CANADA.
A dispatch from the British Colonial Secretary was re-
ceived by the Governor-General, on the 23d ult., directing the
sessions of the Parliament to be held at Montreal.
TILE SMUGGLING CASE.—The first mate of the packet-ship
Oxford, Mr. Gates, has confessed that the smuggled cloths
seized from on board that ship, were concealedand attempted
to be smuggled with his consent ; that he had received 300
dollars at Liverpool from a person whose name he has com-
municated to the owners for doing so ; and that he was to
deliver the goods to the party who should apply in New
York.
Gates was committed to prison, in default of obtaining the
required bail of 10,000 dollars.
A like occurrence has taken place with the Montezuma, of
which also the mate was bribed in Liverpool.
It is hardly necessary to add that the evalere and the cm-