The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-20 00:00:00

Iprecaution had been taken immediately after the clothes
had taken fire. It had long been known that gauzes of
every description could be so prepared as to prevent
their being inflammable. It was done by starching
them in a particular way; and he trusted his mention-
ing the circumstance would be productive of good, and
perhaps serve to prevent the recurrence of another of
these dreadfnl occurrences. Cases of fire were really
dreadfully frequent; within the last ten days there
had been no less than twenty cases of this
character within his district ; and he was
sure he spoke within bounds, whea he said that from
130 to 140 cases of burning and scalding occurred yearly
in the division of the county in which he was Coroner. He
held inquests on Wednesday on two children : both of
them were scalded to death from want of proper pre-
cautions being taken. The first was at the Free Hos-
pital in Gray's Inn-lane. A child while undressing
herself before the fire accidentally fell, and there being
no high fender, she knocked down a kettle and scalded
her head so severely that she died soon afterwards.
Now accidents of this nature could never occur to chil-
dren, if their parents would take the precaution to have
wire fenders before their fires. In this case, however,
danger had not been apprehended, for the jury would
observe, that even Mrs. Webster had not foreseen any
such until the calamity had actually occurred. Yet the
means of avoiding the danger were very simple,
for if a lattice of wire had been extended
over the lamps the dresses of the actresses could
.. .

' not possibly have caught fire, and accidents of this eha-
' ratter would never happen. The precaution was a very
simple one, and where the results would be so satisfac-
tory, it would be well at once to put it in practice.
Where the dresses of performers were likely to be ex-
posed to flame, the gauzes, as he had already observed,
might be so prepared by a solution of alumina, or alum,
as to be quite uninflainmable. Impressed with this fact,
he had yesterday-written a note to Mr. Gardiner, a most
excellent chemist in the neighbourhood (Great Portland-
street), asking him if he know any person in London,
who was in the habit of washing muslins, gauzes,
or dresses in the solution alluded to. That
gentleman returned this answer.—(The Learned
Coroner then read Mr. Gardiner's letter, in
which it was stated that muriate of ammonia,
or a similar solution of alumina, would have the effect
of preventing ignition.) It was also stated that a Mr.
Hodson, of 406, Strand, had given much attention to this
matter. How far that gentleman had succeeded, the in-
closed pattern of gauze would show; it would not light
at the flame of a candle Mr. Hodson proposed to sell
a starch, to be used instead of common starch, which
would answer every purpose, and at the same time be
perfectly safe in cases like the present. He would
undertake, for a trifling consideration, to keep all theatre
" property" or dresses from any danger by fire. He
(the Coroner) did not know that there had been such a
gentleman in existence as Mr. Hodson, but where, as in
this case, the mention of his name would serve a double
purpose, that of benefiting the public, and, perhaps,
doing good to himself, he (the Coroner) thought it but
common justice to give him publicity.
(The gause was then tested at a candle, and found to
verify all that was said of it, and Mrs. Webster, on ex-
amination, could not find any smell or other fault which
would make it inapplicable for dresses upon the stage.)
Mr. WAKLEY—Certainly no young child of mine
would be without an outer dress so prepared, and the
attention of families would, he hoped, be directed to it.
The witness, Daniel Coyle, whose hands were ban-
daged, intimated, at the conclusion of the Coroner's ad-
dress, that it had been erroneously stated in some of the
newspapers that he was quite recovered. This was not
the case, nor was he likely to be well for some time.
Mr. WAILLEY told him the intrepidity he had dis-
played on the occasion of the accident was worthy of the
highest praise. He was confident if he were to take a
benefit at some place of entertainment, the public would
not be wanting in their endeavours to support him.
Coyle thanked the Coroner for his suggestion, and
said as soon as he recovered he would take an opportu-
nity of appealing to the public.
Mr. WALLET asked the jury if they were agreed on
their verdict ? It was evidently, he said, an accident.
The Foreman (Mr. Hall) replied they all concurred
in the opinion and remarks of the Coroner; and a ver-
dict of " Accidental death" was accordingly returned.
No ladies or gentlemen connected with Drury-lane
Theatre were observed to be present. A gentleman,
however, of military aspect, was early in attendance,
and appeared to take great interest in the proceedings.

EAST INDIA MOUSE.

' .

A Quarterly General Court of Proprietors of East India
Stock was held on Wednesday, at the Company's House,
in Leadenhall-street ; Captain Shepherd in the chair.
The minutes of the last Court were read and con-
firmed.
The CLERK read a letter from General. Sir William
Nott, returning thanks for the recent vote of the Court.
A list of superannuations and allowances since the
last Court was read.

THE TEMPLE OF JUGGERNAUT.

The CHAIRMAN, in reference to 'll motion of which

Mr. Poynder had given notice, said he was happy to in-
form the Court that arrangements had been made, by
which the British Government of India would in future
have no connection whatever with the worship of the
natives in the Temple of Juggernaut.—(Hear.).._ _
Mr. STRICHAN expressed his very great pleasure at
hearing so important an announcement from the
Chairman.