The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY MORNING OCTOBER

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE
One of the most destructive fires that have occurred
in the metropolis since the burning of Topping's wharf
occurred on Monday evening, shortly before eight, end
resulted in a loss of property to a very serious amount.
The scene of its operation was a large space of ground
behind the London•road, Southwark, on which was
erected a number of shops, occupied by various trades-
men, and known as St. George's-market. The exact
spot in which the fire commenced could not be with
certainty learned. One of the inhabitants said that,
whilst he was passing through the market, his attention
was suddenly directed to a stable in the occupation of a
Mr. Bennett, a carcase butcher, situate on the south-east
corner, by perceiving an immense sheet of flame breaking
through the roof. He immediately raised an alarm ;
but, before any persons had time to get out of their
houses, the flames extended to a long range of butchers'
shops on the west side of the same row, all of which
were speedily on fire. The flames next reached three
or four tall houses on the opposite side of Butcher-
row. The different brigade engines, under the super-
intendence
of Mr. Braidwood and Mr. Henderson,
the district foreman, promptly arrived, and so did the
West of England and County engines, under the direc-
tion of Messrs. Connorton and Garwood. Some time
was lost in waiting for water, but as soon as that could
be obtained the engines were worked with full vigour.
Owing, however, to the firm hold the flames had pre-
viously obtained, a long time elapsed before the least
impression was made upon them. Meanwhile the fire
continued its course with unparalleled fury, destroying
in its progress sundry other stables, sheds, and slaughter-
houses. It next attacked a large warehouse belonging
to Mr. Floyd, in Market-street. The scene towards
half-past eight o'clock was indeed awfully grand. The
flames next broke through the windows of an extensive
house belonging to a chairmaker, and owing to the
very inflammable nature of the stock contained
therein the building was, in the almost incredibly
brief space of ten minutes, one completely burning
mass. Notwithstanding that the firemen were beset
on every side by the continual falling of roofs and heavy
beams, they worked, without the least intermission, until
nine o'clock, when it at last became apparent that
the flames were yielding beneath the power of the anta-
gonist element. In the course of another half-hour all
further danger of the fire extending was dissipated. The
total number of buildings destroyed cannot at present be
ascertained, but at a moderate calculation they must
amount to upwards of thirty; some were certainly in a
very ruinous and dilapidated condition. Among the
sufferers we can only at present enumerate Mr. Bennett,
stables destroyed; Mr. Parrott, chair-maker, building
and contents consumed; Mr. Johnson, fruiterer, shop
and contents burnt down; Mr. Foreman, a range of
stabling destroyed; Mr. Powell, chairmaker, stock and
building consumed ; Mr. Babb, chairmaker, similarly
damaged; Mr. Floyd, premises partially destroyed. In
addition to which the whole of the butchers' stalls and
greengrocers' shops, in Butcher-row, are levelled with
the ground. The greatest praise is due to Mr. Braid-
wood, the superintendent of the brigade, for the manner
in which he directed his men in subduing the flames. ,
The same remarks will apply to Mr. Connorton and Mr.
Garwood, the head of the West of England and County
offices. The origin of this fire, like most others, cannot
be learned.

DREADFUL FIRE.
FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
WELLS, OCT. 7.—lt is with feelings of the deepest
regret that I record the account of a melancholy and
fatal catastrophe, which has just occurred in this city.
The facts are as follows :—About one o'clock this
afternoon a fire was discovered in an outhouse con-
tiguous to the residence of W. G. Hay ter, Esq., M.P.
The city engines were immediately in attendance, but
owing to the shortness of the supply of water and the
awkwardness of the situation, they were of little avail ;
consequently, the flames being unchecked, proceeded
with great and awful rapidity, and fears began to be
manifested for the fate of the noble mansion adjoining,
At this juncture it was deemed advisable to demolish a
high wall which stood between the outhouse and the
road, and which prevented the engines from throwing
any considerable quantity of water on the flames. But
whilst this was in progress the fire reached the extremity
of the outhouse, and immediately caught hold of the
mansion, amidst the shrieks of thousands of spectators.
The engines had by this time got into play, but not-
withstanding their efforts, the fire proceeded with fearful
rapidity, and threatened destruction to the entire
building. Messengers were dispatched for two neigh-
bouring engines, but before they had arrived the roof
over the servants' bed-room, in which lay an invalid, fell
in with a tremendous crash. The fire now raged with
redoubled violence, and workmen were busily engaged
in removing the furniture that still remained. About
three o'clock the two engines arrived, but not before the
greater part of the building was laid waste. Owing,
however, to the active exertions of the firemen, the de-
vouring element was subdued by half-past four o'clock,
when all further danger was banished. The firemen
then proceeded to view the ruins, in search of the servant
who lay ill at the time the fire broke out, when, awful
to relate, after an hour's diligent search, they discovered
the missing body bulnt to ashes, and still mouldering
beneath the ruins. Her remains were immediately re-
moved to the Globe Inn, not far distant, there to await
the inquest. She was about twenty-five years of age,
and was her surviving parents' only support.
This fatal affair has cast the greatest gloom over the
city, and the inhabitants are in doubt as to the cause and
origin of the fire, but it is supposed to be the work of
an incendiary, from the fact of a quantity of lucifer
matches and some gunpowder being found on the grass
plot adjoining.
It is impossible as yet to form any accurate idea as to
the damage done, but it has been estimated as exceeding
3,0001. The building and furniture are insured, to my
knowledge, in the West of England, and I have reason to
suppose that some other offices will share a portion of
the loss.

, FIRE AT STRATFORD.—The neighbourhood of
High-street, Stratford, was, on Monday morning, aroused
in consequence of a destructive fire, and which was
nearly attended with a frightful loss of life, breaking
out in the premises occupied by Mr. D. Holdforth, grocer
and cheesemonger, No. 28, in the above thoroughfare,
near the Yorkshire Grey Tavern. From inquiries insti-
stuted on the spot, it appears that a passer-by first dis-
covered the fire, soon after twelve
‘&clock, through
seeing smoke mounting over the root of the premises.
At that period the proprietor and his five children were
isleep in the place. An immediate alarm was raised,
but a considerable time elapsed before the inmates could
be made sensible of their great danger, and before that
was accomplished the flames had gained the staircase,
-up which they were ascending with terrific violence.
The whole of the parties, happily, succeeded in effect-
ing their escape, and without meeting with any injury.
The fire was eventually subdued. The damage done is
very considerable, nearly the whole of the stock in trade
and furniture, together with the major part of the pre-
mises, being destroyed. The adjoining house. No. 27,
is likewise seriously injured by fire. The whole of the
furniture belonging to Mr. Haller, broker, &c., No. 29, '
High-street, was removed into the open street, and is,
in consequence, much damaged by hasty removal and
breakage.

MANSLAUGHTER IN THE ALMONRY, WESTMINSTER.
—On Monday Mr. Higgs, the coroner, held an inquest
at the Red Lion, Princes-street, Westminster, on the
body of Hannah Edwards, aged thirty-eight, servant to
a man named Brown, the keeper of a house of ill-fame
-in the Great Almonry. Sarah Richmond, of No. 20,
'Newway, Westminster, said that, on the 23d ultimo,
she was standing with the deceased at the door of her
house in the same street, when Brown, her master, ap-
proached, and told her to go away, that she (the de.
ceased) should not remain there. Deceased refused to
*go, saying that she had nowhere else to go. Brown
went in doors, but soon returned, and spoke to her
harshly about her having taken some of his sheets. She
denied that she had taken them, attributing the theft to
the lodgers, and was standing by the door, refusing to
go away, when Brown pushed her with such violence,
that she fell backwards and struck her head on the
stones. Deceased was stunned by the fall ; and when
witness raised her, she saw her bleeding profusely from
a wound in the head. After remaining for some time
insensible, a female acquaintance took her to the West-
minster Hospital, where she was immediately attended
to. Until Monday, the 30th ult., she attended as an
out-patient, and she was then found to be in such a.
dangerous state, that her removal into the wards of
the hospital was considered necessary. The deceased
was rather the worse for liquor at the time she was
pushed, but Brown was perfectly sober, and did not
render the least assistance. Sarah Johnson, of No. 18,
Newway, corroborated the above evidence, and stated in
addition, that when the deceased was lying insensible on
the ground Brown endeavoured to kick her. The next
morning he induced her to return to his service. Mr.
R. Bowman, the house surgeon, said that deceased was
an out-patient until Monday, the 30th ult., on which day
she was admitted as an in-patient, suffering from a scalp
wound on the back part of the head, and erysipelas
spreading over the surrounding parts. She died on
Saturday last, and from a post mortem examination.naade
that day, he found that she died from the _erysipelas.
He considered that she died from the consequences of
the injury to the head; but erysipelas does sometimes
arise from natural causes. At the request of Brown,
several witnesses were examined to show that he did not
push her with such violence, that she had robbed him to
some extent, and that she provoked him by using the
foulest language. The coroner then summed up the
evidence, and the jury returned a verdict of " Man-
slaughter against William Brown." The prisoner was
committed to Newgate upon the coroner's warrant.
SUDDEN DEATH OF A BRIDE.—A most distressing
death, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, took
place on Saturday, the 17th instant, in the township of
Darling. It appears that on Friday evening Elizabeth
Cameron had been united by marriage to a person named
Peter Barr, a farmer in that township. That night was
a night of joy and gladness to the bridal party : music
and dancing were kept up till three o'clock on Saturday
morning, when the bride, who bad danced a good deal
during the night, complained of illness and shortness of
breath. She gradually became worse, and the friends
who had assembled to witness the marriage ceremony,
were also witnesses to its awful dissolution by the grim
hand of death. About half-past nine o'clock that even-
ing she breathed her last, and those countenances which
beamed with joy and gladness the evening before were
made their laughter was turned into mourning.
The bride's cake was made with her own hands • but
little did she think, when doing so, that it would be'used
at her funeral, and handed round to those very persons
who had partaken of it at her marriage festival ; yet so
it was, and it was a melancholy reflection to them. The
young woman, we are told, was not in good health, and
had been consumptive for some time previous to her
&Att.—Bathurst Courier (United states).

THE LATE MYSTERIOUS CASE
OF POISONING AT STEPNEY.
ADJOURNED INQUEST.
Monday forenoon, at ten o'clock, the investigation
touching the death of Mr. Samuel Cornish, aged 56
years, late steward of the Royal Mail steam-packet the
Doe, who died on board that vessel on the 17th ult., and
whose death it was alleged had been caused by the ad-
ministration of poison, was resumed at the Alfred Head,
Alfred-street, Stepney, before Mr. William Baker, De-
puty Coroner.
The former part of this mysterious case appeared in
The Sun of Friday last.
Mr. Cullington, as before, attended on behalf of the
relations of the deceased; and Mr. Pelham now appeared
for the accused, Mrs. Sutherland, who was in an adjoin-
ing room.
On the re-assembling of the jury the following addi-
tional evidence was adduced :
Joh* Rundle, City policeman 556, stated that he lived
at No. 28, Seething-lane, Tower-street. He had known
deceased between seven and eight years. He used fre-
quently to call at witness's house. On Thursday, the
12th of September last, he came about one o'clock, and
stopped to dinner. He had mutton broth and potatoes,
but no pudding. He was then quite well and cheerful.
Witness had not seen him since, and he did not know
of his death until he saw the report of the proceedings
of the Coroner's inquest in the newspapers. In the
month of March, 1842, deceased told him that Mrs.
Sutherland had put some laudanum in his beer, but as
soon as he had put it to his lips he smelt it, and he re-
fused to drink it. In the month of April in the same
year he again told witness that Mrs. Sutherland had
given him coffee with laudanum. On that occasion he
had quitted her house, and had gone to lodge with Mr.
Ellis, a former witness. Witness was well ac-
quainted with Mrs. Sutherland, and had no doubt de-
ceased kept up a criminal intercourse with her. Witness
had frequently seen her walking the streets with other
men, in the manner of a common prostitute. Deceased
generally called Mrs. Sutherland his niece, and his
"little Devon," in allusion to her being a Devonshire
woman. Witness was certain there was no relationship
between them. Witness, upon being informed by
deceased that she had given him laudanum, wished to
take her into custody, but deceased would net hear of it.
He repeatedly said to witness that Mrs. Sutherland would
do for him in the end. Deceased was a dull, heavy man,
and easily led away.
Mr. John Young Gibbs, undertaker, 83, High-street,
Poplar, deposed that, about seven o'clock in the morning
of the 18th of September, Mr. Bromage called upon
him, and ordered a coffin to be made for deceased at
twelve o'clock that day. Witness said the time was
short, when Bromage replied that they wanted to re-
move the body from the Dee as quickly as possible.
The body was interred in the Beaumont Cemetery on
the 20th. The reason assigned by Mrs. Sutherland for
hastening the funeral was that Mr. Bromage and herself
were going the next day to Southampton. Mrs. Suther-
land would not see the body before it was screwed down,
saying she could not bear to look at him when he was
dead. She spoke in affectionate terms of him, and said
he had been as good as a father to her.
The CORONER here asked Porter, the constable, if he
had any other evidence to offer ? when he said he had
other witnesses, but they could give no further testimony
than those who had already been examined.
Mr. Pelham then said that he could call witnesses as
to the deceased's veracity. Ho had letters to produce,
written by deceased to Mrs. Sutherland, couched in
terms of affection, of as late adate as 1843, and tendered
the evidence of Mrs. Sutherland herself, should the
Coroner think proper to examine her.
Mr. William Turner, clerk to Messrs. Mangles, of
Wapping-wall, being sworn, produced the letter of the
7th November, 1843, which has already appeared in
The Sun, in the report of the examination at the Thames
Police-court. He said he had known deceased upwards
of twenty years. He had endeavoured to do all he could
to befriend him, but deceased had treated him as an
enemy, by spreading false reports against him. Ho was
a man of no principle, and witness placed no reliance on
his word. lde considered be was labouring under some
delusion, from his innate depravity. Witness had laid
out 100/. for the deceased, 70L of which he paid for Mr.
Sutherland, the husband of Mrs. Sutherland, at the re-
quest of the deceased, on the Ist of June, 1842. Witness
said he never paid Mr. Moffatt any rent for deceased.
He knew Mrs. Sutherland, who he understood to be de-
ceased's niece.
Mr. John Moffatt, 44, John-street, Commercial-road,
was then examined. Ile stated that Mrs. Sutherland had
lodged with him upwards of twelve months. Deceased
and Mrs. Sutherland came together on the 12th of Sep-
tember, 1843, and took two rooms. He represented her
to be his niece. Mr. Turner paid the rent the first part
of the time, and Mrs. Sutherland latterly. On the 14th
September deceased came to Mrs. Sutherland, and com-
plained of being very unwell. He wished to go to Mr.
Rose, a surgeon, and they both went out together. A
man, named Smallden, used to visit Mrs. Sutherland
nearly every day.
John Smalden examined—Had known deceased for
fourteen years. Believed him to be his uncle. His
mother told him he was. On the 11th September last,
witness was at Mrs. Sutherland's, and Mr. Bromage
also. Deceased came in, and said he'.had had such a tuck
out of apple dumpling he was ready to burst. He asked
Mrs. Sutherland to come on board the Dee to dinner
the next day. Witness never saw deceased after that
day, until he had been disinterred under the coroner's
warrant. The first time he heard about his being
poisoned was on the Saturday following his funeral,
when Mr. Blackmore (a former witness) came 'to Mrs.
Sutherland, and said she had poisoned him. Witness
subsequently spoke to Mrs. Sutherland about it, who de-
nied all knowledge of it, saying, "It is very unlikely
that I should do such a thing, for deceased was her only
support." Witness afterwards went to Mr. Rose, the
surgeon.
This being the whole of the evidence the Coroner was
about to address the jury, when Mrs. Sutherland came
into the inquest-room, and stated that she wished to
be present. She was accordingly accommodated with
a seat.
The Coroner then went through the whole of the de-
positions, commenting upon those parts which bore more
immediately upon the case ; and the jury, after a con-
sultation of about half an hour, returned a verdict of
" Wilful murder against some person or persons un-
known."

DR. WoLrr.—(From the Malta Times, Sept. 24.)
—" 'We fully expected before this to have received some
favourable news of the safety of the Rev. Dr. Wolff, the
intrepid and philanthropic traveller to Bokhara. When
the Rev. Gentlemaa arrived here on his way to Con-
stantinople, we expressed a doubt whether, is the event
of his arriving in safety, he would ever be allowed to
quit it. The Khan of Bokhara would not like the secret
of his prison-house to be unfolded ; and he, like the
cruel usurper, who expiated his crimes upon a solitary
rock, is well aware that ' dead men tell no tales. These
are gloomy foreboding—would that we could indulge in
happier ones ! We trust another packet will give us the
pleasing intelligence that this intrepid man is on his re-
turn, safe and sound, to his beloved wife and family, and
the kindred affection of a great and grateful nation. We
perfectly well recollect, when, ten years ago, Dr. Wolff
set out from Malta on a journey to Central Asia, [patro-
nised by, and principally at the expense of, the Right
Hon. John Hookham Frere, a name renowned in Malta,
as the patron of enterprise, and the benefactor of the
unfortunate, the poor, and the needy, many prognosti-
cated that the Rev. Gentleman would never return, but
he did, after undergoing a series of sufferings which
would have daunted the stoutest heart, and deterred it
from again undertaking such a mission, especially when
the nature of it was considered."
EXTRAORDINARY OCCURRENCE AT ST. MARY'S
CHAPEL, LAMBETH.—Since the old church has been
under repair marriages and christenings have taken
place in the above-named chapeL During the last few
days the following extraordinary scene took place :
A lady and gentleman, about twenty-three years of age
each, were early in attendance to be made one, and
were accompanied by a sister of the intended bride. The
license had been procured in due form ; the clerk, Mr.
Ga wler, was punctual, and nothing was wanting but
the attendance of Mr. Brown, the minister, to tie the
happy knot. The parties were waiting in the vestry-
room, and in all probability arranging where they
should spend the honeymoon, when all of a sudden a
cab drew up, out of which rushed an elderly gen-
tleman, who made the best of his way to the vestry-
room. He, however, no sooner entered than the
sister of the intended bride exclaimed "My father !"
and instantly fell to the ground. With the aid
of water, &c., she soon recovered, and the father
then instantly insisted on both his daughters
leaving with him in the cab, adding that the
intended bridegroom had perjured himself, by
swearing that he had been a resident of Lambeth,
whereas he had arrived the previous day from the coun-
try. At first the ladies said they would not return home,
but they eventually left the sacred edifice with their
father, followed by the gentleman. On reaching the
street, the former became excited, and used the word
"scoundrel," &c. After the females entered the cab,
the would-have-been husband made his way towards it
for the purpose of giving his " ladye love " a kiss, when
the father, thinking he was about to rescue her from
his custody, seized him by the collar of his coat, and
hurled him against the railings. The father then de-
sired the cabman to drive with full speed over West-
minster-bridge, the ladies calling out at the top of their
voice, "Follow us, dear, in another cab." This he pro-
mised to do ; but there not being one at hand, he was
soon left in the rear. It is said that the lady is entitled
to some property, and that the gentleman is a surgeon
practising about thirty miles from London. The cause
of the objection on the part of the father did not tran-
spire, and we were unable to learn the names of the
parties.

ESCAPE OF A PRISONER FROM THE CUSTODY OF A
POLICE- Orriczn.—lnformation has been circulated to
all the police-offices, that a few days ago a woman,
named Ann Rogers, who was charged with felony,
escaped from the custody of one of the metropolitan
police-officers, named Freshman. The woman had been
given into custody on a charge of felony, and the police-
man conveyed her to the station-house at Worship-street.
she was taken over to the charge-room for the purpose
of being introduced to the presence of the magistrate,
and on the number of the charge being called by the
Inspector on duty, it was found that she bad decamped,
and she has not since been heard of. The police are in
search of her.

-- -
RAILWAYS IN PORTUGAL.--A proposal has been
submitted to the Government of Portugal for the con-
struction of a line of railway from Lisbon to Oporto,
through Santarem and Coimbra. The project has been
warmly taken up by many influential capitalists at Lis
bon, as also by parties connected with Portugal in this
country. The necessary capital is to be raised, half in
England and half in Portugal ; the Government will
guarantee a fixed rate of interest until the line is com-
pleted, and certain privileges will be granted to the Com-
pany for § paigii—Railway grontitak

. .
ARRIVAL OF MRS. PRITCHARD
AND FAMILY.
(From, the Patriot.)
We have great pleasure in announcing the safe arrival
of Mrs. Pritchard (the lady of Mr. Consul Pritchard),
with her three daughters. They came on board the
barque Cape Breton, Captain Caerr, which left Valpa-
raiso on the 11th of June, and arrived at Cork on the
3d of October, bringing Government dispatches frein the
master of the Basilisk, on board of which Queen Pomare
hes taken refuge, and from Admiral Thomas on the
South American station. Mrs. Pritchard and her
daughters came over to Bristol on Saturday, and reached
London the same evening.
Mrs. Pritchard left Otaheite towards the end of April,
and arrived at Valparaiso on the Ist of June, staying
there ten days. The day before leaving Otaheite, she
went on board the Basilisk, and had an interview with
Queen Pomare. Her Majesty had been very unwell, but
was then recovering. She is accompanied on board the
Basilisk by her husband and three children (who are
eight, six, and two years of age respectively), and also
by her mother, aunt, and household servants. She is
totally without money or provisions, the French Go-
vernor Bruat having strictly prohibited all communica-
tion with the shore. Whatever supplies, therefore, she
obtains through the loyalty and affection of her people
must be eonveyed by stealth, and at the imminent risk
of detection and consequent punishment. The com-
mander of the Basilisk, however, allowed the ketch's boat
to visit the shore, and bring off supplies of provision de-
posited there for the purpose.
The conduct of the French authorities towards Queen
Pomare continued to be extremely annoying, and even
threatening. Several reports had reached the sloop, cf
an intention on their part to seise her Majesty by force,
and of course to imprison her on board their own ship ;
and the actual conduct of the French officers had, on
more than one occasion, been so audaciously insulting,
that Lieutenant Hunt felt it necessary to hold himself in
readiness for every contingency. In spite of all these
provocations, Queen Pomare still inculcated upon her
people a pacific and forbearing policy, invariably accom-
panying these Instructions with expressions of her eon=
tinned steadfast reliance upoti the good faith and gene-
rosity of England. Under the circumstances, however,
her Majesty was entirely at the mercy of her barbarous
and unscrupulous enemies, the Basilisk being the only
armed vesel to defend her, and of course quite unable
to cope with the three French frigates supported by a
war-steamer and a corvette. Nevertheless, to whatever
extent the commander of the Basilisk might be able to
resist the French, her Majesty's reliance upon that officer
is well founded ; for he will not, in any circumstances,
surrender her person into the hands of her enemies with-
out a struggle. The probability is that she will not be
further molested ; since her constant inculcations of for-
bearance upon hr people preclude all pretext for an
attack ; and since, were the French to proceed to ex-
tremities, even our submissive Ministers might possibly
be roused to retaliation and resistance.
The information which Mrs. Pritchard brings of the
state of the island is most distressing. She confirms to
the letter, and indeed beyond it, the details given in our
last number, of the battle of Mahena, especially with re-
ference to the ultimate defeat and extensive loss of the
French. Nothing can surpass the courage and determi-
nation of the poor Otaheiteans. Theyprotest that so long
as a single Frenchman remains upon the island, they
will fight; and, that even if they themselves were re-
duced to the last man, he and the rascal Mcerenhout,
were he the single survivor of the French invaders,
should fight it out. Such are the answers to all the
overtures of the French Consul. As an illustration of
the patriotic feeling, it may be mentioned, that the son
of one of the renegade chiefs, who made over the island
to the French, had declared that he would be the first to
shoot his perfidious parent. The number of natives who
have been induced to side with the invaders is very
small, not exceeding twenty ; while, as a counterpoise,
a much greater number of French soldiers had deserted,
and passed over with their arms to the ranks of the Ota-
heiteans. The mass of the natives were in the mountain
fastnesses, with plenty of provisions; and the fort, which
Ras abandoned by the French after the battle of Ma-
hena, was held, as before, by the advanced post of the
patriotic forces.
When Mrs. Pritchard left the island, nearly all the
missionaries had gone. The Rev. J. T. Jesson, with
his wife and family, and the Rev. Mr. Thomson, with
his wife and child, had gone to Huahine, intending to
leave them there and return. The Reverend Mr. Joseph
had taken his wife and family to Raiatea ; and the Re-
verend Mr. M'Kean had taken his wife and family to
Tahaa. The only peraons connected with the mission
who were actually on the island at Mrs. Pritchard's de-
parture, were believed to be the Rev. Messrs. Moore and
Darling, Mr. Buchanan, schoolmaster, and Mr. Smee,
printer, who by the way, was compelled to print the
French proclamations. The people having nearly all
retired to the mountains, congregations formerly con-
sisting of 1,500 or 1,600 souls, were reduced to less than
twenty persons each. The mission, therefore, may be
regarded as in a state of complete suspension.
The Roman Catholic mission had been strengthened
by the arrival of four sisters of charity, who came in
good time to attend the wounded of their own country-
men, but of whose services, as of those of the priests, not
a singie native could be found willing to accept.
The sympathising disposition of the merchants, not of
the French nation, may be estimated from a single anec-
dote. One of the natives applied to a merchant to sell
him some gunpowder. He was immediately referred to
the proclamation of Governor Bruat, forbidding the
sale of that article. The native, with ready wit, sug-
gested that the sale only, and not the gift of powder,
was prohibited ; when the good-natured merchant,
acknowledging the distinction, permitted him to help
himself. Such is the sense of insecurity, that nearly all
the English and American merchants had placed their
families and their valuables on board the merchantmen
and whalers of their respective nations.

HER MAJESTY'S SHIP GORGON.

Extract of a letter from an officer of her Majesty's
ship Gorgon, dated 23d June, 1844, North-shore, Monte
Video Bay :
" For your amusement I shall write a rough account
of our plans. The pampara which drove us on shore
was the heaviest that has been experienced for twenty-
eight years, and the tide, which is always influenced (as
you well know) by the wind in this river, is proportion-
ably high. When the weather and tide abated, we
were firmly fixed upright on our keel in the sand,
to the depth of eight feet fore and aft. Nearly all
around the ship was quite dry, about four feet under
the stern, the surface of the water came up to
the eight feet water mark on our stern post, and as we
drew 16 feet of water you will observe that we are now
eight feet above, or higher up in the world than we wish
to be. The main difficulty in getting her off is, that
when the water rises three or four feet, so as to afford a
prospect of heaving off, the wind must blow right in, and
soon fills up all our excatations round the ship which
have been making for the purpose ot freeing hod from
the sand, the adhesion of which is very great ; however,
we persist in digging -daily and improve our plans of
banking out the sand. ;You know4lin ,eharactir of ori-
ginality and ingenuity.' -by Sailors .are-so distin-
guished, and our operations hero give us full scope for
them, We have two or.44ee times dog away, the sand
from the ship as far under her.,as was safe to go ; we
are driving piles on each, side, to.prevent fresh sand from
washing in ; that which we have removed being carried
high up the beach, and by measurement it amounts to
much more than 5,000 tons. Under the bilge on
each side we have placed ways 'of large timber
bolted together. About five yards astern of the ship
the sand ends and mud commences, so that should
we be enabled to move her about half her own
length, all will be safe, although she will not be
afloat until hauled out nearly a mile, as the water
now is ; but mud does not hold a ship's bottom in the
sucking and adhesive manner that sand does. To haul
off by we, have two 24-inch cables, attached to
anchors of 60 and 74 cwt. and baCked by others of
50 and 35 cwt. • one cable is taken to one paddle shaft,
and a single whip (the fall being a 17-inch cable), one
part secured low down to the stern post, and the other
paddle shaft. This manoeuvre is for the' purpose of
lifting her stern as well as hauling ber on end ; the
engines of course work these our principal purchases.
We have two heavy treble purchases from our starboard
bow to anchors sunk in the sand near her starboard
quarter, and worked by two capstans and 100 men, the
capstans being sunk in the sand. As the ship is not end
on the beach, but nearly at an angle of 45 degrees with
it, her starboard being the inshore side, we have anchors
and cables laid out on the port quarter, which have pur-
chases on them, and are worked by the ship's capstans.
Under the bows we have six or eight powerful screws
(such as are used for lifting great weights, pressing wool,
cotton, &c., the largest lifts eighty tons, and the smallest
twenty tons), placed so as to lift and force the ship at
the same time astern. It would take sheets of paper to
describe them all, so you must use your imagination to
supply the place of a better description. The ship sits
upright on her ways, her masts and bowsprit are out, in
fact everything but the engine. We have taken 400
tons out of her, and, should all other means fail, ber
engines must come out; they weigh 237 tons. We must
then place the ship nearly on her broadside, on a
cradle prepared for the purpose, and thus launch her
with battened hatches. If our present plans succeed,
which there is every reason to expect, we shall get off
whenever it blows a good pampara, and as it is now b.-
ginning of winter here, we shall haveplenty of them soon.
It will then take us two months to refit for England, and
about the same time to get there. If the engines come
out, you may expect us about three months later. We
have every assistance from the foreign men-of-war ;
anchors, cables, &c., and 130 mon from our own squadron,
in all about 320 living on board. We have also a mud
machine, clearing away astern of us, which has removed
300 tons of that commodity. The men and officers work
away cheerfully ; we are frequently at work both night
and day, not Sunday excepted. This is Sunday, and
they are singing away, pile driving, mud heaving, and
sand digging, as happy as possible. The weather is
often cold, but ',serene. General Oribe has been most
kind and attentive to us, the ship being ashore in that
part of the bay which is in his possession.—Hampshire
Telegraph.

THE PRESIDENT STEAMER.—It seems the state-
ment that a bottle had been picked up twelve miles oft
Dover yesterday week, containing a note signed " Len-
nox," purporting to have been written on board this ill-
fated vessel, and which we last Saturday gave. as a ru-
mour merely, is unworthy of credit. Before we inserted
the rumour we saw the person (IL Drayson, Limekiln-
street, Dover), who says ho picked up the bottle with
contents, as reported in our last, when he persisted in the
correctness of his statement before several witnesses ;
but as he has not yet forwarded the original note sc
picked up to our office, as he promised to do last week,
to convince us of the truth of his story, we conclude it
to have been altogether a cruel and wanton fabrication.
—Dover Chronicle.