The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-22 00:00:00

FATAL PRIZE FIGHT.

Salisbury was on Monday last disgraced by a prize
fight, in which a young man, 18 years of age, named
James Lenton, fell a victim to his adversary, a per-
son about his own age, named Joseph Coombs. It
appears that a sp.rit of rivalry has for some time been
manifested in both the combatants, who were first
cousins, and both of them by trade cordwainers, and.
Monday was fixed upon for a trial of prowess. Ac-
cordingly a wager was laid, and the parties,
having calmly selected their. seconds and bottle-
holders, proceeded to a field near Lobcome-gate, about
a mile on the London-road, where they were prohibited
by the owner of the field from exhibiting their brute-
like passions. Nothing disconcerted, however, they
repaired to a meadow some quarter of a mile nearer
the city, but also within the precincts of the borough,
and commenced fighting. The combat lasted nearly
an hour, with half-minute intervals between the
rounds; but before many had been fought the de-
ceased
was beaten " stone blind." In order, how-
ever, that this mischance should not interrupt the
exhibition his eyes were lanced, and he continued
to fight until nature became entirely exhausted,
and he was heard to say that he would give
in. At this time he was ghastly pale, and trem-
bled from head to foot, but being over-per-
suaded to have one round more, he stood up for that
purpose, and while Coombs was again putting him-
self in a fighting attitude the deceased fell, to rise no
more. At this period, although life was evidently all
but extinct, the conquering party drew the stakes and
almost immediately repaired to their rendezvous,
leaving the deceased upon the field. There he was
allowed to remain about a quarter of an hour, and
was then removed on a hurdle to the Salisbury In-
firmary, but before the poor fellow reached the insti-
tution death put an end to his sufferings. The Ma-
gistrates immediately ordered the police to apprehend
the parties concerned, and one of the seconds, named
Read, is already in custody, and as the others are
known we trust that every one will be punished.
We regret to add that upwards of 200 persons wit-
nessed this revolting transaction.

BEQUESTS.—We hear that the lately
deceased Miss W egg, of Upper Brook-street, has be-
queathed to the British Lying-in Hospital, in Brown-
low-street, Long-acre 1,0001., free of legacy duty.
Also that the lately deceased Francis Perry Stubbs,
Esq., of Hyde Park-place, has bequeathed to it 2501.,
free of duty ; and that, in addition to these, a rever-
sionary bequest .of upwards of 1,0001.,, to which the
hospital was entitled, has recently fallen in.
STRATHBOGIE.—The Sacrament at Cairney was
dispensed on Sabbath last, by Mr. Cowie, the parish
minister, to a very crowded, attentive, and pious congre-
gation. The number of communicants exceeded that of
last year ; among whom there were fifteen for the first
time. These are really cheering symptoms, and show
how well attached the people nre to their ministers, not-
withstanding the persecution and tyranny to which they
have been subjected by an unscrupulous and despotic
priesthood in the very bosom of the Church of Scotland.
—Edinburgh Observer.

SINGULAR ACCIDENT.—A bout half-past eight o'clock
on Thursday night, Henry Mayne, a child two years
old, whose father is a respectable master baker, and
resides at 7, Chichester-place, Gray's Inn-road, at-
tempted to swallow a halfpenny, which stuck in his
throat, and he was seized with violent convulsions, and
became black in the face. It fortunately happened
that 11r. Liston, the eminent surgeon, was passing as
Mrs. Mayne was rushing into the street with the child
in her arms, and he, after many attempts, at length
succeeded in extracting the halfpenny from the child's
throat.

STAGE-COACH DUTIES.—By an Act of the last ses •
sion of Parliament, which is to come into force on
Saturday week, the Ist of October, the stage-coach
duty, per mile, is reduced one-half—via., from 3d.
to lid.
The fraudulent system of sweating gold coin is, it
seems, becoming adopted in other countries as well
as in England. 'The money-changers in Paris have
lately observed that many pieces of 20f. and 40f., of-
fered• to them to be changed are below their standard
weight.
A very serious .accident happened on board her
Majesty's steatner Pladk Eagle, which' formed part of
the Royal squadron; on its way to Scotland. When
the steamer arrived, off the Cocket Islands, on the
Northumbrian coast, and while towing the Royal
yacht ahead of the Shearwater, she was eased for a
short time for the purpose of lubricating the engines,
and, being set in motion too suddenly again, the
tow-rope broke, and nearly forced overboard Mr.
John Allen, the pilot, of London, who was standing
close to the bollards abaft the paddle-box, to which
the rope was attached. The pilot, however, escaped
drowning, but at the expense of his legs ; the rope
flew round them when it snapped, and broke both
his legs, lacerating them in a dreadful manner. Her
Grace the Duchess of Norfolk, who was on board, no
sooner heard of the accident than she came upon
deck, and felt particularly interested for the unfor-
tunate pilot, and directed that every possible atten-
tion should be paid to him. A surgeon who was
on board rendered-him all the assistance in his power,
and upon the arrival of the squadron at Leith, Mr.
Allen was taken ashore, and was conveyed by Mr.
Nathaniel Knight, of Rotherhithe, the pilot of the
Lightning steamer, to the infirmary at Edinburgh,
where he *till remains. The last accounts of Mr.
Allen are that he is doing well, but it is not possible
he will ever recover the use of his legs again. Mr.
Allen is an old and skilful pilot, and has been con-
ducting ships up and down the river Thames, and
along the coast, for 35 years. He is now upwards of
60 years of age, and it is understood that. in conse-
quence of his advanced years, and the serious accident
he has met with in the i',4,ueen's service, which must
for ever incapacitate him from acting as a pilot again,
a liberal pension will be granted by her Majesty's Go-
vernment. The Duchess of Norfolk inquired daily
after Mr. Allen during her stay in Scotland, and has
interested herself very warmly in his behalf.
During the • past wee:. the Marquis of Salisbury,
Lord Strangfor.:, and Mr. ArbutLnot have beer,
amongst the visitors t', th 4 Duke of Wellington, at
Walmer. Prince Esterhazy dined there twice. The
Marchioness of Douro remains at Walser. Her Lady-
ship has recovered from her illness.