The Sun.
London, England, 1827-04-17 00:00:00

MEETINGS OF CREDITORS.

Abbott, JC.,OBUriNeTolft—YLion,Aß/trlto—lFatoaT, APRIL 20.
I
Ainsworth, T., Blackburn--Hotel, Blackburn l2
Barnes, .1, Ledbiffyriathers, Ledbury ll
Baxter, J. Manchester—Hayward% Manchester lO
Bentley, T., Blackburn—Hotel, Blackburn l2
Brunton, J., gouthwick—Vonkwearrnouth-shore hotel
Buckley, J. Manchester—White's, Manchester
Bush, J., Pembrike.—Duke's Head-, Leominster —
Clemesha, &, Liverpool—Geoni Liverpool
Hawke, W., Spilsby-.George, ilsby
James, T., Birmingham—Royal otel Binningham • lO
Ma, W. and J.l. Lincoln—C6u;t-house, Leeds 4
Pearce, J., Bristol—dooke and ristol l2
Tunstall, G., Woreestar--Crowa, Co.,'Worcester ll

INSOLVENTS APPLYING TO BE DISCHARGED,
Petitions to be hoard at Portugal-street, Lino°ln'e-lan-Fields,

APICIL. 20, /I.T 1.111411.

Bees, .1.; Whiteeliaper - " MoOdY,,.I Buckingham-place
Bentley, M., Leek Murrain J. Kennington
Birch, A., Adelphi Peters, J., Petvrorth
Brett, T., Kensington Smith, 8., Westminster
Burns, —, Islington Sumpter, C., Bermondsey
Carver, J., Bristol Terrill, W., Camborne
Crafer, T., Somers-town Wall, G., Whitechapel
Estall, 3, Towee-at. Watson. T., Camden Town
litrme=
0 rogh;... F., •Woottem, • eeterGo Jr;'!
ch, tlit Ihmi
, ~ ............ • . T.. ancheeter
Hale, G., Pimlico

The numerous pairs of partridges in all direc-
tions exceed any season in tbe memory of the oldest sports-
man. A tame hen partridge, at West Gate Brewery, Chi-
cheiter,.has attracted the notice of a wild male bird, which
is frequently seen in situations contiguous to the street.--
Hants Chronicle.

BENEFIT OF A MONOSYLLABLE.—At the
Old Bailey on Monday last, Thomas Aslett took the bene-
fit of the following quibble started from the Bench :—The
prisoner was charged with stealing a letter from the Post-
office, containing a sovereign, while in the employment of
that establishment as a letter-carrier. The evidence clearly
;:roved the theft charged in the indictment, and the pri-
soner was seen to take the property in the Post-office, and
was secured. The Chief Justice was of opinion, that it re-
quired the property (according to the Act of Parliament)
should be taken frotn the Poet-office, and not in the Post-
office ; and the prisoner was acquitted! ! Thus had the
prisoner but crossed the threshold, his death would have
been inevitable. Here " three paces of the vilest earth,"
more or less, comprise the crime; nice distinctions !

On Saturday afternoon, about four o'clock, a
dreadful explosion of the gasometer at the Argyll Rooms,
in Regent-street, took place; but which, fortunately, was
not attended with any accident of an alarming nature. The
gasometer was situated in a detached room or cellar under
the pavement, near the area, and next to it was the
engine-room, where the gas was manufactured. For some
years the gas-room was not cleared out, and daring the
past week night-carts were in attendance to take away the
filth that was collected about the place. Several work-
men were employed on Saturday in the gas-room, prepara-
tory to the coming of the night-cart, and it was thought
expedient to shift the gasometer, for the -purpose of tho-
roughly cleansing the place. In doing so, it is appre-
hended that some of the gas had escaped, as an unpleasant
smell was perceived in the course of the day. The super-
intendent of the gas passed in and oat several times during
the morning with a light, and all appeared perfectly safe.
About four o'clock Mr. Welsh, of the Harmonic Institu-
tion, went into the gal-room, accompanied by several work-
men, and took a light. They had scarcely passed from the
engine-room, into the gas-room, when they were over-
powered by a most disgusting stench. The light went out,
and a scene of the most terrific nature followed. A large
body of smoke enveloped them instantly, and made its way
(the doors being fortunately left open) into the area, and
shattered the windows of the housekeeper's room opposite,
and shook not only the building itself, but the whole neigh-
bourhood. Mr. Welsh and the workmen were impelled
forward, and from the impregnated state of the air about
them, it is almost miraculous that they were not shattered
to atoms. Mr. Welsh, however, was severely bruised about
the head and face, and lay in a state of torpor for some
minutes. His appearance was most appalling, his face was
quite black, his hair singed, and his clothes were entirely.
torn to atoms. Considerable apprehension was enter-
tained for him, and he was removed, as soon as he possi-
bly could be, to his own house, near Portland Place, where
he was attended by the medical gentlemen who happened
to be at hand. The workmen lay prostrate in the area,
to all appearances dead. Their looks and habiliments
were hcrrifying• They were soon removed, and recovered
with a little attention. They were somewhat bruised,
but fortunately, not seriously injured. They were more
frightened than hurt. Several engines soon came to the
spot, but their s,-,ices were not required, for the gas
had
wholly evaporated before their arrival. On examination,
the building was found to be perfectly safe. The house-
keeper's room was in a state of disorder, the curtains were
in pieces, the furniture tossed about, and the kettle, whick
a few minutes before had been put on the fire, was found
in the middle of the room empty. The housekeeper was
absent at the time of the accident. The carvers of music
in the upper part of the house were thrown from their
seats. One of the carvers went out on the roof, and per-
ceiving a dense cloud of smoke ascending from the roof
suspected there was a fire, and he hastened down by the
back stairs to make his escape.
He was overtaken by the
smoke, and with difficulty was able to make his way, for
he was nearly suffocated. Many persons in the neigh-
bourhood believed it to be the shock of an earthquake.--
A female servant, at some distance, who was cleaning a
window on the ground floor, was precipitated to the street.
Horses passing took fright ; 'and such was the darkness of
the place, that the people could not discern one ano-
ther. This part of Regent-street, so much the resort of
the fashionable world, presented Ott this' occasion-0s t scene
of gloom and dismay. We Understand' thaVa6rallolllll
still continues very ill, bat not dangerously.