Star.
London, England, 1824-05-27 00:00:00

EAST INDIA 110 LISP.

A General Court of Proprietors of East India Stock
was held yesterday, at the Company's House in Leaden-
hall-street, for the transaction of a variety of business.
The CHAIRMAN (\V. ASTELI., E,q.) laid before the
Cow t the draft of a Bill, now pending in Parliament,
to enable the Company to carry into effect a certain
art igement for the examination and liquidation of the
demands of a number of creditors on the revenues of
Amcor Stog, Lite Rajah of Tanjore.
The CHAIRMAN then stated, that the next question
for the consideration of the. Court related to a grant of
money, which was necessary for the purpose of car-
rying into effect the provisions of the Bill that had
been just laid before them. On this subject, the Court
of Directors had come to a resolution, which should
now be read.

Tlie resolution of the Court of Directors of the 28th
of January last was then read. It recommended that
the claims on the last Rajah of Tanjore should be re-
ferred for adjudication to Sir Benjamin Hohhouse, and
the other Commissioners for settling the Debts of the
Nabob of the Carnatic ; and that for this additional
labour, the Commissioners should each receive £3OO
per annum, independently of their present salary of
£l5OO per annum. The resolution fu:ther recom-
mended, that when either of the two Commissions was
concluded, the Commissioners should receive for their
performance of the duties connected with that which
remained, the sum of £l5OO per annum.
The CrtAromAN moved that the Court do approve of
the above resolution.
Mr. CRAWFORD stated, that the deed on which the
Bill was founded was signed by only five of the credi-
tors of the late Rajah. He had no personal interest in
this question, but as the administrator of a deceased Ge-
neral Officer, who was a creditor of the Rajah, he ob-
jected to the measure which was now brought before the
Court. The Honourable Proprietor then proceeded to
examine the different clauses of the deed, and con-
cluded by declaring that the whole proceeding was a
mockery of justice.
The CHAIRMAN defended the course which had been
taken by the Court of Directors, who had only acted in
conformity with the application of a certain number of
creditors who had signed the deed.
Mr. LOWNDES expressed his surprise that the Carnatic
Commission was still in existence. Sir Benjamin did
not wish the business to be prolonged, and he (Mr.
Lowndes) hoped the Court would not force 15001. a-year
on Sir Benjamin against his will—(A laugh).
Mr. Itroov inquired whether the same portion of bu-
siness was now transacted by the Carnatic Commis.
sioners as was heretofore performed by them?
Mr. TRANT observed, that the salary of the Carnatic
Commissioners was settled by Act of Parliament, and
they could not be asked to perform an additional duty,
without receiving additional remuneration.
The CHAIRMAN observed, that the labours of the
Carnatic Commissioners had been very beneficial to the
Company. The demands of the creditors, in the case
of the Nabob of the Carnatic, amounted to 29,000,0001.
of which no less than 27,000,000/. had been rejected.
The Resolution .was, alter a desultory conversation,
agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN informed the Court, that, in obedience
to their Resolution of the 3d of March last, cert tin
papers, illustrative of the Administration of the Marquis
of Hastings in India, had been selected by the Court of
Directors, and cent to the printer's. Ti:e titles of those
papers. were now open for inspection, in the ll:ading-
room ; and if the mover or seconder of the motion,
which was proposed on the 3d of March, or any of the
friends of the Marquis of Ilastingc, on perusing those
titles, was of opinion that any ma.erial paper had been
omitted, the Court of Directors would pay due attention
to the suggestion. As the papers were very voluminous,
forming a mass of not less than 20(X) pages, it was not
posihle for him at that moment tosay when they would
be ready for delivery.—The Court then adjourned.

About twelve o'clock on Tuesday night, a fire was
discovered in one of the rooms of Lord CA RI•:k '
oltl
house, in Lower Bet keley-stteet, and corner of Portm•in-
square. In a few moments after the discovery, the
flames. considerably increased, and serious apprehen-
sions were entertained for the whole mansion, but by
the prompt exertions of his Lot Jship's domestics, with
some neighbours and watchmen, the de: ti u ctive element
was Confined to the apuunent whet e it made its ap-
pearance. The whole of the furniture, with some paint-
'lugs, and other valuables, which were in the coon‘,
were destroyed.
Au English Gentleman, who has for some time resitled in Paris,
last week laid a wager of 100,000 francs that he wuuld pet form the
distance from Paris to Calais (nearly 180 miles) in a one horse chaise,
containing three persons, including himself, in 16 hours, which be
accomplished within the time, but not without ruining two or three
horses.

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A Midvionater Day's Drew, : a Poem by EDWIN
ATlldnettleit. Foolscap &no. Fp. 173. With Picks
after designs by Martin.
Those who have read The Last Days of Hercula.
Main, by the same author, will be led to expect in the
present work a full display of the nobler elements of
p-oetty, a vivid and powerful imagination, grandeur of
imagery, and a nervous energy of expression, nor will
they be disappointed. The present Poem presents, per-
haps, less of the terrible than Mr. Atherstone's former
production, but not of the solemn and magnificent.
The principal portion of the narrative consists of
a vision, in which the poet is conducted, by a spirit, to
view the various recesses of nature—to explote the
abysses of the deep, the innermost womb of the earth ;
to pass through the vast realms of space, visiting un-
known worlds and their inhabitants. In all this there
is fine scope for the fancy, and for description of the
most impressive character; and we think that, gigantic
as the subje:t is, the author has shewn himself equal to it.
Many of his pictures are very forcibly conceived, and
delineated with a powerful pen. The opening of the
poem contains an animated poetical portraiture of the
beauties of nature on a fine midsummer morning,
which cannot fail to delight the Reader. The author's
description of the destruction of our earth by a
comet we shall lay before our Readers, as a specimen
of his powers in conceiving and embodying a catas-
trophe of inconceivable horror :
" Yet a time
Hath been, in the profound of ages pass'd,
When this fair order was disturb'd. The earth
Was not then what ye see it now; nor man,
Such' as now is, existed then; nor beasts;
Nor did the globe bend towards the sun its poles
As now ; but yet it held sublimely on
The same unerring path along the Heavens.
" Then suddenly there came a fiery star,
Wandering from out its orbit, masterless.
The dwellers of the earth,—they were a race
flightier than yours,—look'd nightly on the sky,
And their thoughts were troubled : night by night the star
Crew brighter, larger ;—waving flames shot out
That made the sky appear to shake and quiver.
Night after night it grew ;—the stars were quench'd
Before its burning presence;—rite moon took
A paler-,-and a paler hue :—men climbed
Upon the mountains every eve to watch
How it arose; and sat upon the ground
All night to gaze upon it. The day then
Became the time for sleeping; and they woke
From feverish rest at evening to look out
For the terrific visitor. Night by night
It swell'd and brighten'd:—all the firmament
Was kindled when it came. The waning moon
Had died away ; and, when she should have come
Again into the sky, men found her not.
Still, still the heaven-fire grew !—there was no night;
But to the day succeeded a new day
Of strange and terrible splendour. Darkness then
Became a luxury; and men would go
To caves and subterranean depths to cool
Their hot and dazzled eyes. Die beasts of the field
Were restless rnd uneasy, knowing not
Their hour for slumber: they went up and down
Distractedly ; and, as they fed, would stop,
And tremble, and look round, as if they fear'd
A lurking enemy. The things of prey,—
'Monsters that earth now knows not,—came abroad
When the red night-sun had gone down ; for day
With its mild light less glar'd upon their eyes
Than that fire-flashing termament.—Yet,—yet,
With every coming night the terrible star
Expanded : men had now nu thought but that :
All occupations were laid by :—the earth
'Was left ant ill'd :—the voyagers on the deeps
Forsook their ships, and got upon the land
To wait the unknown event. O'er all the world
Unutterable terror reigned. Men now
By thousands, and by tens of thousands, met—.
Wond'ring and prophesying. Day and night
All habitable regions sent to Heaven
Wailing and lamentations and loud prayers.
The ethereal shapes that peopled earth, as now,
haw with astonishment, but not with fear,
This strange disorder;—for the wreck of worlds
Injures not them. The spirits of the sun
Look'd wondering down, expecting what might come;
For right tow ids earth the blazing terror held
Its awful course; and all the abyss of space
Resounded to the roarings of its fires!
" Night after night men still look'd out :—it grew
Night after night, faster and faster still.
The crimson sky announe'd its terrible consul
Long ere it rose; and after it went down
Lnok'd red and fiery long. Each night it came
Later,--and linger'd later in the morn,
Till in the Heavens the sun and it at once—
Eastward and westward—shone, with different lights :
The sun, as still he shines, ineffably pure;
The other of intensest burning red.
But one was still the same ;—the other swell'd
Each day to a terrific bulk, and grew
Dreadfully bright, till the out-blazed sun
pale,—and paler,—and at last went out
And men knew not when he stoic or set!
e The terrible event was then at band :
Throughout the day the roarings of its fires
Oppress'd all ears ;—and when the fury sank
Beneath the horizon, still throughout the night
They beard its threatenings ; dying far away
Till midnight; then with every hour returning
Louder and louder, like advancing thunders
Biding upon the tempest !
" Yet once more
It rose on earthly eyes. Onesfourth the Heavens
Was cover'd by its bulk. Ere it had reach'd
Its middle course, the huge ball almost fill'd
The sky's circumference;—and anon there was
No sky!—naught but that terrible world of fire,
Glaring,—and roaring,—and advancing still:"
We regret that our limits prevent our giving farther
extracts from a Poem which contains niany beautiful
passages. The embellishments too of the volume are
in the first style. Indeed we might expect from the
pencil of Martin, even on the small scale to which the
page confines him, something of that gorgeous magni-
ficence which marks all his con:positions.

A wrists' GEN/RAF. BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.--
This most interesting Society celebrated its Tenth Anni.
wersary Festival on Tuesday, at the Frzemasons' Tavern.
His Royal Highness the Duke of-Yoaa had promised
to take the Chair; but being unfortunately prevented by
business from attending, his Royal Highness sent an
apology, and Sir WILLIAM ELSORD was prevailed upon
to preside in his stead. Sir THOMAS LAWRENCE, Mr.
SIME, and about 120 other Gentlemen connected with
the Arts were present. A number of Ladies were in

the gallery. -
FATAL BOXING. —Tuesday evening a fight took place
under Pile-hill, near Bristol, between two of the work-
men at a coppersmith's, who had previously quarrelled.
After the contest had been continued for some time one
of the men fell, and was conveyed home to his house in
a state of insensibility. Surgical aid was procured, but
in vain, for this unfortunate victim of the brutal practice
of busing died in a few holm afterwards. Verdict of
the inquest—Manslaughter,

FATAL AERIAL EXCURSION.

reastufea vsaieseezass es 111 DSIVADIUL
Yesterday the neighbourhood of Beddington, near
Carshalton, presented a remarkably agitated appear-
since, in consequence of the shocking accident that hap-
pened to Mr. Harris, the aeronaut, and Miss Stocks, his
companion, on Tuesday afternoon. This lady, who is ap-
parently about 19 years of age, was one of the casual
spectators in the Eagle Tavern Gardens, and offered
herself to accompany Mr. Harris, who readily accepted
the offer, and they set off on their aerial excursion about
half-past four o'clock; and about five o'clock, as An-
thony Geary, game-keeper to Mrs. Gee, of Beddington-
park, near'Carshatton, was standing under a tree in that
park, he heard a loud rumbling noise, as of thunder,
and on lotSking up he saw the balloon rapidly descend.
ing. It was then about the height of two trees ; almost
instantly it struck against a tree about forty yards
from him, carrying away a branch; it was then driving
very rapidly in an elongated form, when Geary put
down his gun, and laid hcfld'of the car, which was partly
covered with the balloon, then nearly emptied of gas.
Several other peole came up, and Geary, on lifting up
' a part of the balloon, heard a person moaning, whom
he discovered to be Miss Stocks. She asked, in a moan-
ing voice, " Where anti ?" She was lifted out of the
car and laid upon the grass, with her head reclining on'
a cushion. Ilse deceased was then discovered in the
bottom of the car, quite dead. He was taken out, and
Mr. Wallace, a surgeon, of Beddington, was sent for,
who promptly attended; but to attempt to restore life
in Mr. Willis was useless. Assistance was rendered to
the lady, who was carried in a state of inseesiliility to
the Plough public-house, at Beddington, and pat to
bed. The body of Mr. Harris was also cart ied there,
and partially snipped. He had on a blue suit of naval
uniform, richly embroidered with gold. Mr. Wallace
continued his attentions to Miss Stocks, whom be
not yet been able to pronounce out of danger. She is
still at the Plough, in the room next to the body of Mr.,
Harris, of whose death she is perfectly ignorant, fro m
the distress and agitation which she was in when I
carried from the place where the balloon fell. &foie
the Coroner arrived, we were permitted to visit the
room where she lies, and she was cautiously interro•
gated by a Gentleman who was of the Committee to
conduct the ascent, and she said, that after the balloon
had got through the clouds, Mr. Harris desired her not
to be alarmed, for they wete going to descend; she had
not then the least alarm, but she thought Mr. Harris
seemed to be alarmed. lie gave her a drop of brandy,
and soon afterwards said, " Oh Goo, look out," which
so affected her, that she fainted, and remembered nothing
further until she was carried to the Plough, where, in
the course of an hour, she so far recovered as to answer
two or three questions that were put to her;
Mr. Harris was formerly mate of an Indiaman, but
has lately been a master cabinet-maker, in the neigh-
bc,urhood of Wells-street, Oxford-road. He ascended
some time ago with Mr. Graham.
Previously to Mr. Harris taking his seat in the car, he
promised that he would descend and return to the
Tavern in two hours after his departure. The time was
anxiously looked for, and crowds were waiting inside
and out to welcome his safe arrival ; hut when the time
elapsed, and hours passing and no intelligence whatever
arriving of the safety of the adventurers, a gloom
seemed to pervade the assemble.' party. However,
Mrs. Harris expressed herself satisfied that nothing had
befallen her husband. Ten o'clock arrived, when a
Gentleman came by express, and gave secret informa-
tion to Mr. ltossiter, of the death of the intrepid young
man. Mr. liossiter kept the intelligence secret from the
rest of his friends, and instantly set out in a post-cliaisel
to the Plough Inn, at Carshalton.
About half-past four yesterday morning, the father
of Miss Stocks appeared at the gate of the Eagle, in the
City-road, and made anxious inquiries after the fate of
his daughter. Some of the Gentlemen bf the Corn-
, mittee, who were waiting up for the return of those who
had gone in a chaise and four to Beddington; to ascer-
tain the truth or falsehood of the repoit of the fatal
event, answered him with proper caution, and be went
away to his work (he is a millwright, and lives at No.
14, Henrietta-street, Vinegar-gardens, City-road), ap-
patently satisfied. He has six other children. At six
o'clock one of the Gentlemen drove up to the gate of
the Eagle, and jumping from the chaise, was met by the
eager inquiries of the Gentlemen waiting ; his feelings
overcame him, and bursting into tears, he could only
say "It is too true;" and sunk upon a scat.
Miss Stocks gives the following account :
I ascended the balloon in good spirits, and in consequence of
the persons below holding the rope, the car was a little on one side;
Mr. Ilarris said be would remedy it, and he threw out some bal.
last. In a Maui t time we ascended most rapidly, and we found our-
selves going through the clouds, which looked like mountains of
snow. Mr. Harris asked me to hold the string, and he looked at
his watch. He told me that we bad been up a quarter of an hour,
and said that he had got two pigeons. Ile then again asked me to
hold the string, and then threw out a piece of paper. And, as far
as I recollect at this moment, he s.zitl the balloon was falling rapidly.,
After throwing out *lore ballast we again ascended, and got through
another cloud, when I felt myself extremely cold. He said, Dear
girl, don't let your heart fail; I hope we shall sup together, and;
wish that you may, for your courage, be connected with my family'
as long as you live.' He then said that we were again descending,i
and desired me, if the balloon should incline on one side, to lay hold
of the other. I heard the balloon go ' clap, clap,' and he said he
was afraid the balloon was bursting; at which information I fainted,
and remember nothing more till I found myself in bed."
It may be here better to give a description of the structure of
that important part of the machine (the valve), to the malformation
of which the melancholy occurrence is positively attributed. The
siae of the valve of the deceased's balloon was three feet live inches
in diameter, and when opened to its extremity would have allowed
the whole of the gas in the balloon to escape in about a minute
and a half. Within the large valve was a smaller one, with two
flaps about one font square. The object of this invention was to
give the Aeronaut the power of discharging the gas either in
large or small quantities, as occasion might require. There was
a cord from each valve, and it is believed tharduring the voyage
these cords became entangled, and when he pulled the cord
:Axed to the inner or small valve, the large valve was forced
open to its utmost width, and the greater part of the gas escaped.
Mr. Harris did not see the danger of depriving the machine of its
buoyancy so suddenly till the mischief was done, and he exclaimed
(as far as the young Lady recollects, who was nearly insensible at the
tine,)" Geod Goo, protect me !" which were his last words.
The valves of Messrs. &Wert, Graham's, and Green's balloons
are constructed from 21 to 23 inches in diameter only, which open
by the, pull of a cord, the Baps of which work upon a centre
hinge ; and it is evident that the deceased was not aware of the ra-
pidity with which gas would escape through an aperture of between
three and four feet in diameter, or he would have seen no necessity
for so large a valve.

THE INQUEST.
At four o'clock, CHARLES Jests( ETT, Esq. the Coroner,
arrived at the Plough, from Kingston, and the Jury
having been sworn, the following witnesses were ex-
amined

William Sullivan, of No. 6, Hungerford-market,
Strand, boot-maker, deposed that on Tuesday after-
noon, about half-past four o'clock, the deceased as-
cended in his balloon from the Eagle Tavern, City-road;
a Lady, Miss Stocks, ascended with him; witness held
,the balloon by the halyards for four minutes and a half,

when the deceased cut the ropes. and ascended ; this
rope was attached to the valve; the balloon rose very
steadily in a perpendicular direction for some time, and
then took a south-westerly course ; after the ropes were
cut, he took off his hat and waved it as a signal tbat
all was right ; the balloon was allowed by the Gas_Com-
pany to be the most perfect machine that ever was put
into their hands. It remained visible for about ten mi-
nutes, after which time witness heard nothing of it until
he heard Of the accident. As far as witness could per-

ceive it, it went in a very steady course.
Anthony Geary, gamekeeper to Mrs. Gee, of Bed-
dington Park, deposed that about five o'clock on Tues-
day evening, while in the park,he saw the balloon about
the height of two trees, or ninety feet; witness was
forty
h limb ofa or
fifty
yardsn oak
whichmw h
were
ait s
brokenfell o
; it alighted n
d then
on
the balloon and car fell to the ground as it were in a
heap ; witness went round to the car, lifted up part of
the ballonn, and heard a voice, as if moaning in dis-
tress, which he found to proceed from a female, whom
he took out, laid her on the grass, and assisted in taking
Mr. Harris out, several other persons by that time having
'arrived. Mr. Harris appeared to he quite dead ; wit-
ness got some water and bathed the Lady's temples, and
then assisted in bi inging them to the Plough, which is
nearly a mile. The Lady asked, " Loan, where am
I ?" The deceased's neck was open, and it appeared to
be very black. Witness's attention to the balloon was
first attracted by a noise resembling thunder at a great
distance, which was occasioned by the balloon being in
a loose state, and nearly emptied of gas. Witness saw
no part of the balloon torn.
Mr. John 1t0.... land Wallace, surgeon, of Carshalton,
deposed, that between five and six o'clock on Tuesday
,evenin he was called to attend the deceased and the
Lady, In lleddington Park, w ho he understood had fallen
out of the balloon. Witness saw the Lady first, and
found her in a eery low state, scarcely able to speak,
Intl not senselcs• ; there wOs no wound upon her, but
she complained of severe pain her back, her stomach,
and legs; she did not state how the accident happened.
Witness then examined the deceased, who was lying ou
the grass dead ; he desired the body to be brought to
the Plough, and the extremities to be fomented with hot
water ; and he also ordered the Lady to be brought to
the same place, where he followed and more minutely
examined the deceased ; found a fracture in the
breast-bone, and a fracture of two or three of the ribs
on the left siie, which wcie sufficient to produce
death. Mr. Wallace further stated, that he could not
pronounce the Lady entitely out of danger, but there
were no bones broken. She was in a little fever.
Mr. W. liereill, of Nelson•streot, City-road, stated,
that lie was at the commencement of the inflation of!
the balloon, which was done with carbonated hydrogen
gas, which is created from coal, and is simply clarified
smoke. It was introduced through an iron service pipe
from the gasometer, a mile and a half from where the
inflation took place, viz. the Hackney Gas Company's.
Witness considers the injury to have been cati.ted in this
manner :—There is a large v,ilve on the top of the bal-
loon, within which is a smaller one, both of which are
used to allow gas to escape, as occasion may require; to
those valve:, arc attached lines, leading into the car.—
Witness believed there might have been three lines, and
was of opinion that the accident arose either from these
lines being entangled, or from the inexperience of the
deceased ; he was more inclined to think the latter: in-
deed, at the time the deceased ascended, and for some
tithe after, witness considered him deficient in the ma-
nagement. The valve was a newly constructed one,
and this was the first time he had an opportunity of
trying it, and the lines becoming entangled, he was un-
able to extricate himself, not being sufficiently acquainted
with the newly-constructed valve. Witness thought' him
perfectly capable of managing a balloon in every other
respect, but be was unable to manage the new valve.
Mr. Sullivan observed, that he examined the balloon
afters% Ards, and the lines were then entirely disentan-
gled : he thoit:.;ht that after the Lady fainted, Mr.
Harris, in his great anxiety to reach the eat th to obtain
assistance for het, allowed too much gas to escape.
Mr. Gr4llarn, the aeronaut, was called, and said that
Mr. Kervill had stated what was most probable, for
where there was more than one line there was great
danger of their being entangled, particularly in destend-
ing. His opinion was, that the accident arose from the
wrong line being pulled, which opened the large valve
instead of the small one.
Mr. JEMNIETT addressed the Jury, and observed that,
from all that bad appeared, there was no doubt it was
merely accidental.—The Jury returned a verdict of
" Accidental Death."
Mr. Graham, the aeronaut, was present during the
examination, and took great interest in the proceedings.
He is about to ascend himself in a few days.
Mr. Harris's balloon contained upwards of 9,000
cubic feet of gas, and in the car were 1081bs. of ballast,
in bags, sofficient, it is presumed. to have prevented this
fatal accident, if he had had the presence of mind to
throw out all the ballast ; for in that case, the descent
would not have been so rapid. He had two carrier pi-
geons in the car, which were so stunned by the concus-
sion, that they could not fly when set at liberty. We
understand Mr. Harris has left a widow and one child.
Miss Stocks has lived, since she was old enough, in
service. Her last situation was that of an attendant in
the shop of a pastry-cook in Barbican, which she quitted
only on Saturday evening last, in consequence of a love
affair (not in the smallest degree discreditable to either
party). She is said to be rather of a romantic turn of
mind. She was 18 years of age in October last.
The melancholy intelligence of her husband's death
was communicated to Mrs. Harris at eight o'clock yes-
terday morning. She was deeply afflicted, but became
tolerably composed after the first shock.
Mr. Harris took paper for the purpose of making me-
morandums on his voyage, together with a thermo-
meter and watch, which were found safe. He had
made no use of the paper.
A placard to the following effect was yesterday morn-
ing exhibited in the window of the Eagle Tavern:
1! We are sorry to announce, that from the opening of the valve.]
of the Balloon too greatly, and not being able to close it, the Aero-
musts were precipitated from a great height Aleut rapidly. Dlr.:
Harris was killed on the spot, and the Lady, although much
bruised, is alive and sensible. This awful occurrence took place
by striking against a tree in Beddington Park, Surrey, on the es-
tate of Mrs. Gee.
" Thehriayasvolleautneme Lady lies at the Plough, Beddington, in a very
traveller,u ch p e as u
Missr e
Ai n.
st stating,ocks, that
was thelast
evunfortu-
nateeing precarious
‘V
eae
pronounced out of danger, in consequence of which her
mother left her last night at hall-past nine, and came to
'her residence, 4, Henrietta-street, City-road. During
'the whole of yesterday an immense number of persons
were eagerly making inquiries at the Eagle.Tavein, in
order to ascertain the cause of the accidtnt. -Consider-.

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