The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-03-29 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1553.

a sad thine it is to contemplate. 'We have ell read the
Arabian Nights Entertainments, emeralds growing -on
trees thick as blackberries—all the imagined wealth of the
the lad Alladin is as nothing compared with the bullion in
the cellars of the Old Lady in Threadneedle-street.
Gold ! gold ! gold ! Old Spanish dollars, too—pillar
dollars the usance men call them ; but gold chiefly. I
sickened as I looked at the piles of pelf. My attendant.
hoary and respectable, observed that he never remembered
so much gold in the coffers of the Bank of England.
" Nor I, anywhere," T dryly observed. " Surely this
ought to make us all happy." " Not a bit of it—the
greatest curse you can have is too much gold"—" in one's
purse," I interjected—" No, in the country : it raises
prices, and don't wages." This was not so bad under the
dangling cobwebs of the Bank of England. t put me in
mind Of ADAM SMITH and WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE,
our present Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has stated
that the government is to wait—to do nothing, let the
gold increase as much as it may. Fatal mistake ; the
evil is neither to be stemmed nor taken into consideration.
The Coalition Cabinet will find that this plethora of gold
will force consideration, though mon cher ABERDEEN,
who grows his own beef and mutton, perhaps, don't care
about the price of rump-steaks.

If our theatres have been closed during the past week,
so have not our churches and chapels, especially the
latter ; and I hope the serious reader will pardon the con-
junction—the sacred and secular. The Wesleyans have
had their numerous meetings ; divided among them-
selves, they seem to east a doubt upon the well-known
text, that a house divided cannot stand. One party
charges the other with a persecuting spirit ; Lord JOHN
RUSSELL has been appealed to, for be is looked upon as
the great friend of the dissenting classes, and his lord-
ship unhesitatingly answered that he did not believe the
Wesleyans would persecute if they had the power. So
far this is satisfactory ; but it cannot be doubted that
there is great acrimony among the members of this nu-
merous and otherwise highly-respectable body. On Good
Friday the Rev. Dr. CUMMING, the great Scotch Protes-
tant champion, had an audience which crowded his
church ; among them several nobles of the land. To be
sure this used to be the ease with the reverend doctor's
countryman, the late EDWARD IRVINE ; but there is this
difference between the two preachers,—the deceased one
had more " sail than ballast" in his discourses, the living
one rice Versa. Dr. CUMMING, though eloquent, is more
ardent than eloquent • which, in a preacher, I hold to be
the more winning characteristic. The doctor is a great
favourite among nearly all the Scotch families of
distinction in the metropolis ; with Lord and Lady
JOHN RUSSELL markedly so. Lady RUSSELL is the
daughter of a Scotchman—GlLßEßT ELLIOT, Earl
of Minto. CUMMING'S challenge to Cardinal WlSE-
MAti,—the combat to " come off" in a few days,—
upon the relative merits of the two faiths, is excit-
ing considerable interest in the religious world. The
CARDINAL, though he is to have half the platform roped
round for himself and suite, is not to show. There are
two reasons : the CARDINAL conceives it would be infra
dig., and he might probably ba vulnerable to the pointed
shafts of his well-known opponent. Apropos of his
Eminence, he has received communications applicable
to this peculiar period of the year from the Vatican,—in
these he is simply styled " WISEMAN "—neither Doctor,
nor Eminence, nor Cardinal. Does this imply acqui-
escence on the part of the POPE in the " Ecclesiastical
Titles Bill ?" The CARDINAL has been spiritually work.
ins hard, like his rev. brethren, among the Protestants.
I am not sure that the good taste—apart from the ques-
tion itself—of throwing down the gauntlet to Cardinal
WISEMAN is altogether approved of by moderate Protes-
tants. However, Dr. CUMMING and his associate Mr.
INl`GuraE will have it all to themselves, and perhaps ano-
ther grand service of plate will be voted to the Doctor for
his labour in vanquishing an absent adversary. Be it so.
Dr. CUMMING deserves much at the hands of the metro-
politan Presbyterians. The court in which is situated his
church was, at no distant period, not high in the odour of
sanctity. Drury-lane and Covent-garden Theatres on
either side, flanked by public-houses, and houses of a more
objectionable character, were there. Neither were the
architectural beauties of the spot of an elevated order.
Now the aspect of the place is changed, and all accom-
plished by the preacher.
Up to the time at which I write there is not a whisper—
ministerial, political, or of any other character—to enliven
the dull equanimity which always pervades the week
before Easter. True, yon may have met a seedy and un-
shaven actor returning from a cold rehearsal to a colder
dinner, but that is nothing new. All is gaiety and pink
ribbons among the Easter-Monday people—the ladies I
mean. May they be happy ! The steamboats yesterday
had scarcely a creature on deck, the afternoon was so cold,
raw, wet, rough, and windy.

tained, and that at the meeting, on Thursday next,
it is confidently expected a renewal will be made of
the agreement to work the mills on short time for
another limited period. The remarks, however, as
to the depression do not apply to yarns for exporta-
tion, for which there is still an active demand, nor
to the better descriptions of manufactured goods.
Such reports should be received with caution, so far
as their influence on the Liverpool market is con-
cerned ; as, notwithstanding the fears of the Man-
chester manufacturers, no sound conclusion can be
arrived at until we have more definitive accounts
from the other side. At Bradford, Nottingham,
Leicester, and other seats of manufacturing industry,
great activity prevails, and the prospects for the
spring and summer trade are most encouraging.
The Leicester report states that the hosiers are well
employed with cotton orders, the demand for which,
perhaps, never was greater. The complaints in the
wool districts are as to the high price of the raw
material.

Messrs. BusHBY and Co., in their Tea Circular,
notice the increased symptoms of activity in the tea
market, in which both trade and speculative pur-
chases have been entered into with considerable
spirit at an advance upon their last quotations.
With reference to the question of duty, they believe
that the reduction will not amount to more than
51d, per lb. this session. The stock in the United
Kingdom on the 16th instant was 60,931,000 lbs.,
against 57,004,0001b5. last year.
The return from the Bank of England, for the
week ending the 19th of March, gives the following
results, when compared with the previous week :
Public deposits .. £8,203,555; Increase £595,641
Other deposits .. 12,874.698; Decrease 176,438
Rest
_3,626,365 ; Increase 3,917

On the other side of the account—
Government securities £13,464,53b ; the same as before.
Other securities .. 15,447,272 ; Increase £50,445
Notes unemployed .. 11,132,095 ; Increase 466,665
The amount of notes in circulation is £21,464,840,
being a decrease of £248,330 ; and the stock of
bullion in both departments is £19,163,146, show-
ing an increase of £184,836, when compared with
the preceding return.

ISSUE DEPARTMENT.
Notes issued .. £32,596,935 Govrnt. Debt.. £11,015,100
Other securities 2,984,900
Gold coin& bu1n.18,577,781
I Silver bullion .. 19,154

£32,596,935

£32,596,935

BANKING D
Prop.'s eapita1.£14,553,000
Rest 3,626,365
Public deposits. 8,203.555
Other deposits. 12,874,698
7-day, &c. bills. 1,352,498

EPARTNIF.N'T.
Gov. 5ecuritie5.413,464,538
Other securities 15,447,272
Notes .... 11,132,095
Gold & silt'. coin 566,211

X 40,610,116

£40,610,116

The SHARE MARKET during the past week has
been unusually quiet. In prices we have little
change, real business being so trifling. The bulls
and bears have the market in their hands :—Chester
and Birkenhead £22, 3;d; Caledonians, 32+ k;
Eastern Counties, 12i; Lancashire and Yorkshire,
75.-1 1s a ; Lancaster and Carlisle, 93; Ditto Third
Shares, 13p • Liverpool and Southport, 171;
London Stock, 118 A; Ditto Quarters (C) 12p;
Sheffield Stock, 301 ; Midland Stock, 74:1 4;
Dover Stock, 23+ 1; York, Newcastle and Berwick,
171 ; North Union A Stock, 251 ; Borough Bank,
Ili; Royal Insurance, lip Pacific Steam Com-
pany, 541; Ditto New Shares, 2.p; Steam Towing
Company, s+.
PRODUCE.—Notwithstanding the occurrence of
Good Friday shortened the business time of the
week, the amount transacted was, on the whole, a
full average. For Sugar there has been a steady
demand, and 1,200 hogsheads West India and
7,000 bags Bengal, sold at full prices. For Foreign
Sugar the demand has not been quite so active, but
a good business has been done, the sales consisting
of 1,700 bags Pernambuco and 2,700 bags unclayed
Manilla, at previous rates. Of Molasses 250 puns..
Cuba Muscovado sold at 18e.. 9d. per cwt. In
Coffee the home trade is dull, but for export there
has been a brisk demand, the sales amounting to
80 tierces Jamaica, 150 bags Ceylon, 250 bags
Brazil, and 4,000 bags St. Domingo. Of Tea there
is not much offering, but good congous are in
request, and fine greens are improving, and holders
are firm. In Rum and Spices little or nothing
doing. Of Rice the sales amount to 50 tierces
Carolina at 215.. to 225., 1,200 bags Arracan,. at
9s. 6d., 400 bags Madras at 9s. 6d., and a small
quantity Bengal at 9s. 6d. to lls. 9d. per cwt. In
Guano, the trade in Peruvian has been confined
to second hands, owing to the importers declining
to make further sales, and prices have ruled at
£0 15s to £lO per ton. About 500 tons Bolivian
have changed hands at £7 rs. 6d. to £7 106... per
ton. Linseed is not so firm. In Turpentine and
1:551„ tt....i...mannted to
2,540 Buenos Ayres. In Olive Oil little doing..
Sperm Oil in moderate request. Of Seal and Cod
Oil the sales were 50 tuns. Of Palm Oil 200 tuns
on the spot, sold at £33 ss. to £33 10s., and 300
tuns to arrive, at the latter rate. In Tallow a small
trade, at 465. for Y.C.; other kinds scarce. The
sales of Jute amounted to 800 bales, at £lB 17s. 6d.
to £2l 10s. per ton.—The occurrence of Good
Friday caused a close of the markets on Thursday,
and business was not resumed until To-DAY„whicb,
being Easter Monday, induced very little activity.
Of Sugar we have only to notice a small parcel of
Bengal, at 395. 6d. for Benares,. and 375. per cwt.
for Dates; and no sales in Molasses or Rum.. No-
thing doing in Coffee; but several parcels are adver-
tised for public sale to-morrow (Tuesday). Very
little activity in the Tea market, but prices are
unaltered. No offer was made for the Java Rice
brought to auction this morning, but by private
sale 450 bags Bengal are reported at 98.6 d. to 93. 9d.
per cwt. for broken. A. small parcel of Saltpetre
sold at 255. 6d. to 265. 6d. per cwt. ;, 50 tons Cam-
peachy Logwood, at £7. 17s. 6d to £8 per ton ; and
35 cases yellow Castor Oil, at 31 d.. per lb.
COTTON.—The firmness which was apparent in
the early part of last week was not maintained
throughout; yet, though the market was brought
to a close on Thursday, the total amount of sales
was a fair average. American, particularly of the
lower qualities, was freely on offer, and prices, in
some instances, slightly gave way. Surat was also
dull, but Brazil and Egyptian without change.
To-DAY the market opened with an improved
demand from the Trade at prices fully equal to
those of last week. The sales amounted to about
9,000 bales, of which about 3,000 were on specula-,
tion and for export. The advises per Cambria,
from Boston, have not yet come to hand, but the
market closed with firmness.

SALES. IMPORTS.
Week
-----, r----,,----,
DESCRIPTION., PRICES. Week Preri. Week This STOCK.
ending ously ending Year.
Mar 24. this yr. Mar 24. ' Mar. 24.
--
d. d.
Sea Island 164(432 760 4300
Stained 44 12 80 450 2322 168728\
Boweds 42 6a 9220, 109180' 527240
Mobile 44 6* 5850 628301} 7064 344782
New Orleans. 4 9 15460 2257901
Pernams, 84c.! 6-a. BAracati, &c 6* 1
i 120801 15254 } 14991 } 15720
....
Bahia, &c.
Maranhant
Sauginned — , ,
Demerara, &c ' 3 40 90, .... 1111 180
Egyptian I 5-1 14 1870 300601 .. „ 21839, 96360
Barbadoes
•• • • ••• • l'
Peruvian — ••• • ' I 1
Laguayra..
Com. W.I.&C 6* 70 21701 .... 752'
Cartliagena — ....1
Smyrna.... ....
Manilla
Surat
111adras
Bengal 3i no ..., .... 280 1110
-- -- --
43540 5169601 9386 614270 768394

WooL.—The anticipated short supply, for the
want of labour, from our Australian Colonies sub-
sides on every account which reaches us ; the influx
of emigration from all quarters creates more abun-
dant labour, and it is now confidently anticipated
there will be a full average amount brought forward
at the next series of public sales in London, which
is expected to come off in May. During the past
week we have had a tolerable amount of business
doing in this market, considering the lightness of
stock and the very small amount of Imports, which
fall considerably short of the demand, via., 266
Bales Irish, 13 Portugal, and 131 from the Medi-
terranean ;ports : there is scarcely any description
coming to the market but finds ready sale at very
satisfactory prices, particularly low useful wools,
suitable for combing purposes, such as Egyptian,
Bosnia, Scopia, Oporto, &c. Stocks of English
and Irish very meagre ; of the latter the country
is almost cleared : good farmers' parcels of one-
third Hog are now worth 21s. per stone; Skin, little
offering, and prices have still an upward tendency.
IRON .—There has been very little doing, and no
changes worthy of note. Scotch Pigs were quoted
to-day, at Glasgow, at 535. 6d.

FREE EMIGRATION.—SO successful was the arrange
went at Mr. Henry Russell's last concerts, of giving away
free emigration tickets to Australia, that he has announced
another series, a ith similar advantages, three weeks hen, e.
LORD HUNTINGTOWER. The long-pending action
against Lord Huntingtower, at the instance of the re-
lieving officers of Lambeth, for the recovery of £l9B for
the maintenance of a lady alleged to be his wife and his
three children, for eighty-eight weeks, took place on
Saturday. His lordship swore that they had never been
married, and that he had never said anything to justify
such a supposition. The jury thereupon returned a ver.
diet for the defendant.

PRESENTATION TO LADY BENT OF THE
PORTRAIT OF SIR JOHN BENT.

On Wednesdey evening, the committee appointed by
subscribers, met at the house of Sir John, and presented
to Lady Bent, through their chairman, James Parker,
Esq., a full-length portrait of Sir John Bent, in his
official robes as mayor of this borough—an office which he
held on the occasion of the visit to Liverpool of her
Mjesty. In the discharge of his duties on that impor-
tant occasion he sustained, with dignity and with credit to
himself and satisfaction to the public, the exalted position
in which, by the kindness of his fellow-townsmen, he had
been placed.
The CHAIRMAN, in a feeling speech, alluded to the hi Ali
estimation in which Sir John is held by his fellow-towns-
men, and the satisfaction it gave him, as chairman, to
present so masterly a work of art to her ladyship.
The MAYOR, SAMUEL HOLME, Esq., in an eloquent
speech, expressed the pleasure it gave him to take part
in so interesting a ceremony. He eulogised the painting,
considering it a most faithful likeness, and as such he was
sure it would be treasured not only by Lady Balt, but
also by others who are near and dear to him.
R. C. GARDINER., Esq., handed to Lady Bent a list of
the subscribers, stating that it contained the names of
nearly all the members of the council, and concluded by a
speech full of kindly feeling towards Sir John and his
family.
The handsome present was courteously acknowledged
by Lady Bent, and the company was suhsequentiy ad-
dressed, in the most feeling manner, by Sir John Bent.
The portrait, which is of full life size, reflects the
highest credit on Mr. Westcott, who has shown, in this
instance, that he is not simply a portrait painter, but an
artist. The position and attitude of the figure are striking
and appropriate, while the unobtrusiveness of the acces-
sories concentrates the attention of the spectator upon
the principal object. There are few large portraits which
display so much genuine taste and skill, and Liverpool
may be proud of both the painter and his subject.

POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY.

CAPTURE OF COINERS.-At the Police Court, yester-
day, John Lyon, a miserable looking Irishman, and his
wife, Bridget Lyons, were brought up under the following
circumstances. About ten o'clock o❑ Saturday night the
male prisoner attempted to pass a base sixpence at the
shop of Mr. Wells, Curry-street. He was secured and
given in charge. The police at once repaired to his lodg-
ings in Eldon-street, and in a poverty-striken and dirty
room they found several counterfeit shillings and six-
pences, a plaster mould for casting the spurious coin,
several files, and a bottle containing a liquid used in the
finishing process. The female prisoner being found in
the room, was also apprehended. When called upon for
his defence, the husband said the sixpence, which he
attempted to pass, was given to him by his wife ; and " he
didn't know no more than that, not a hap'orth, good,
bad, or indifferent." The woman declared that " her
man was innocent as the babe unborn ; for the money,
which she thought was good until she saw it was bad;
an' the mould, an' the files, an' the bottle, were all left,
sure, by Joe Clich, who had gone away, the Holy Virgin
knew where l"—Committed for trial.

ASSAULT.—A respectably dressed man, named Thomas
Murray, was convicted in the penalty of £5 for violently
assaulting Ellen Malloy,in Tithebarn-street, on Saturday.
PASSING COUNTERFEIT COlN.—Mary Carroll, for
attempting to pass two counterfeit sixpences at the shop
of Mr. Richardson, Scotland-road, on Saturday night,
was committed for trial. _

STABBING.—Denis Darby was charged with stabbing
Elvrard 111`Loughlin, on Sunday evening. The prisoner
e,terad the house of the prosecutor, whom ho knocked
down with a hatc:iet, and then stabbed him in the right
leg.—Remanded until M'Loughlin, who is at present
confined to his bed from the effects of his injuries, is able
to attend.

STREET ROBBERY.—A disgraceful woman, named Ann
Jones, was committed to hard labour for three months,
for stealing a watch from the pocket of John Malloy,
while in Camden-street.

CAUTION TO HOUSE-KEEPERS.—MichaeI Kennedy.
for stealing two coats, a vest, and a handkerchief, the
property of Mr. John Steele, 23, Stanhope-street, from
the lobby of his house, on Saturday night; and George
Boyton, for stealing two top-coats, the properly of George
Patterson, from the lobby of Mrs. Jane Stevenson's
house, Renshaw-street, were each committed for three
months to hard labour.

POCKET Ptc-sriNG.—JaneWard and Elizabeth Pearson,
for picking the pocket of Mrs. Jane Williams, Shrewsbury,
of 83. 6d., while in St. John's Market, on Saturday last,
were each sentenced to one month's imprisonment.

THE BRITISH AND. NORTH AMARIC AN MArt-SHIP'
EUROPA, Shannon, commander, took her departure for
New York, on Saturday morning, with fifty-three passen-
gers, and a full cargo, besides the usual mails on board.'""
GARROTTE ROBBERY' IN LIVERPOOL.—OR Saturday
morning, about one o'clock, Mr. Kelly, a collector em-
ployed by Mr. Hobbs, of Everton, was garrotted by two
men, near Burlington-bridge, who robbed him of £4, corn-,
posed principally of half-crowns.
SUDDEN DEATH.—On Friday afternoon, Mr. Henry
Latham, of 6, Benson-street, fell down in a fit, in the•
yard adjoining his own house, and died in a short time af-
terwards. He had long been ill of rheumatic fever, and his
death had been expected.
EITRAOEtDINNRY PRICES FOR WINE. —A private stock
of win^s, sold by Messrs. Winstanley, on Saturday, at
No. 26, Abercromby-square, produced the following
extraordinary prices :—Moulds sherry 625, E. I. Madeira
87S, port, in quarts, from 45s to 1545, ditto, in magnums,
180 a to 1965, claret from 74s to 120 s, ditto, in magnums.
1965, ditto, in jeroboams, 50s per bottle.

COLLISION IN THE RIVER.—At the Admiralty Court,
on Thursday, the question as to whether the owners of
the Montreal, which came into collision when in charge
of a pilot, in river Mersey, on the 26th November
last, were, under the Liverpool Pilot Act, released from
responsibility, was decided in favour of the owners, the
32nd section of the Act holding the pilot responsible.
MURDER ON SHIPBOARD.—The brig William Thrift,
took her departure hence for Constantinople on Tuesday.
Early the next morning one of the crew murdered his
companion on the watch, by shattering his skull with the
cook's exe. The murderer then jumped overboard, taking
with.him a studding-sail boom. In the darkness and
confusion on board it could not be ascertained what wrs
his fate ; but the natural conclusion is that he was drowned.

THE PROCEEDS OF THE FREEMASONS' BALL, which
took place in the Town-hall in February last, for behoof
of the West Lancashire institution for -the relief and as-
sistance in life of the children of poor and distressed Free-
masons, amount to the handsome and unprecedented sum
of X 250 Os. Bd.

AN IRISH LABOURER. and his wife were apprehended
on Tuesday last, charged with stealing servants' livery
and other clothing, carried off some-months ago from
several houses in the neighbourhood of Woolton. Pro-
perty was found in their possession, onpawn tickets for
property, belonging to Mr. Moss. of Otterspool, Mr.
Brocklebank, of Allerton, and Miss Lightbody,of Garston.
The robbers were committed for trial on Saturday.
MR. WILLIS, clerk in the Craven Bank, Burnley, com-
mitted suicide an the morning of Saturday week. He
was found lying on the floor of an outhouse at Bank-hall,
an open book lying near him, his throat cut, and a
loaded pistol, a razor, and some poison upon his person.
Mr. Willis had been suffering from severe organic disease
of the bowels, accompanied with extreme depression of
the spirits.

THE CITY OP. DUBLIN STEAM PACKET CO-MPANY AND
THEIR SERVANTS.—About a week since, the servants in
the employ of the City of Dublin Steam Company, struck
for an advance of wages, and also complained of other
nlleppd gri Punnet' We understand that a meeting of the
directors and managers of the company will be held in
Dublin to-day, for the purpose of hearing a statement
from the men, relative to the grievances of which they
are complaining.
LIVERPOOL CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCRIPTURE
READERS' SOC?ETY.—A second room, in connexion
with the inquiring class for Roman Catholics and Protes-
tants, conducted by the Rev. Joseph Bardsley, was opened
on Friday. We understand that the average attendance
-of Roman Catholics is about 500 a week. The Protestant
operatives who have also been accustomed to attend the
meetings, being anxious to show their appreciation of the
services of the Rev. J. Bardsley, presented him, on Fri-
day evening, with neatly-bound copies of " ott's
Commentaries," 6 vols., " Horne's Introduction," 6 vols.,
and " Gibson's Preservative," 8 vols. The presentation was
accompanied with their hearty good wishes and prayersthat
God would continue to bless him and make him a blessing.
A MELASCHOLY COLLIERY EXPLOSION, by means of
which between forty and fifty human lives have been lost,
took place on Wednesday last, in a coal mine called the
Arley Mine, one of the pits belonging to the Ince-hall
Coal and Cannel Company, at Ince, near Wigan. Between
five and six o'clock on Wednesday morning, the colliers
(about 100 in number), were lowered into the Arley Mine.
At noon, about sixty of them assembled to get dinner,
and, whilst these were absent, a terrific explosion took
place, followed by a great rush of air up each shaft ; and,
such was the violence of the shock that, though the
workings are more than 400 yards below the surface of
the earth, the furniture in different houses, at a distance
of more than 300 yards from the pits' mouths, was shaken.
It was two o'clock, the explosion having occurred at
twenty minutes after one, before the state of the air ena-
bled any person to descend, at which time, Jones, the
underlooker, and H. Burrell, underlooker of an adjoining.
mine, with some other men who volunteered, went down.
A dreadful sight presented itself. Dead and wounded
men lay in different directions; the air-doors and other
stoppings were blown down, and everything seemed a per-
fect wreck. About half-past four, Mr. James Darlington,
with a large body of men, descended to enter the work-
ings. All who were found alive were twenty-seven ; and
the number lost is supposed fo be from forty to fifty. Of
the survivors, some were bruised, others burned, and: all
in a state of exhaustion, With one exception, they. were
all able to walk home afterwards. One of the poor men
who was brought out of- the pit, named Taberner, a fire-
man, was in a state of great grief. He said that he had
two sons in the pit :, one had just expired on his knee,
the other he believed to be dead. It is supposed that the
accident arose from the carelessness of one of the men in
charge of the ventilation of the pit. On Thursday even-
ing another man, greatly exhausted, but still alive, was
taken out of the pit. The inquest was opened befere Mr.
Driffield on Friday, when the only witness examined was
Mr. Darlington. The most important feature of his evi-
dence was the following :—" Soon after the accident, 1
saw Jones, the underlooker. He appeared to have been
down in the pit some time that morning, and said that he
had been pushing on the men who were repairing the
guide rods of the upcast shaft. I said to him, ' What
has happened ?' He replied, ` The pit has fired.' I
asked him what they had been doing. He said that the
cage in the upcast shaft had got fast, and remained so
three hours ; that he had had the joiners to set it right,
and that the furnace had been down. I said, • How
came you to do such a mad thing as to let down the fur-
nace when 'the men are in the pit, when you have no
steam jet, as they have at the Pemberton pits ?'- He
said that the cages and ropes would not work, and it was
not safe to get the men out. I asked him why he did
not send word to me. He said, • I thought there was no
danger, sir.' I asked him if he had fired up the furnace
without having a report upon the return current. and he
said that the man who attended to it had done so. The man
could not execute the repairs in the shaft without the fur-
nace being allowed to go low, so as to diminish the draught.
After the cage was let loose, eight cagefuls of men, 64 in
number, had been brought up. Had the explosion occur-
red a few minutes sooner, all these would have been killed."
The inquest was adjourned until Thursday. During
the whole of last Friday night and Saturday, a large num-
ber of men have continued working in the mine,. repairing
the air-ways, removing rubbish, and searching for the
missing bodies. The main air-ways have been penetrated
to the extreme ends. The search on Friday night has
thrown much light on the cause of the explosion. We
learn that Mr. Darlington is now of opinion that the ex-
plosion was confined to one spot, in the north workings,
and about eight hundred yards from the furnace, where it
was at first thought the damp had fired. The gas appears to
have accumulated at that place in consequence of the course
of ventilation having been changed by leaving open one of
two air doors immediately adjoining the seat of the explo-
sion, Thesurviving firemen state that, from theirknowledge
of the pit, they are of opinion that the natural ventilation
of it would have prevented an accumulation of gas to an
extent sufficient to cause such an explosion at that point,
even with the furnace lowered or out for the time men-
tioned, had the air-doors been kept closed, and the other
stoppings in their usual state. Of course, if Jones be
guilty of gross negligence in causing the furnace to be
lowered, this explanation will not free him from blame,
because the reduction of the ventilating power would lead
to a much more rapid accumulation of gas than would
have been caused by the leaving open of the air-doors.
Since Friday night four more bodies have been found.
Up to the time the inquest closed there were forty dead
bodies taken out of the pit, and on Saturday morning
Robert Amscough, one of the injured men, died. He
was unmarried and twenty-three years of age. There are
thus forty-one dead bodies, besides the four who were
last found in the pit. Most of the bodies were interred
on Sunday. We are informed that the company are find-
ing coffins for all killed in this sad accident, and giving
45 in each Case,