The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-12-04 00:00:00

DEATH FROM BURNING

An inquest was held on Tuesd;;.Oliil;e body of Joseph
Warring Dixon, aged 18 months. The deceased is another
melancholy instance of the death of a child by fire. He was
only left by his mother for a moment, but in her absence his
clothes were set on fire and his death ensued.

DEATH FROM VIOLENCE

An inquest was held yesterday, at the coroner's office, on
view of the body of Joseph Frost. Joseph Burrell, a police-
officer, said, that about half-past twelve o'clock on the night
of the 16th November, he was on duty in Dale-street and
neighbourhood, when he heard some person call out for the
police. He was then going up Hatton-garden with a prisoner
to bridewell, whom he left in charge of some other officers,
and went to the bottom of the street, and found the de-
ceased standing in the middle of the street. Blood was flow-
ing from his nose, and he had a cut on the eye-brow. He told
witness he had been knocked down by some men, and was
kicked while he was down. The men who had knocked him
down made their escape before witness came up. John Guy,
another officer, said that on the night in question, he saw a
crowd in Whitechapel, and on going up, he saw a man or the
ground, drunk and unable to walk. He and another officer
took him up Preston-street, for the purpose of taking him to
bridewell When about half way up the street, the man be-
gan to he very rough. Witness did not observe deceased
till he was brought hurt as described to the bridewell. Joseph
Clarke, another officer, saw the deceased at the bridewell,
and took him to the dispensary. He said he had been
knocked down and kicked, he having seen a man very rough
in the hands of the officers. Elizabeth Frost, wife of the
deceased, said he was 45 years old. He told her a similar
story. He got worse next day, and was obliged to take his
bed. He complained of his body and head, and his head
swelled a great deal. He was attended by a surgeon up .to
the time of his death. on
Longbottom, surgeon of Wednesday morning. Mr. G.
the Dispensary, attended the de-
ceased from the first. He was of opinion that the deceased
died from inflammation of the brain, arising from the injury
to the nose. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that
the deceased died from that cause; but how or by whom the
injury was inflicted, there was no evidence to show.

CASE OF MANSLAUGHTER

An adjourned inquest was held yesterday, touching the
death of a man named Lawrence Work, the evidence on
which, as adduced on Monday last, we supplied in our paper
of the following day. No further evidence having been
brought forward, the jury returned a verdict of " Man-
slaughter against some person or persons unknown." The
deceased, it will be remembered, came to his death by being
struck with a paving stone on the head, in Drury-lane, by
apparently a foreign seaman.

CORRESPONDENCE.

PASTORAL AID SOCIETY

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sin.,—l have read with much interest the correspondence
and articles which have appeared in the newspapers relative
to the refusal of the Pastoral Aid Society to sanction the
nomination of Mr. Browne, who applied for the society's
grant. The defence of the society which has appeared in
your paper is more than satisfactory ; but the official letter
of the local secretary, inserted in the Courier of to-day, must
remove every doubt, as to the propriety of the society's
conduct, from the mind of the most prejudiced opponent.
Will you allow me to inquire what is the extent of the soci-
ety's operations, wherein it differs from the Additional Cu-
rates Society, and whether it has been formed under the
approval of the heads of the church ; for if it possesses the
latter, I cannot conceive what can justify the sneers of Mr.
Browne and others about a " lay association." The deter-
mination of the society to possess testimonials as to the
qualifications of any applicant, satisfactory to the committee,
cannot but be commended by every impartial person. Such
a line of conduct gives security to the subscribers that their
funds will be rightly appropriated, and an additional guaran-
tee to the church that the spiritual interests of the people
will be properly looked after.—Yours, &c.,

A MEAII3ER OF THE CEIUIiaOF ENGLAND
Dec. 2d, 1840.

[The grants of the Pastoral Aid Society are made for the
purpose of providing clergymen and lay assistants in districts
where they are required, and of affording pecuniary assist-
ance for the erection or fitting up of a chapel in some pre-
viously-neglected spot. The operations of the society are at
present as follows :—lncumbents aided, 275. Population
under their charge, 2,035,557; average population to each,
7,375 ; average income of incumbents, £363 ;—at a charge
on the society of £20,338, whilst its income for the past year
was £16,176. In our own county 61 clergymen and three
lay assistants are supported by the society. We know no-
thing of the Additional Curates Society, but we are satisfied
that there is abundant scope for its labours; and, whilst we
shall never disparage its, motives or objects, we shall not suf-
fer an unfounded charge against a kindred society to remain
unexposed. The Pastoral Aid Society numbers amongst its
warm supporters the Bishops of Chester, Ripon, Winchester,
Bath and Wells, Llandaff, Peterborough, and other dignita-
ries of the church. Lord Sandon, John Hardy, Esq., and
J. P. Plumptre, Esq., M.P., are amongst its vice-presidents.
—En. L. S.l

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

SIR,—I observe in your publication of Tuesday last a letter
signed " Justitia," the writer of which has made a false and
diStorted statement of a circumstance that took place at the
Walsh dinner, on Monday, the 23d ult. It is stated that one
of the guests at the table imposed upon your assistant reporter
" names and titles of his own fabrication." It is also in-
sinuated that a young man in company furnished your reporter
with " scraps of notes," which were handed to him 'by a
preceptor who was bound by nature and duty to show him a
good example." As I have reason to believe lam both the
guest and the young man alluded to, I beg to give the state-
ment the most unqualified contradiction, and dare the base
and anonymous calumniator to substantiate his charge. The
list I handed in to your reporter I am prepared to prove was
the correct one; but that which did appear in your journal
was not mine. And here I would remark, that whatever the
feelings of " Justitia" may be upon differences in political
opinions, I have far too much respect for gentlemen occupying
exalted stations to offer them any insult, however opposed
they may be to my political or religious sentiments. I have
ever been taught by my natural preceptor to reverence truth,
and to walk in the paths of honesty, integrity, and upright-
ness, and I hope to guide my way by his precepts, to imitate
his example, and walk in his steps. Should the principles
-I,qtted by " • -" h his

Justitia Je in accordance wit_ base and
mfathous insinuations, I cannot but entertain great fears for
the temporal prosperity of his unhappily circumstanced
pupils.-1 wait for the proof of his charges, and subscribe,
FIAT JUSTITIA.

-..5X...-

THE PASTORAL. AID SOCIETY

3 THE EDITOR OF THE COURIER,

Sire,—lt was not till Tuesday morning last that I became
possessed of the correspondence upon the subject of the
Church Pastoral Aid Society, published in the Mail of the pre.
vious week. Though able defenders have already appeared, yet
I have deemed it of importance that the clerical secretary of
the association of the society established in this town should
comment upon the transaction ; and therefore, at my earliest
leisure, have allowed myself to address you.

The facts of the society's origin are 'simply these :—some
good men, witnessing the spiritual destitution ot the country,
determined to provide funds by which incumbents might be
enabled to pay additional curates or lay assistants. They
contributed nobly themselves,—they solicited others, and
succeeded in raising an ample store, which they distributed
as freely as they received it. They had no intention of affect-
ing the existing system of ordination. Many of the bishops
supported them ; incumbents, es they chose, applied for
grants, the committee merely requiring, for the sake of those
whose almoners they were, satisfaction as to the characters
of those whom they were to support.
At an early stage of existence, their plan was assailed as
trenching upon ecclesiastical principles, by many good men,
of what I call ultra church principles. The society, however,
upheld by good men of other principles, held fast the plan
which in its simplicity had been adopted, unconscious of hav-
ing adopted a plan opposed to ecclesiastical principles ; while,
what kindly men have ever called the sister society—the
Additional Curates' Fund Society—sprung up in consistency
with the principles of the second party.
Approving of the principles of the Church Pastoral Aid
Society, the Rev. J. Clark applies to the committee, and ob-
tains a grant of XBO, the usual condition being understood—
that the committee must be satisfied as to the qualifications,
Christian and ministerial, of the gentleman who shall be no—
minated.

Two brief letters 'are submitted. Purposing to be com-
mendatory, they could not contain less than they did. One
was from a respectable clergyman of our town. It consists
of one sentence, though that of course, a comprehensive one :
life, conversation, views, and doctrines are summarily stated
to be correct. The second was from a clergyman probably
equally respectable, though I conceive not much known in
Liverpool. It simply states, that Mr. Browne is a consci-
entious man, and a devoted admirer and supporter of the
ritual and discipline of the church ; the first portion of which
comma ndati ,n might apply to many men not qualified for
the ministry; the second portion, though not necessarily,
might merely describe one, a stickler for rubical precision,
who might possess little acquaintance with the substance or
the spirit of the Gospel. More was evidently required.
To these testimonials the diocesan appends his• counter-
sign, to the effect, that they who gave them are beneficed
clergymen of the diocese, who will only state whit they be-
lieve to be true. On the face of this countersign it appears,
that his lordship knows nothing of Mr. Browne.
And here I venture to appeal both to laity and clergy,
whether these testimonials were not too meagre and limited,
both in quantity and quality, to permit any committee of
Christian men to determine upon the qualifications of the
nominee. This was their conceded duty. How could it be
discharged? And here it becomes important to observe an
error in the newspapers of last week, which speak of Mr.
Wray's letter having been presented to the committee as a
testimonial. This was not the case.

While, however, the committee is thus meagrely supplied,
another aspect is thrown over the case in the country. The
Rev. C. Wray submits, in the capacity of a friend, a cordial
recommendation of Mr. Browne to the Bishop of Ripon ;
and his lordship, upon the strength of the testimonials thus
reinforced, confirmed, we may perhaps permit ourselves to
say, by the premature assumption of Mr. Clark that the
society was satisfied with Mr. Browne, and having in reserve
the examination for orders to correct any possible error, de-
clares his readiness to admit Mr. Browne to orders.
But how stands the matter before the committee? They
decline to conclude upon such limited testimonials ; and, to
Mr. Clark's surprise, inform him, that the testimonials are
satisfactory as far as they go, but something more explicit
and decided as to Christian character and qualifications is
required.

Mr. Clark requests to knew what the committee mean by
Christian chal'acter and qualifications ; a request which, on
the lips of a respectable minister of the church, must mean,
I conceive, that Mr. C. imagines that he has already fully
answered the question. But I maintain, that save in the
single line of Mr. Stafford, nothing has yet been said of the
peculiar features of a Christian character.
Where, then, are the committee to look for some account
of the conversation of Mr. Browne? Who will speak for
his meekness and gentleness ; his good report and evil re-
port, the signs of an apostle ; his temperance and soberness;
his love of good men ; to add to the evidence which, satis-
factory so far as it goes, is almost entirely silent upon these
points ?_

Mr. Clark's next letter brings no additional testimonials.
He is perplexed by having prematurely hired premises and
obtained the promise of the Bishop of Ripon, without, it
should seem, having exactly stated to his lordship the stage
in which the transaction rests. He declares that he has
consulted, according to duty, his diocesan prior to recom-
mending Mr. Browne to the committee ; and that he, being
satisfied, presumes the committee " will not be guilty of in-
sulting his lordship." And again, " how the committee can
have further satisfaction, save upon his (Mr. Browne's) own
assurance, he declares he knows not."

The upshot of Mr. Clark's communication is simply, that
the meagrely-supplied table of the committee must now wait
for such a statement as Mr. Browne shall supply of himself.
But here it is necessary to observe, that the precipitancy of
Mr. Clark has so far perplexed matters, that except the
transaction be distinctly viewed, a fair occasion might appear
to exist of charging the committee with contumacy towards a
spiritual superior. But if he has perplexed himself, we must
not suffer the question to be perplexed. We repeat, up to
this moment, the fundamental rule of the society remained
unsatisfied • a rule which Mr. Clark himself pronounced to
be good, and which his lordship, most doubtless, felt to be
reasonable, when he eloquently pleaded the cause of the
society in the spring of the year. Two meagre letters were
all they possessed ; and were Christian men, upon such tes-
timonials, to take a step which should make them the instru-
ments of supplying a young man with his first title for orders ?
How should they be answerable to those whose almoners they
were ? The Additional Curates Society committee might
consistently, without testimonials, distribute their funds :
the Church Pastoral Aid committee, being pledged to demand
testimonials, were likewise pledged to obtain such as should
be satisfactory. • _- -

The committee come then to the letter of Mr. Browne,
containing his own assurances with respect to character,
which Mr. Clark trusts will be perfectly satisfactory, and
make up in explicitness the deficiencies of the previous testi-
monials.

-I;i;ii briefly analyse its ingredients. It commences by a
pointedly uncourteous expression, when the history of the so-
ciety is remembered—speaking of it as one assuming the
name of a church association. The demand for testimonials
of spiritual-mindedness is confused, in his mind, apparently,
with a demand to scrutinise the thoughts of the heart. A
total unconsciousness appears of the concise and general na-
ture of the testimonials submitted. Then comes the state-
ment of his views, which contain much that is correct and
good, and are at the same time, of the transcendental,orultra
church description : and all is concluded with a statement of
objection on principle, I conceive, to submit such a confession
of faith and practice, to what is termed " a lay association."
Now, sir, I imagine, with such testimonials of the charac-
ter of Mr. Browne before them, the committee were perfectly
justified in refusing to sanction his nomination. To com-
pensate for the deficiency of existing testimonials, the letter
of this gentleman expresses his slight or contemptuous opi-
nion of the society, of whose funds he is ready to partake; a
strange sensitiveness on the score of dealing with the com-
mittee ; a distinct disapprobation of one fundamental rule of
their system ; all concluded with a statement of hi 3 views,
which, however correct in many points, and capable of whole-
some application when held by a person of discretion, the
society has, as a whole, disclaimed as erroneous and mischiev-
ous. What was there in such a letter to supply the deficiency
of the previous testimonials ? Was there much gentleness
of spirit in the slights poured upon a society consisting of
Christian men ? Was there much wisdom in the interpreta-
tion of their request for testimonials of character ? I confess,
I think there is a want of delicacy, at all events want of judg-
ment, in being ready to receive pecuniary support from a
society whose principles 'le disliked. Was there, everything
considered, due prospect of those high views stated being held
with discretion ? The answer, therefore, would scarcely, I
conceive, surprise Mr. C., that the committee must decline
to sanction the nomination of Mr. Browne.
I shall not attempt to discover the exact meaning of Mr.
Clark's unwarrantable accusation preferred against the so-
ciety, tbat " of obtaining money under false pretences." In

conclusion, I simply repeat that no such testimonials u 1h s
of necessity to be required for such an occasion hadbeealtib-
matted to the committee. It is possible that the friends of
Mr. Browne, on principle, declined to supply such testimo-
nials. Mr. Wray takes the particular step (one, of course,
which there could be no harm in taking, although not cus-
tomary) of submitting a testimonial of his own composition
to the Bishop of Ripon. I think I may say, he would never
have submitted such a testimonial to the committee of the
Church Pastoral Aid Society.
With one further remark I shall conclude. It is evident
that there are different views of church principles existing
among churchmen. Is it not possible to hold either class of
principles, yet be at peace with those who think differently ?
There may be a call for the solemn and simple protest against
that which is deemed erroneous; there is always opportunity
for the energetical carrying out of the principles peculiarly
our own. The Pastoral Aid Society is ready to assist those
who agree with her in principle ; the Additional Curates So-
ciety will afford scope for the liberality, or supply funds for
the necessities, of her friends. I, for my part, am ready to
say, if you will not give to the Pastoral Aid Society, give to
the Additional Curates Fund. Why, then, this hostility ?
Whence this attempt to extract from petty miscarriage, if it
might be found, confutation of principk ? Why does Mr.
Browne, disapproving of the principles of the Church Pasto-
ral Aid. Society, first embarrass and then insult her members ?
Why does Mr. Clark, subsequent to an embarrassment,
drawn down upon himself by precipitancy, begin to talk of
orthodox societies ? Why has an occasion been sought out
of these circumstances to embroil two great parties of which
the church consists ? It should seem there are "brouillons"
among us, who have found occasion to talk largely of the in:
suit offered to two of our bishops. Those eminent prelates,
however, possess too much.both of piety and discernment, it
may be safely said, and, by_ spe advantage of high station,
will be too advantageously circumstanced for the right be-
lieving of the several facts, to suffer themselves to be betrayed
into the suspicion of a want of respect on the part of those
from whose thoughts it was farthest.—Faithfully yours,

C. W. LAWRENCE,
Chaplain of St. Luke's, Secretary to the
Liverpool Association of the Church
Pastoral Aid Society.
Liverpool, Nov. 30, 1840.

LATE

ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON AND BIR-
MINGHXM RAILWAY.

IMPORTANT VERDICT OF THE CORONER'S JURY

HARROW STATION, DEC. 2.—The coroner and jury re-
sumed the investigation in this case last night at 6 o'clock.
As soon as the names of the jurors had been called over,
the coroner read a letter from Mr. Howlett, the surgeon
attending Quinlan, who, it will be recollected, was stoker to
the deceased Simpson. The letter stated the opinion of the
writer, that Quinlan was sufficiently recovered to be exa-
mined. The evidence of Quinlan was then entered into.
after which the coroner addressed the jury at considerable
length, commenting as he proceeded on the varions parts of
the evidence.

The court was then cleared of strangers, and after a dis-
cussion of nearly three hours again opened, when at 12
o'clock the foreman read to an audience, who listened with
the most intense anxiety, the following special verdict
" We find a verdict in the case of William Dawson,
Wilful murder against Joseph Simpson,' and in the case of
Joseph Simpson 'Feb ckVse. We impose a deodand of
£2OOO on the engine and tenders No. 15 and No. 82.
" With respect to Bradburne, the jury have felt consider-
able difficulty in not agreeing to a verdict of manslaughter,
and they beg to express their sense of the great impropriety
of his leaving his engine without putting it on the siding, and
of his leaving it at all in the situation which proved so dan-
gerous."

Mr. Rotch, the foreman, then read the following observa—
tions of the jury :
" The jury cannot conclude their labours without express.
ing their surprise and regret at the manifest inefficiency of
the executive of the company as connected with the matters
that have come before them in this inquiry. The directors
seem to have passed and printed many excellent rules and
regulations, which have been neglected to be carried out and
enforced, while in some instances printed instructions have
been given to a class of men unable, for want of education, to
read them ; and in some cases persons appear to have been
put on as drivers of engines, having the whole conduct of the
trains, without being duly qualified for the purpose.
"The jury consider that great blame is attributable to the
directors for continuing in their service such a reckless driver
as the unfortunate man Simpson ; and they are forcibly
struck with the ignorance of the executive of the numerous
acts of disobedience and wanton carelessness on his part,
which have been produced before them in evidence.

"Considering the immense importance to the public of safe
conduct in a diode of conveyance overwhich they are deprived,
of all control, or, when in motion, even of the power of remon-
strance or complaint, and are entirely at the mercy of the en-
gine driver, the jury feel the public have a right to expect
that some person of superior education and attainments as an
engineer should be appointed as a captain of each train, to
proceed with it and conduct it to its final destination. The
night signals are evidently insufficient, and yet no efficient
means seem to have been adopted to improve them, while it
is evident that no security can be attained until a means of
communication between the guards and the engine drivers is
established. To all which matters the jury feel it is the boun-
den duty of the directors to turn their immediate and earnest
attention."

This verdict excited a very extraordinary sensation through-
out the court.

The Coroner then said, that in consequence of the verdict
that had just been returned, the inquisition would occupy a
considerable time, so as to be drawn up with the requisite
care and exactitude. He was therefore under the necessity
of requesting the gentlemen of the jury to come again upon
a future day for the purpose of signing the inquisition. After
the inquiry had been conducted with so much ability and
exemplary patience, it would he truly lamentable if the ob-
ject that they bad chiefly sought should be frustrated by not
having the inquisition properly drawn up, and they must
have seen how inquisitions had been set aside upon what he
must call frivolous pretences. He therefore wished for a
little time to prepare one which should stand the brunt of
future examination on inquiry elsewhere.
The jury entirely approved this forethought on the part
of the worthy coroner.

Mr. Rotel; and his colleagues now desired that Bradburne,
the driver of engine No. 15, should be sent for, in order to
have the foregoing verdict and remark read to him ; but,
upon inquiry, they found that Bradburne, as well as every
other person connected with the railway, bad hastily quitted
the premises.

CARLOW ELECTION-FIRST DAY'S POLLING.

MAJORITY FOR COL. BRUEN,-SEVENTY-NINE.

(From the Dublin Evening Mail of Wednesday.)
CAttLow. TUESDAY.—The polling commenced this day,
and, with the exception of a trilling assault, which arose out
of a misapprehension in bringing up a voter—not the slight-
est interruption took place—not a man is drunk, nor is there
the manifestation of that angry and virulent spirit which cha-
racterised former elections. A much better disposition ap-
pears to pervade the lower classes. The influence of the
?riests is obviously failing ; and the respect due to station
and property, as well as the gratitude for favours conferred,
due by the tenantry to their go .d and benevolent landlords,
is evidently reassuming its power in the minds of the pe ple.
Contrary to all anticipations, Col. Bruen has obtained the
enormous majority of seventy-nine on this day's poll, beat-
ing Mr. Ponsonby in all the booths ; and in one (Idrone) iu
a ratio of nearly eight to one. The most sanguine calculators
anticipated little more than a small majority on the first or
even the second day's polling at either side ; the rush of out-
voters not being expected to be made before Thursday ; but
to-day 40 electors polled for Col. Bruen, who had before voted
against him : thus turning the scale in his favour. The Cour-
town tenantry, whose address appeared in the Mail of Fri-
day, were escorted into town this morning, and polled for
Col. Bruen. The Kavanagh tenants,:who had been carried
off by the mob, and subsequently rescued, also voted for the
conservative candidate.

Priest Maher's ferocious speech yesterday disgusted every
one ; and, I really believe, did his own cause as much more
harm as it benefitted ours. The notorious falsehood of his
charges, and the exaggerated misstatements—known' to be
such by every one that heard them, Mr. Tyrrell inclusive—
recoiled upon himself. The answer of Colonel Bruen was
full, masterly, and conclusive ; and, based as his reply was
in truth—known to be such, even by his political opponents,
produced a powerful and most favourable effect.
The way in which government influence and money are
used, and the open and undisguised manner in which govern-
ment patronage and promotion is offered, will furnish de-
tails for future letters, and supply you with abundant food
for future comment

At the close of the poll this evening, the numbers an-
nounced by the Sheriff were—
Colonel Bruen
Mr. Ponsonby

It is confidently reported in the best informed military cir.
cies, that the 22d regiment has been placed:under orders for
Bengal, and we have reason to place confidence in the ru-
mour.— United Service Gazette.
Mr. Leonard Leathley, farmer, near Ripon, has a goose
which hatched thirteen fine goslings in April, and which dur-
ing the present month, has produced another brood nearly as
fine.

A correspondent informs us that a well-known horse-deal-
er, whose name he gives, is about to ship from Dover 1200
cavalry horses for the French government; at £26 each.—
Morning Post.
A splendid monument to the memory of Mrs. Fitzherbert
has been erected in the Roman catholic chapel at Brighton,
at the expense of the lion. Mrs. Seymour Damen It was
executed by Carew, and consists of a portrait figure kneeling
in prayer.

GENEROUS CONDUCT.—When the news of the safe ae-
couchement of her majesty reached Carlisle, a gentleman,
who is well known for his humane and charitable actions,
authorised Mr. Orridge, the governor of the gaol, to discharge
all debtors in his custody who were confined for sums under
£2O, he undertaking to pay the debt and costs in each case.
—Carlisle Patriot.

Orders have been received at Chatham to have all the men
belonging to the regiments in the East Indies got ready to
embark for their respective regiments in three weeks.—
Ministerial paper.
The Earl of Rothes was elected grand master of the grand
lodge of Scotland, on Monday last. Lord Frederick Fitz-
Clarence was elected deputy grand master at the same time.
The Admiralty have decided on having all the naval-yards
in the kingdom lighted with gas, in lieu of oil.
The first division of the 42d Highlanders 'embarked lon
Friday at the Cove, for service in the Mediterranean.
The Gloucester, 50 guns, and Eagle.
.50 guns, are ordered
o be got ready for sea at Chatham.—Mniesteral paper.

A METHODIST CHAPEL BLOWN UP BY GAS, AT HOLM-
FIRTH.—About half-past three o'clock in the afternoon of
Saturday last, the residents at New Town, Holmfirth, were
greatly alarmed by a tremendously loud noise, resembling the
explosion of fire arms, experiencing at the same time a tremor
of their houses, as though caused by an earthquake. Rushing
from their dwellings, to ascertain the cause of this unac-
countable shock, the affrighted inhabitants discovered that a
quantity of gas had exploded in the adjoining chapel, by
which the edifice had sustained very great destruction, almost
every window having been forced out ; a number of pews in
the lower part of the chapel were displaced, part of the floor-
ing was torn up, and other damage to an alarming extent oc-
casioned. Four individuals, who were in the building at the
time of the casualty, were all more or less injured. One of
them, a little boy, son of the chapel-keeper, was thrown a
considerable distance by the force of the gas, and, on being
picked up, was found to have suffered a severe fracture ofthe
thigh-bone, besides numerous bruises over the body. The
other three persons received various injuries, being considera-
bly burnt about the face, having the hair singed off the head,
&c. The cause of this terrible catastrophe may be briefly
hstaantdedsomtheulys:—anTahleighethead itpelhhas been recently fitted up very
gas. On the above-mentioned
afternoon, the chapel-keeper entered the building for the
purpose of putting a fire into the stove, taking two of his
children along with him. Finding the atmosphere strongly
impregnated with gas, and anxious to ascertain the cause of
the escape, he obtained the assistance of John Shaw, a
joiner, who, supposing the meter to be the part in fault, pro-
ceeded thither with a lighted candle. The gas having been
escaping for some time, the interior of the chapel was in all
probability entirely filled with it, and, of course, an imme-
diate and territic explosion was the awful consequence of in-
troducing a flame into the midst of it. It is calculated that
upwards of £lOO will be required to repair the disastrous
effects of Shaw's incaution.—Leads Intelligenter.

.10S

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