The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-06-20 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

MORE DISTURBANCES IN BERLIN.—STORMING OF TIIE
ARSENAL.—A fortnight ago, iron gates were erected at the
front entrance to the palace of Berlin, which, on the 14th
inst., were demolished. As soon as iey were torn down,
they were carried in triumph on the shoulders of a party
of young men to the University, where a great crowd bad
collected, who received the procession with loud cheering
and waving of hats. The gates were deposited in the hall,
where they were allowed to remain. The civic guards
have received orders to disperse all crowds, but to
distinguish between those . that are accidental and
malicious. The attempt to put an end to these
assemblies has already led to bloodshed. A crowd
was, on the 14th, ordered to disperse, when they
resolved to proceed to the arsenal, and obtain arms
thence. The crowd moved in a body, how led no one
could tell, towards the arsenal, and were closing round it
when two musket shots were fired by the civic guard,
and three men were killed. Whether the shots were
fired by the citizens or the regular troops, who hold the
building in their joint keeping, is not known. The mob
instantly fled, crying "To arms," and " Barricades,"
words which from thousands of voices have a terribly
strange sound. This had the effect of quieting the dis-
turbers for the night ; but next day further rioting
took place. The patrols no longer tried to disperse
the people, but conversed with them and rang their
steel ramrods in the barrels of the muskets to show that
they were unloaded. After drifting about for some time
the mob again collected round the arsenal and resolved to
storm it., but this was no easy matter. The heavy window
shutters are lined with thick plate-iron ; the doors are all
equally strong. But a large beam of timber was procured,
and, having been slung between a party of 30 or 40 men,
was applied to doors and windows in the manner of a
battering-ram. The shutters did their duty well, for
though the sound of the heavy blows could be heard a
considerable distance above the shouts of the people, and
were even mistaken for the reports of musketry, four
windows defied all the attacks ; glass and woodwork were
split and shattered ; but the the iron held out ; a fifth
gave way, and through it the crowd entered and in
a few minutes were in full possession of the building.
On the ground floor several pigs of lead, for bullets, were.
found and carried away. In the upper story the stocks
of muskets, about 800, were divided among the invading
party. The crowd held possession of the building until
one o'clock, and then retired. The city was in a state of
great alarm, and the military being called out only arrived
in time to see the last of the storming party leave the
building ; but they succeeded in rescuing a few muskets
from those who had stayed in the building a little too
long. The ministry are powerless both in the chamber
and out of doors ;• political and social disorder are deepen-
ing every day, and with them distress. The smaller
traders are sinking gradually into pauperism, and sturdy
..i.endicaucy is turning to theft.
TORNADO AT BERLIN.—On Tuesday a violent storm
took place in Berlin and the vicinity. Trees were uprooted,
the produce of whole tracts of garden ground is ruined,
and the cherry harvest is nearly annihilated ; the hail-
stones cut up every kind of tender vegetation, and the
fields of corn are beaten flat. At Potsdam there was a sad
loss of life ; it being a holyday, a number of pleasure boats
were sailing on the water called the Havel ; the hurricane
came so suddenly that several were blown completely over,
and many persons were drowned—the number not ascer-
tained. A mill on the property of the Prince of Prussia
in the vicinity was struck by lightning and burnt down,
the Prince himself being a spectator of the conflagration
Two how:e3 in the city were also struck, but without much
damage. Some of the streets were knee deep with water,
the channels having choked.

LOMBARDY.—The army of Charles Albert has attacked
and taken the heights of Rivoli.
NAPLES .—ULTIMATUM OF MINISTERS.—The Ministry
have presented a programme to the King, and their re-
signation in case he should not accept it. The conditions
are :—The dismissal of the Swiss, the re-organization of
the National Guards, the convocation of the Chambers
with the same Deputies, and complete oblivion of the past.

Tin CoNvocATloN.—The Queen held a Court on Sa-
turday, at Buckingham Palace, to receive the address of
Convocation, which was presented to her Majesty by the
Archbishop of Canterbury, attended by the Bishops of
London, Bangor, and Gloucester, the Deans of Canter-
bury, Hereford, &c., and other heads of the Church.
The following was her Majesty's reply :—" I receive with
cordial satisfaction your assurances of loyal and affec-
tionate attachment to my throne and person. It is my
earnest desire to promote the welfare and happiness of
my people by the maintenance of peace and tranquillity,
and by measures calculated to extend the influence of our
holy religion, which is the sure foundation of national
prosperity. I rely with entire confidence on your. zeal
and earnestness in inculcating the principles of Christian
truth and charity, and I derive much gratification from
the assurance of your co-operation in increasing the effi-
ciency of the Church for the accomplishment of the great
work for which it was established. I trust that by the
blessing of God on the means adopted for this important
end, the inestimable benefits of pure and undefiled re-
ligion may be generally diffused throughout all classes of
the community." Her Majesty afterwards received depu-
tations from the UoiYersities of Oxford and Cambridge.

LAMENTABLE ACCIDENT.-DESTRUCTION OF
THE ELEPHANT AT THE ZOOLOGICAL
GARDENS.

An accident of a most distressing character, and at-
tended with fatal results, occurred at the Zoological
Gardens on Saturday morning last. About eleven
o'clock, a person of the name of Liversedge, and his
wife, from the neighbourhood of Manchester, were in the
elephant-house, viewing that stupendous animal. The
keeper, Richard Howard, was engaged in cleaning the
den ; and having effected one portion of it, he ordered
" Rajah " to more, in order the more readily to cleanse
the other. A blow from the broom the keeper held in
his hand was then inflicted on the animal, which, we
learn, is often resorted to in case of disobedience to the
command • but this had no effect, and a second blow was
struck, when the elephant became infuriated, and ran at
Howard, jammed him with the iron bar that crossed its
tusks to the side of the den, then let him fall, and placing
its ponderous foot upon his body, crushed him in a mo-
ment to death. An alarm was instantly given. One of
the keepers, who was at the time of the occurrence in the
stable, ran to Mr. John Atkins, who was engaged with a
number of carpenters in the Concert-room, and apprised
him of the accident. That gentleman immediately made
towards the scene of the disaster, where he found one of
the keepers endeavouring to get the body of Howard out
of the den. He lay upon his face, with his legs stretched
apart, but exhibited no symptom of life further than that
of moving one of his limbs. Dr. Owens, who fortunately
happened to be passing at the time, was in attendance
before the body was recovered, and used every means to
preserve animation ; but in a fe%v minutes poor Howard
breathed his last._ _ _

As an accident had previously occurred, and as the late
Mr. Atkins had once narrowly escaped from the same
animal, it was, with a promptitude deserving the highest
credit, resolved by the Messrs. Atkins to destroy the
elephant. With this object they had an interview with
Mr. Rushton, Mr. Dowling, and his Worship the Mayor,
for the purpose of obtaining a section of armed police or
a company of military, as also two pieces of cannon from
the Albert Dock. Every facility was given to promote
the cbject. A company of thirty riflemen was granted by
Captain Robinson. The cannon was obtained, and
every necessary arrangement made. Colonel Glegg, with
two artillerymen, first arrived, but was quickly followed
by Captain Robinson's company. Mr. Horsfall, and
several friends, Dr. O'Donnell. 11.. Hensman, Mr.
Thompson, the conductor of the aviary at the Earl of
Derby's, Van Amburgh. and several others were present.
the latter of whom expressed his sorrow that such an
animal should be destroyed. Up to this time the elephant
was guarded by two of the keepers, who describe his
temperament as anything but agreeable. At the time of
the accident, the outer door which leads into the paddock
was, as is usual while cleaning the door, open, and it was
with no slight risk that it was effectually closed. After
the elephant had placed his foot on the body, he did not
again go near it, but almost immediately eat every atom
of the broomstick with which he had been struck. It was
first resolved to poison him, and for this purpose thirty
grains of aconite, and afterwards two ounces Scheele's
prussic acid were administered by Dr. Owens, each being
placed in the inside of a bun. Prior to the giving of the
poison, Dr. O'Donnell expressed a wish himself to shoot
him, but Mr. Atkins conceiving that one ball would irri-
tate him, and he might then break out of the den, objected
to it. For a few minutes there was no apparent effect
from the poison, but at length he exhibited a restlessness.
His limbs became weak, he swayed backwards and for-
wards, forced his trunk to the extremity down his throat,
as if to disgorge the poison, and ultimately lay on his side,
forcibly struggling two or three times. It was the
expressed opinion of some of the medical gentlemen
that his death was so nearly approached that he
would not again have power sufficient to raise him-
self, but much to the astonishment of all he got up
again apparently as strong as ever—but for some time he
threw his head about as if enduring great agony. At
length he partially recovered, grew calmer, eat grass, and
threw portions of it about, as he was wont to do when
playing after feeding. As the poison had not proved ef-
fective, it was determined to shoot him. Dr. O'Donnell
suggested the riflemen should fire at the head ; Mr. Atkins,
Mr. Thompson, and Van Amburgh under the shoulder,
where the skin is thin and there is no bone. The elephant
having been enticed into a favourable position, the com-
pany, under command of Capt. Robinson, formed a seg-
ment of a circle inside the house, and, at command, fired
some at the head and some at the shoulder, and, though
it is supposed every ball entered, with the exception of a
loud roar, he did not exhibit any peculiar sign of distress.
Another company then marched in, and, on firing he fell
dead on the spot in which he now lies. Had his leg not
been chained, he would probably have fallen through the
side of the building.
This elephant was a remarkable specimen, not only in
size, but usually in docility, and few, without inspection,
can have any idea of the enormity of the mass of flesh he
presents. lie was about 24 to 25 years of age, and had
been eleven years in the possession of Mr. Atkins. He
was the usual height to which elephants grow, and con-
siderably heavier than those found in Asiatic regions. The
elephant shot some years since in Exeter change was con-
siderably less than Rajah, and it is almost to be lamented
that so splendid a specimen of that animal could not be
retained—for in general character they are mild, peace-
able and brave, never exerting their power, or abusing
their strength, unless in their own defence ; but the
vicious propensities of the animal were sufficient to
prompt the steps that have been taken. Whatever idea
we may have of the stupendous structure of an elephant,
while viewing it alive, and whatever care we take to
imagine its proportions, we can have but little notion of
its real size until in the stillness of death his high carcase
is inspected. Rajah, as he now lies, presents a monster
form, as may be learned from the following dimensions :
ft. in.
Height
Girth of body..
Length along the back-bone .
Round thickest part of the head l2 0
Round the top of trunk..
Length of the trunk... 8 0
Round of the tusk
Round the fore shoulder.
Round small part of the fore leg
Round the foot
Diameter of foot 1 5
Length of tusks 4 0
Length of the ear. 2 3
Breadth of the ear 1 9
Length of fore leg 4 6
Length of fore leg ancrshoulder 3 6
Weight nearly Four Tons !

The noble animal will be on view to-day and to-morrow,
at the gardens, precisely in the position in which he fell.
The elephant cost eleven years ago £BOO, and was worth
at the time he was killed above £lOOO.

A CHARTIST CouNcii..7-Thp Town Council of Gates-
head have resolved to petition in favour of the six points
of the charter.
SUMMARY OF MANCHESTER RACES.—TotaI number
of stakes, 13 ; won by favourites, 7 ; won by non-favour-
ites, 6 ; horses entered, 207 ; horses started, 65. Total
amount of stakes, £2620; subscriptions, £1655; public
money given, £965.
CHARTIST LITERATURE.—At no former period las
there been so great an amount of wretched trash in the
shape of doggrel verses and other forms of print in circu-
lation among the working classes of the West Riding of
Yorkshire as at the present time. These compositions
mostly appear without printers' names, and are not un-
frequently of the most obscene and disgusting, as well as
of violent, character; and the magistrates of Bradford
have resolved to put in force the law against the nuisance.
On Friday an Irishman named Thomas Fleming, who had
been hawking a kind of song called, " The Bradford Spy,"
holding up one of the police to popular hatred, and con-
eluding with the sanguinary wish, " May our tyrants soon
lie in one wide bloody grave," was committed to the House
of Correction for a month as a vagrant ; and, the printer
of the doggrel composition having been discovered, the
magistrate advised the officer against whom it was di-
rected to proceed against him.
DISTURBANCES AT NORWICH.—On Friday last, about
nine o'clock in the evening, nine men, inmates of the
workhouse, who had been previously sent to prison for re-
fusing to obey the workhouse rules, but liberated again,
refused to go to bed without their wives. The governor of
the workhouse immediately sent for the mayor, who, with
other magistrates, went to the workhouse. The paupers,
who made no resistance, were ordered to be conveyed to
the gaol, and a body of police took charge of them. The
mob, which had assembled at the outside of the workhouse,
directly the paupers and the police appeared, attacked the
latter by throwing stones and bottles at them, and on their
return from the gaol, renewed the attack. Several thou-
sands were collected together, and some of the police were
injured by the stones. The mayor and the magistrates
gave orders, in consequence, to clear the streets, which the
police effected after several vigorous charges, in which
nne hard blows were dealt. But it was not till nearly one
o'clock that order was completely established. Several of
the paupers have been condemned to imprisonment and
hard labour, for different terms, and the others discharged
on promising to conform to the workhouse rules.

ENTERTAINMENT TO THE MINISTRY.—On Saturday,
the Lord Mayor gave a magnificent entertainment to the
members of her Majesty's Government. Lord John
Russell in the course of his speech on the occasion said :
" Even if we had no better motive desiring the indepen-
dence, the riches, and prosperity of other nations, the ex-
perience of the last six months cannot fail to teach us that
there can be no disturbances abroad, there can be no
period of insurrection, or commencement of war among
the nations of Europe that this country does not sensibly
feel the injury to her own commerce and trade of those
apprehensions and alarms. (Cheers.) If we had no better
motive, which I maintain we have, our own interests
would induce us to desire the maintenance of peace, the
progress of the arts, the international amity of Europe,
and the world. If there be one object more than another
which occupies and absorbs the attention of her Majesty's
Ministers, it is no doubt the preservation of the peace of
Europe. (Cheers.) I do believe they have that desire
intimately and constantly before them, and that they
spare no exertion and relax no effort to secure that great
blessing, not only to this country but to all foreign states.
Let us hope that they may be endued with that soundness
of judgment, and have that strength given them, that
amid all the changes of this eventful period they may be
enabled to preserve to us that greatest of all blessings.
(Cheers.) lam warranted in saying that such will be
their great endeavour, for I well recollect, twelve months
since, when the noble viscount (Palmerston) sat where he
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consistently with the honour and dignity of the country,
to preserve peace ; and he pointed out most forcibly all
the great advantages and blessings which in the progress
of civilization and happiness must invariably follow in the
train of peace. These sentiments I have no doubt conti-
nue still to animate the noble viscount."