The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-03-25 00:00:00

UNITED STATES

The New York packet-ship Oxford, Capt. Rathbone,
arrived off this port on Tuesday night. She brings intelli-
gence to the 3rd of March, three days later than the accounts
by the-Garrick.

The Orford has encountered severe iweather, but would
neverthelesAe rrcade"the passage in seventeen days, but
for the head* ds whiCh she has met with since her arrival
in the channel. Among her passengers are Sir Allan M'Nab,
and Dr. Rolph, recently appointed Emigration agent for
the Canadas.

, In the money market, on.the 2nd, there bad been a good
disposition to sell, and Prices had given way under it. De-
laware and Hudson fell 4 per cent.; Indiana bonds I; Illi-
nois bonds 1; Farmers', Trust ; Mohawk I ; Harlem s ;
Long Island rose 3. . Sales of bills on Philadelphia 51 per
cent. ; Baltimire 3 ; Mobile 15 ; New Orleans 6.
The steanttbw-boat Mohican, on the 19th February, whilst
engaged with the tow-boat Star, in towing the British ship
Edward Thorn (inward-hound), across the bar at New Or.-
leans, burst all her boilers, by which from twelve to fourteen
lives were lost. The Mohican caught fire immediately after
the explosion, and was entirely consumed. The deficiency
of water in the boilers is said to have been the origin of the
accident.

In Canada all was looking favourably. Sir Charles Bagot
had arrived, and was receiving a most flattering welcome
from the inhabitants of both provinces. The public works
were to be commenced in spring. The greatest consterna-
tion prevailed on account of the non-arrival of the Caledonia,
no tidings of her return to this port having of course been
received, and twenty-four days having elapsed since her day
of sailing.

From Texas we learn that a meeting had been held at Gal-
veston, and the following resolutions adopted :
" Resolved,—That in the opinion of this meeting it is ex-
pedient for the executive to acquiesce in measures for offen-
sive war against Mexico.
" Resolved,—That a committee of nine be appointed to
correspond with the executive, and recommend the following
measures for immediate war :

" Ist. That our navy be instructed to molest the commerce
of Mexico on the high seas, to ravage the towns and country
on the coasts.

" 2nd. That commissions be granted to private armed ves-
sels, under the flag and authority of Texas, to do the same.
" 3rd. That invitation and encouragement be given to vo-
lunteers from abroad to come under our flag, and join with
an army in the invasion of Mexico."

DREADFUL STEAM-BOAT EXPLOSION

(From the Greenock _Advertiser of Tuesday)

Yesterday, between twelve and one o'clock, a most cala-
mitous accident took place at the quay at Helensburgh. The
Telegraph, a steam-boat propelled by engines on the high-
pressure principle, arrived here from Glasgow, about noon,
and took on board a number of passengers for the opposite
shore. She had landed at the quay of Helensburgh those
whose destination was that town, and was just setting off for
the Gareloch, whp.the boiler burst with a tremendous ex-
plosion, which waVdjoinctly heard in this town, a distance
of four or five milettikom the spot. With the least possible
delay, two steamersNne belonging to the Old and the other
to the New Clyde Shipping Company, set off from our har-
bour to ascertain what had taken place, and to render what
assistance might be needed in the circumstances.
The return of these vessels was waited for with the moat
intense anxiety, not only by those who knew that they had
relatives and friends on board the Telegraph when she left
this port, but by vast numbers who had heard the explosion,
or been told of it, but who were ignorant of the extent of the
fearful calamity which all were persuaded had taken place.

At two o'clocliOrieOfihe 'steamers returned, With the
mournful intelligence that 13 human beings had been killed
on the spot, and that all the others who had been on board at
the time were more or less injured. It was added that the
greater number of those who had lost their lives were so
dreadfully mangled and mutilated, that their identification in
some instances was difficult, if not impossible.
By the boat that leaves this at half-past two, a number of
medical gentlemen proceeded to Helensburgh to render as-
•tistance tb the survibrs. Their brethren in Helensburgh
were also very attentive.
About a quarter to three another steamer arrived from
Helensburgh ; and the intelligence brought by her showed
that, in this instance, the first reports of the calamity, in-
stead of, as is usually the case, giving an exaggerated account
of the mischief done, had fallen considerably below the truth,
for it was now ascertained that no fewer than sixteen dead
bodies had been found, while several persons who were known
to have been on board when the explosion took place were
nowhere to be seen, either dead or alive.

Among those dead are—
Captain Evdng, the master of the unfortunate vessel, and
who was well known in this neighbourhood, having formerly
commanded the steamer Kilmun. He died shortly after the
explosion.
Mr. Hedderwick, of the firm of Hedderwick and Rankine,
ship-builders, Kelvinhaugh, whose head was dreadfully
mangled.
Mrs. Dow, wife of Mr. Dow of the Old Clyde Shipping
Company, and daughter of Mr. Malcolm Keith, clothier in
this town. She was married within the last four months.
Robert M'Auslan (one of the crew), Helensburgh.
Daniel Boyle, tailor, from Greenock.
Robert M‘Gregor, do. do.
John M`Millan, do. do.
James Johnston, Greenock.
Robert Cadenhead,..Govan.
John M‘Dairmid, pilot. •
Jacob Laird, painter, from Edinburgh.
William Muir, painter, from Glasgow.
Peter M`Lintock, painter, from do.
John M`Queen, painter, from Dundee.
A person supposed to be the engineer; and
Three bodies not identified.

Of the above, the bodies of Peter M`Lintock and John
M`Queen had not been found at the date of the last advices.
They, together with the other two painters above-mentioned,
had arrived from Glasgow, and were on their way to Gare-
locks to work at the large steam-vessel the Precursor, which
is now lying there. In all sixteen bodies bad been got, which,
with the tw•o painters noticed above, make a certain loss of
eighteen ; but it is feared the mortality may be more exten-
tive. A woman and child are known to be missing.
Besides those killed, there are a number who were bruised
and scalded. Among these are—
Mrs. Keith, who is much scalded.

Miss Keith, who is not expected to survive (these are the
mother and ,sister of Mrs. Dow, whose death is mentioned
above.)

Miss AV Kellar (a young lady who was with Mrs. Keith),
slightly hurt..

John M'Neill (workman with Mr. Napier), serioitsly in-
jured.

- Richard Anderson (foreman to Hedderwicic and Rankine),
who is so much injured that his life is despaired of.
James Stenhouse. much bruised.
Alex. 111'Coll, fracture of both thighs, and much injured.
George Leck, compound fracture of the leg.
David WAlpine, severely burned.
John severely bruised.
The four last-named persons were brought over by the
Royal Tar, at half-past four o'clock, and taken to the In-
firmary.

The distance at which the sound of the explosion was
heard will give the reader some idea of its loudness—of its
force we have no less decisive proofs. Not to speak of the
number of individuals hurried by it into eternity in a tam-
ment, or injured to an extent from which they will never
recover, the engine and part of the boiler of the boat was
propelled through the air and landed on the quay at the dis-
tance of a hundred feet from where the explosion took place.
The boat was-split-froth' stem, to stern, and the deck lim-
ber blown to fragments and scattered all around.
An express having been sent to Dumbarton, the Sheriff
and Sheriff Clerk of Dumbartonshire were very soon on the
spot, and proceeded to take a precognition from such of the
survivors as were in a situation to give evidence. The result
of their investigation has not transpired.
The corpses of the dead, and the larger proportion of the
injured survivors, were removed to the Tontine Inn, Helens-
burgh, where Mr. Liddell, the landlord, and his family, did
all in their power to alleviate the sufferings of those to whom
their attentions could be of any avail. •

The following are extracts from the Edinburgh papers on
the cause of this dreadful calamity :
The shocking occurrence, which our readers will peruse
with painful interest, of the steam-boiler explosion at He-
lensburgh, ought to compelthe attention of those responsible
for the safe working of that tremendous agent—steam, to the
real cause of such accidents. We have again and again given
our reasons for attributing such catastrophes to the ineffi-
ciency of the safely valve as a protective against the exces-
sive generation of steam i❑ the boiler. We have explained
that this inefficiency consists in what is called "the gag"—
or the tendency of the apparatus to become locked at the
very moment when its action is really required.—when the
engine has been stopped, and the steam continuing to be ge-
nerated, has no means of escape, unless the safety valve is
lifted up, and the'pressure relieved through its orifice. Now
it is a fact of awful importance, that the safety valve cannot
be depended upon to do this. but, on the contrary, will re-
main fast, and unless immediately put right by the engine
man, prevent, instead of allowing, the escape of the steam.
Hence so many explosions, attended with such dreadful re-
sults. The attention of government ought to be drawn to
this subject, and a sufficient inducement given to scientific
men to discover a safety apparatus, which will not be liable
to failure. Should such a substitute be discovered—of which
we have no doubt—the present apparatus ought to be pro-
hibited in all high-pressure engines, and thus the lives of the
public secured against such fearful casualties in future.
The construction of the Telegraph was
.quite a novelty,
even in the Clyde, the cradle of steam navigation. She was
of a light yacht-like build, 120 feet in length, by 14 of beam ;
was considered of 32 tons, and used a locomotive engine. In
the centre of the vessel there was a high elevation, on which
was placed the wheel, and station of the steersman, enabling
him from his position to keep a good lookout; and the helm
was moved by a chain running along the surface of the bul-
warks on each side to the stern. Below this elevation, in
the stern of the vessel, the _cabin was situated, and the
steerage was similarly placed forward.

The'lords of the treasury have refused to sanction Captain
Elliot's appropriation of a part of the Canton ransom to the
payment of the demand of Messrs. Dent for opium sold to
Captain Elliot in his necessities, when called on to give up
a certain quantity to the Chinese government.

ORTlitS§ll4o gtimag pi= THE rum or

(NOM bit? 40444 Siiindard if Monday.
!t is our painful duty this day to record the mclan4oly
suicide of the Earl of Munster; son of his late Majesty Wm,
IV. This distressing event took place last night at gal -palst
seven o'clock, at the new residence of the late earl, No. 13,
Eaton-square, Pimlico. His lordship retired to his bed-room
shortly after 11 o'clock , and soon afterwards the inmates of the
house were alarmed on hearing a great noise proceed from that
direction. It was iminediaterdiscovered that the noble aerl
had comtnited suicide. We hear that he placed the end of a
pistol barrel in his mouth, and so effectual was the discharge
that he died almost instantaneously. Several reports of the
details are in circulation, but as the inquest will be held this
evening, we refrain from noticing them.. We may; however,
remark, that the unfortunate nobleman has left behind him a
young family of six children to deplore their loss, and that
he had only taken possession of his late residence in Eaton-
square five weeks ; since which time he had been in a very
low and desponding state of mind. His lordship was created
Earl Munster in 1831 ; he married the daughter of the third
Earl of Egremont. Second title Viscount Fitzclarence, a
colonel in the army, Governor of Windsor Castle, Aide-de-
Camp to the Queen, Lieutenant of the Tower of London,
and Colonel of the Ist Regt. of Tower 1-lamlets Militia. He
was also a Privy Councillor, and F.R.S. • -

The late earl was in his 48th year, having been born in
179,1.

Thi._ above distressing intelligence was forwarded at an early
hot'? this morning to the members of the Royal Family.

THE INQUEST

On Monday the coroner and jury assembled to inquire
concerning the death of the noble earl. They proceeded to
view the body, which was lying in a large pool of blood,
which had flowed partly through the right hand, which was
shot through, and partly from the head. We merely give the
principal features of the evidence.
Robert Snooks, footman to the deceased, deposed as fol-
lows :—On Sunday night, about half-past 11 o'clock, while I
was preparing for bed, I heard the report of a pistol. imme-
diately afterwards the library bell rang, and his lordship came
out of the library and called for Mr. Miller, the steward. He
called out, " Miller, Miller ; here here ; I have shot my
hand." He then ran down into the pantry, and said to me,
" Go for Mr. Hammerton directly, I have met with an acci-
dent and shot my band." lie then asked for a light, and I
followed him up into the library, when he again desired me to
go for a surgeon. I saw his "hand, which appeared one mass
of blood. I went out of the room in order to go for a sur-
geon, but first went to Mr. Miller, and then to the pantry
for my hat, and while down stairs, I heard another report of
a pistol. I had no idea on hearing the first report that his
lordihip had shot himself. The second report was not more
than two minutes after the first. Mr. Miller, myself, and
the under butler ran up to the library, and saw his lordship
lying:as seen by the jury. There was a , great deal of blood
around him, and there was a pistol.on the floor near his tight
hand, but I do not know if the one produced is the , same.
He was bleeding when we went into the room, but almost im-
mediately expired. I then ran for Mr. Hammerton. His
lordship has been unwell fot the last fortnight, and appeared
in a very desponding state, which is the only cause I can as-
sign for thy et)mmission of the act. I never saw pistols in his
.possession till §unday night. When I took the candle into his
room he said, have done a pretty thing for myself by play-
ing with pistols ;
.1 have shot my hand." I have no doubt he
committed the act himself.

Dr. Chambers said he had been sent for to attend the de-
ceased professionally on Sunday evening. He found him
very excited, and his answers were hurried. Witness did
not consider it necessary to put any restraint on his lordship,
though he gave directions that he should be watched. Mr.
Haunerton, a surgeon, stated that he had examined the body
minutely, and found that the roof of the mouth was shattered,
and the bones of the head extensively fractured, which he
had no doubt are the effects of a shot. There was the mark
of a ball on the ceiling directly over where deceased was
lying, and close by a patch of hair. He had no doubt the
deceased fired into his mouth, and that the ball took an up-
ward direction. Both eyes were forced outwards, as though
the ball had passed immediately behind them. There was a
wound in the right hand, in which a ball was lodged. The
deceased appeared to be very much affected by the late news
from India. He often spoke on the subject, expressing him-
self in strong terms about the females who had been taken as
hostages at Cabot. He was on these occasions much excited.
He appeared deeply interested in the fate of the women.
These things no doubt increased the depression. He fre-
quently said, " Suppose one's own family had been in such a
situation, what a dreadful thing to reflect upon." Witness
had not the least doubt that deceased had committed the act
himself.

A gentleman who was present said, that so much did the
deceased appear to feel with respect to the repulses that our
troops had lately met with in India, but more particularly in
the fate of the captured women, that he was very depressed
by it, and there was but little doubt in the minds of his
friends that that alone had been the cause of his despondency,
which had terminated in so melancholy a way.

The jury consulted for a few minutes, and then returned a
verdict that " Deceased destroyed himself by his own hands
while labouring under temporary mental derangement."
[The pistol with which this act of self-murder was com-
mitted was one of a pair presented to deceased by George IV.
when Prince of Wales, and had the Prince of Wales's crest
inlaid in gold in the handle. They are what are used for
practice at the target, having a flat surface on the stock to
rest upon an object, for the purpose of steadying the hand.
The other was a small pocket pistol, and did not appear to
have been used.]