The New York herald., 1874-11-04
LONDON GOSSIP.

LONDON, Oct. rs 1874
On Tuesday morning took place the transfer of
tue wills and testaments or England rom the
strong room in Doctors Commons, where they
have been stored since the ecclesiastical charge
OF them was abolished IN 1857 by act OF Parliament, {,
TO their new receptacle In the Long Hall in Son.
erset House, running parallel with the Thames
embankment. The history OF the treatment or the
wills which have been stored In Doctors Commons
from the beginning OF the nteenth century IL ex-
ceedingly curious. For generations they were
kept In cupboards and lofts, In odd corners OF the
range OF buildings which comprised the Preroga-
tive Court, the Court Of Arches the Archdeacon's
Court, and other obscure semi-ecclesiastical tri.
bunals, OF the procedure In which Q sketch Is
given In "David C0pperdeld." About seventy
years ago the regstrars, who were. OF course,
sons OF an Archbishop OF Canterbury, built
strong room or the custody OF the villa abutting
the old gardens or the Doc tors College, at the
eastern end OF Knight Rider street. wnen the
oct OF 1857 abolished ecclesastlcal Jurisdiction
altogether, and cleared Oh ct one sweep or the
broom doctors, proctors and all The rest Of the
fossil machinery, the doctors sold their college
and its grounds TO the Metropolitan Board OF
Works. and Queen Victoria street now traverses
what was once partly gArdens and partly the nto
OF the old strong room. Another strong room
was built ten years ago, with frontage to Knight
Rider street, but snls structure has become over.
filed, and, as the Court OF Probate sits at West
Minister, It was thought well to transfer westward
to Somerset House the documents and od1ctal
machinery with which that court and ts suitors
have concern. The removal began on Tuesday,
aud the new searcn.room in Somerset House Will
be open on the 24tn inst, the interval being
occupied in the removal. The new accom-.
modation in Somerset House consists OF the
large range OF ofaces recently vacated by
section Of the Admiralty department. II consists
OF LOG rooms in the river front OF Somerset
House, and, In case any OF your readers should
have occasion to make Q search into the tenor Of
an English will. It may be mentioned that the
door OF the public searching room is exactly op-
posite the archway leading into somerset House
from the Strand and across the courtyard.
AMERICAN POLITICS AND FINANCE.
The news brought BY the last mail from the
United states tnat ex President Andrew johnson
is candidate for the representation OF Tennessee
In the United States Senate has caused great
commotlon IN monetary circles mere. The Daily
Nelcs eminds It's readers that Mr.. Johnson, when
IN ONCE, made himself notorious by hts pro posals
for reputation, and declares that, NOV he mas
deliberately made reputation OF the state debt
OF tennessee, well as oil the entire
United states debt. portion OF his programme"
The TACT OF q new Presidential campaign being az
when made oy prominent candidates; and the
Nescs thinks that atleading American politicians, n
discredit abroad, should take care TO disavow
such opinions.
Lessons FROM THE GREAT EXPLOSION.
The inquiry before tine Coroner aud jury into the
recent explosion OF Runpowder on the Regents
Canal mas brought forth some very remarkable
evidence Most remarkable ID that OF the man.
ager OF the Grand junction Canal Company. who
spoke out without the smallest reserve, ana
frankly confessed that their boats we're IN the
habit OF carrying petroleum. Denzoiine ana gun
powder all mixed together. without the
smallest discrimination. During the last
three months, taxing seventy-nine working
days, seventy-nve Darges laden with gun.
powder have been despatched from tue
wharves at the rate OF about one day. carrying
also petroleum and benzoline; in fact the state OF
an extraordinary one. Taxing into consideration
tnis ana other evidence, more especially tnat OF
DR.. Alfred Swaine Taylor, who has been Tor lorty
years Professor oil Chemistry at Guys Hospital,
and Major MajenCie, the government inspector.
both OF wnoai stated tnat Denzoline was most
dangerous substance to uncover near Q NAKED
light; tnat mixture OF benzoine vapOr ana air
was most dangerous, would travel loot In
second aud directly II met name would explode,
and that the xposi0n was due to an accumula.
ton underneath the tarpaulin wnicn escaped
from the casks oi benzoline and reaching the
CABIN nre or . light communicated 1t with the
gunpowder.
THE VERDICT OF rHE JuRY
was astrone one. Tney found tnAt N the .ssoreee
and transport og ths eafg0 Ne ofae4 JnAeuoa.