The Sun. — 1857-04-10 (London, England)

SELF-RIGHTING OF LIFE BOATS WITH THEIR SAILS SET. —Yesterday some interesting trials took place with one of the life-boats of the Royal National Life-boat Institution, in the Regent's Dock, Lirnehouse, in the presence of several experienced gentlemen. The life-boat, with her sails hoisted and sheets hauled taut, was turned over by a povserful.crane and paibuckle, until her masts were perpendicularly under water, when, on being released, she instantly sell.-righted and returned to her original upright position, and in 20 seconds self-ejected the water which hadfilled her to the thwarts in the ope. ration. This result was the more interesting as it has often been disputed whether any life-boat would selfright with her masts and sails up.. How many sad ao cidents.th life-boats carrying sails would probably have been prevented had they possessed this important quality of self-righting. On the whole, the experiment yesterday afforded much satisfaction to all who had the pleasure to witness it, and clearly showed to what a state of perfection the construction of life-boats has been brought. The National Life-boat Institution, whose life-boats on various•parts of the coast have during the last three months rescued 70 persons from shipwrecks, is about to station this life-boat at Westport, an exposed point on the west coast of Ireland. ATTEWPTED MURDER AT MAlDSTONE.—Yesterday (Thursday) morning information was received by Mr. Blundell, the superintendent of the borough police at Maidstone, that a violent assault had been committed upon two young women, one of whom had received such injuries that she was not expected to recover. On making inquiries it appears that the two women in question, who were sisters, named Margaret and azabetle Jones, bore a very light character. Late ou Wednesday night they were in company with two bargemen at the Rod. ney Head public-house, in High-street, and at about 12 o'clock they proceeded with one of the men, named Charles Churnley, to a barge lying above the Lockmeadows, on the Medway. An altercation took place on board the barge between Chumley and the two girls, when Chumley seised a heavy stick and struck the eldest sister, Margaret, a severe blow ovor the eye. The younger Eiger then jumped up and endeavoured to leave the barge, when she was attacked by Calemley in .a Most violent' Manner, and beaten over the head until she became insensible. At a subsequent period Mr. Saunders, eurgeon, was called in, and on examining the girl foiled that she had received a large lacerated wound tit' the isticaaipp, rieen9d.ritbeingrt'act entertainedrc oowf lies her ohust: shtaert, skull,o hopewas recovery; Chumley was, taken into custody by lie. Superintendent Blundell, and was brought before the hors:agle magistrates yesterday morning, by whom he was remanded till the 17th inst., in order to see whether the injuries received by the &Lirl prove fatal. L,,THE CABDRIVERS OF YABlS.—Recompences, by way of encouragement, have just been awarded by the prefect of police to 23 cabdrivers for their honesty in delivering up articles left by passengers in their vehicles. During the last year the gold, silver, bank-notes, and securities payable to bearer deposited by the drivers with the commissaries of police amounted to 262,2061., independently of a great number of articles of jewellery, and other -things of more or less value. Certificates of honesty have also been given to 41' other drivers, and the names of the whole have been posted up at all, the Stations for public carriages.  Sporting  TATTMSAt!L'S-