Glasgow Courier. — 1848-05-06 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

ENGLAND.  Failures—The failures of Mr. Potter and Sir Thomas Brancher, at Liverpool, both for large amounts, cause no surprise there, because both gentlemen had gone very deep into hazardous speculations. In this commercial crisis, the city of Aberdeen has been, hitherto, apparently in a sound position; but it is rumoured to-day that the Messrs. Madden, the most extensive spinners and manufacturers there, have suspended their payments.—Mail.  Reverse of Fortune.— Lady lldornington, who brought her husband £40,000 a-year, continues in a state of destitution. The Recent Case of Smuggling by a Foreign Nobleman.— The Commissioners of Customs have decided against the, appeal made by the Duo de Stackpole, and that nobleman's splendid schooner yacht, the Gipsy Queen, has been declared forfeited to the Crown for smuggling. It is st*ted that the commissionvrs of Woods and Forests have appointed James Sheridan Knowles, the diramt, tol the charge of Shakespeare's house, at Stratford-on-Avon, at a salary of £250 a-year. Munificent Donation—The Lord Bishop of Gloncester and Bristol has given the munificent donation of £ll,OOO towards the fund to be raised for the augmentation of poor benfilices, the supply of additional curates for populoas places, and building parsonage houses in districts at present uesupplied. The Colossus, 80 gun ship, built at Pembroke is ordered to be launched on the lot of June, and navigated to Portsmouth to be "advanced."  At Stettin, one of the most influential houses had suspended payments on the 25th of April, in consequence of the seizure of certain Prussian vessels at Copenhagen. The cargoes of these vessels are stated to be of considerable value. It was feared that the activity of the Danish fleet in capturing every vessel of hostile powers would tiuickly produce much disorder in commercial interests. The Selina from Dantzic to London, the Sophia from Hartlepool to Memel, and the Bertha from Memel to Cork, are annpunced in the Elsinore letter of the 25th ult, to have been laid under embargo at Copenhagen on the 23d April. No More French Fashions.—None of the English buyers of fancy goods and copiers of spring fashions, in the mysterious arts of millinery and dressmaking, have visited Paris this spring. French Contract for horses_The Provisional Government having issued a decree that they intend to enter into con-tracts for 28,000 cavalry horses for placing the various cavalry regiments in their full complement of steeds., we understand several French contractors are at present in the North of England, making purchases of first-rate chargers for the officers of the Artillery, Heavy Dragoon Lancers, Chasseurs, and Hussars, and troop horses. The mounting of the French cavalry has for years been very indifferent, as the horses, generally speaking, are small, and want that strength which is required for actual service. The officers' chargers have hitherto been purchased in this country or in Mecklenburg, whilst those of the troopers have been from Alsace and Limousin and some from Normandy for the heavy regiments. The present state of this important portion of the army is to undergo a complete change. Alleged Suicide by a Young Lady of Independent Property. —On Friday night an inquest was held in Marylebone Workhouse, before Mr. G. Ireland Mills, no view of the body of Miss Emma Hughes, aged twenty-seven, who was found drowned in the Regent's Canal the same morning, between eight and nine o'clock. It appeared from the evidence, that the deceased was living with her parents in William Street, Hampstead Road. She was in possession of an independent income, and in expectation of marriage with a young man, but which did not take place. This was delayed, and, it was stated, in consequence of the postponement of the holy ceremony, her mind became affected. 'lle advice of a medical gentleman was obtained, who recommended that she should be watched. Last Monday week she went out with a female servant and a little girl, her sister; when in Tottenham Court 'Road she was missed. She was not again seen till she was found in the Regent's Canal. Verdict, "That deceased was found drowned, being of insane mind on the day the left her home." Explosion of a Locomotive Boiler at Norinanton.—On Tuesday forenoon, about eleven o'clock, as the mail train limn York arrived at the Normanton station, and the engine had just been detached, an explosion took place in the fire-box attached to the boiler. Fortunately no loss of life has been occasioned by the accident. The principal injury sustained is that received by the engine-driver, who was severely scalded, and who now lies in the Leeds Infirmary, whither he was conveyed immediately after the accident. Four other persons, amongst whom, we understand, were a railway clerk and his assistant, were more or less seriously injured. Several pieces of the fire-box were found scattered about at a distance of thirty or forty yards, and seine were forcibly projected through the windows of the offices in the station. It has not been definitely ascertained how the accident originated. The door of the fireplace was shut at 1 the time the explosion occurred, and fortunately it was the lower part of the box which gave way, otherwise the COOsequences might have been of a more serious character.— , MancheBter Guardian.  Extennus Destruction of Rau.—Mr. Crosthwaite of Monks Hall, near Keswick, lately discovered that a colony of rata had made a lodgment in one of his wheat stacks. They oneeeeded in making their way to the top of the stack, which they completely perforated, and in line weather were not unfrequently seen playing their gambols upon the thatch of their well-stored domicile. This was a state of things Mr. Crosthwaite was determined not to put up with, and Monday week was fixed upon for "housing " the wheat stack and giving battle to the vermin. Before commencing operations, Mr. Crosthwaite took the precaution to procure some noted little terriers from Keswick. A more busy and animated scene has not often been witnessed, as may easily be imagined, when we state, that upwards of one hundred and thirty full-grown rats were destroyed by the terriers before the stack was finally removed. We hardly need state that the destruction was considerable. The entire district of Underskiddaw is terribly infested with rats.