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THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. The business of this year's gathering of the associa- tion was formally opened at Nottingham on the 22nd of August by a meeting of the general committee; Professor Phillips in the chair. The proceedings were of a. routine character, and were not enlivened or in. terrupted by any discussion whatever. The usual re- ports were presented and adopted nem. cm. The report of the Kew committee quoted the con- clusions arrived at in the report of the recent royal commission on the operations of what may be termed the Government Weather Office; and they expressed their general concurrence in the proposals of the com- mission. While the collections of observations from the captains of ships is a function regarded as within the competence of the meteorological department of the Board of Trade, it is suggested that the digesting and tabulating of the observations would be better performed by a committee of the Royal Society or the British Association, and the Kew Observatory might be extended and made the meteorological centre to which all observations of value, by British observers, would be sent for discussion and reduction. On the presentation of the report of the Parliamen- tary Committee, Mr. James Heywood took the oppor- tunity of urging on its chairman (Lord Wrottesley) as a subject to which their attention might be directed, the recommendation made by a committee en scientific evidence in courts of Jaw. It is proposed to give the judge power to appoint an expert, who may sit by his side and advise him during the examination of scientific witnesses. The association, of which the present is the 36th I annual meeting, assembled at Nottingham for the first time this year. The real business of paper reading and discussing new views and discoveries and old bones of contention was on the 23rd fairly on, but to do justice to the many scenes and incidents of the various sections would require an ubiquity which the most active reporter could never hope to attain. Appended, how- 1 ever, are some of the more important proceedings:— Mapping of the Mocn. In Section A—" Mathematics and Physics"—the Mapping of the Mocn. In Section A—" Mathematics and Physics"—the '[ report of the Iiunar oB-i&e Mapping of the Moon was sread by Mr, Birt, who,"after alluding to the former report at Birmingham, proceeded to notice the work which had been done in the iotejA»»-—Jji ..—j- il»e first instance proposed to construct an outline map of the moon's surface, To inches in diameter, every I object entered on the register to be inserted in the map, and an outline map of that size was exhibited to the section at Birmingham; but in consequence of some remarks by the president on that occasion (Professor Phillips) it had been determined to construct an outline map of 100 inches in dia- meter, and Mr. Birt has now 30 superficial degrees of the moon's surface completed on that scale, and exhibited also an enlargement to the scale of 400 inches. In noticing the progress of this department the author laid stress upon the materials available, particularly well-determined positions of the first order and exist- ing photographs. Of the latter only one-that by Mr. Warren Delarue, in October, 1865, enlarged to 10 inches diameter—was accurately available, the time of its taking being so near that of mean iibration. In mapping on this scale Mr. Birt has commenced with the lower right quadrant of the visible moon.; but over this area there are only 23 points of the first order for triangulation, which have been inserted with the utmost care ana accuracy, tAle greatest error oemg oniy 8-lOjOOOth of the moon's semi-diameter. Amongst the forms issued by the committee last year was one (No. 2) for aiding in the formation of a catalogue or lanar objects by symbolising them so that by means of these signs each parallelogram of 5 degrees of lati- tude and five of longitude is distinguished by a special symbol. Every object discernible in the photograph of October 4 has been carefully measured and inserted in quadrant IV.; and still further, a drawing of the tints of the ground markings indicating the reflective power of the surface only was submitted to the meet- ing. This drawing permits of a useful comparison of the features of fuli moon with earlier or later phases. Among the results thus obtained by Mr. Birt we may note that two prominent rays of the familiar crater, Tycho, which are best seen at full moon, are found by their aspects under other phases to be ranges of high land, in some places much broken, and in other rising into rocky eminences. This illustrated another point of importance in the construction of these maps— namely, that many important pbjects are from the nature of the illumination, not distinguishable at full moon, and therefore can be only inserted in proper position on the maps by measuring on photographs taken at other phases or by personal observation. "Blue Mist" Supposed to Convey Cholera. Another paper. "On Electro-negative Foa', and more particularly the Dry Mist which occurred over London and its neighbourhood in Jane, 1861, and August, 1866, igave rise to some remarks by Mr Glaisher on the "blue mist," to which he has reeently drawn attention in connection with the late outbreak of cholera. He stated that when engaged in the investigation of the state of the atmosphere during the epidemic of 1854, when the blue mist was last recorded, he had found that where ozone existed freely in the air, and the test- papers were, changed brown there were healthy dis- tricts, and where the test papers were left unchanged in those districts the mortality was greatest. Although daring the past two years, in conseq^e^ce of the anti- cipations of the arrival of the epidemic, he had con- stantly watched for this peculiar mist, he had not seen it until very recently. He did not assign to it any connection with the actual development of cholera, indeed, where the "blue mist" was most intense ap- peared to be coincident with the most healthy, but there was a very remarkable coincidence in its appear- ance at the time of the late outbreak of disease, and certainly, as a mere physical phenomenon, it was well worthy of investigation. Ancient Britons. ] Mr. Jno. Crawford,F.R.S., contributed aninteresting paper on "Cassar's Account 0f Britain and its In- habitants in reference to Ethnology." Having ml- nutely described Csesar's account, and commented on it, he summed up the whole in the following words:- The conclusion to which we must, I think, cone, from the perusal of Csssar's account of such of the Britons as be saw, is that, although they were cer- tainly barbarians, they were very far from being savages. They were in possession of nearly all the domestic animals known to the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians. They possessed tho art of mak- lag malleable iron, asd they mixed, smelted, and exported tin. They had a fixed money, altbough a I rnde one. In war they had an infantry, a cavalry, and chariots. There can be no doubt but that they possessed the art of manufacturing ppttery, and I thick it most probable that they had the art of weaving their wool into a coarse fabric and perhaps of dyeing those fabrics with woad. We may then safely pronounce our forefathers to have been a more advanced people than were the Mexicans and Peruvians when first seen by Europeons 1,600 after the time of Cassar. They encountered the first invaders of their country with far more courage and even military prowess than did the Mexicans the Spaniards, or did even the Hindus the Greeks and Macedonians of Alexander; but these last results were more an affair of race than of civilisa- tion. Such were the Britons Cseaar saw, and assuredly he saw no savages." An Ancient Jaw-bone. Mr. C. Carter Blake read a paper "On the Supposed Human Jaw from the Belgian Bone Cave." Mr. Blake was sent by the Anthropological Society of London to make an examination of this cave, which is in Namur, on the banks of the Lesse, in conjunction with M. Dapont, who had been commissioned by the Belgian Government to conduct moreextensiveinquiries on the same spot. This jaw, which is without ohin, and bears a remarkable resemblance to the ape species, was exhibited in the room, and excited a good deal of interest. It was found in undisturbed lehm, at 3t metres from the surface, along with a human ulna and a fragment of reindeer bone, which had apparently been bored by some sharp instrument. The paper led to some discussion, in the course of which the presi- dent expressed an opinion that the jaw was of great antiquity, and said it had many peculiarities which approximated to some of the ape species. The Study of Man. Q In Section D, department of Anthropology, Mr. M Alfred R. Wallace, the president, delivered a brief ad- s iress, congratulating the audience on being present at d ihe inauguration of a department devoted to the icience of man, remarking on the anomaly of this b loience not being separately represented at the British Association, although it occupied the attention )f two societies in the metropolis, and was of the lighest general interest, had now happily ceased. He ixplained that anthropology was a science which iontemplated man under all his varied aspeots- P 1,8 an animal, and as a moral and intellectual w )eing in his relations to the lower organisms, rE o his fellow-men, and to the universe. Anthro- w )ology sought to collect and systematise the facts and b ;he laws which had been brought to light by all those ?. tranches of study which directly or indirectly had nan for their object, but which had been pursued sepa- rately. They could, therefore, not afford to neglect i my facts relating to man, however trivial, unmeaning, ° jr distasteful some of them might appear. Custom, t superstition, or belief of savage or civilised life might ?uide us towards an explanation cf their origin in the common tendencies of the human mind. Each peculiarity of form, colour, or constitution might give as the clue to the affinities of an obscure race. The anthropologist must ever bear in mind that the object I af his study being man, nothing pertaining to the E 3haracteristics of man could be unworthy of kis j attention. 1 Sources of the Nile. 1 Sir Samuel W. Baker, who was loudly cheered on ? rising, delivered an address on the Abyssinian tribu- taries of the Nile. He commenced by stating that 1 from the earliest days the source of the Nile had been a mystery. The Emperor Nero sent two centurions, ] who penetrated to the marshes; on subsequent ex- ] ploration Cater got no further; and such was the state of information when he commenced his explora- tion. In the most ancient days a great desire was shown by the kings and priests of Egypt, and in later 1 days by Julius Caesar, to discover the sources of the Nile—a river which flowed_ through many hundreds of miles of parching deserts, and 1 which, though evaporated by_ the sun and gulped | down by the sand, still nourished Egypt, aud in- undated it. But explorers were invariably baffled; they could reach a certain point; but then they had to return, and there seemed to be some spell which sruarded the sources of the river. The wonderful in- ) sound of the noise the Arabs (by whom he was ac- I companied) rushed down to the river bed to 7 secure the heads of the hippopotami, but before they had time to secure them the men were nearly i up to their waist in deep water. By the following morning the river was almost bank full, and ? was from 20 to 30 feet deep, and about 500 yards wide. ? That fact weald exemplify better than any description which he could give. The extraordinary rainfall of Í Abyssinia poured down like a waterspout at the corn- J( mencement of the rainy season. That rainfall flooded all the rivers which were tributaries to the Nile, and c that sudden flood, pouring dawn the Nile, caused the ( inundation of Egypt. Alluding to his meeting Grant t and Speke at Gonorkoro, he said they were men of i whom England might well be proud. They had earned i a title, which he hoped would be undying, for they ( had done their best to keep up the reputation of Etig- land. Although unsupported by its Government, work- ing alone, and merely trusting to God, they had passed through that country, having left behind them a cha- racter which opened the way for him. He was satisfied withbavingdono his best, hewasconfident that he should not have succeeded so well as he had done if it had not been for the instruction of the map which was kindly given to him by Speke and Grant. He parted from them in the hope to meet again, and with a. promise that he would do his best, and in two years from that time he had succeeded, and had reached that great lake which some geographers would now hardly admit could be called the source of the Nile, because they considered a lake must be a reservoir for the affluents, which would 11 it urally be considered as the legal sources of thtl river. But when they spoke of "sources" they must be comparative, because every- thing connected with the Nile was on such a gigantic scale that they must call the least point the last point from which the great river issued a source," as they must also call the River Victoria, from which one grand branch of the Nile issued. He had carefully gone over Speke's ground, in order to verify his assertions, as Speke thought and said there might be some people in Eng- land who did not know much about the Thames and only a little about the Trent who would, nevertheless, sit down and contradict him about the Nile. He was happy to say that the public of England and France had now accepted as a fact that the Nile issued as the entire Nile from the Albert Lake; that it originated in the Victoria Nyanza as one branch. He had been very much gratified since his return with receptions, which he had never looked for, and that all the trials he had gone through had been appreciated not only by the public but by the Queen (cheers). He, however, could not but entertain a feeling of regret when he remembered that Speke, who led the way through Africa, had died without receiving any testimonial; but he felt sure that Speke's name would be proudly remembered by Englishmen when every title was forgotten. Sir Samuel resumed his seat amidst loud cheers. Sir R. Murchison moved a vote of thanks to Sir Samuel Baker and Lady Baker, eulogising the devotion of that lady in accompanying him in his travels. The vote was carried by acclamation. Dr. Beke read a paper on the possibility of diverting the waters of the Nile into the Red Sea. He quoted largely from the works of travellers to Abyssinia, and argued on the authority of their works that there were nataral facilities for diverting the Nile into the Red Sea. Sir Samuel Baker said he did not know if Dr. Beke spoke from personal experience. He certainly did. He believed, in an engineering point of view, anything was possible, but he denied that there were any natural facilities, and to divert the channel would be a. most gigantic undertaking. There were very clever persons in existence, no doubt; it had been said some of them could set the Thames on fire," and he believed that would be done long before the Nile and the Red Sea were joined (laughter). Dr. Beke said he did not speak from personal obser- vation, but from the maps and writings of those who had travelled in the country, and who went round the mountain between the Gash, a tributary of the Nile, and the Red Sea, whereas Sir Samuel Baker travelled over the mountain. Sir Samuel Baker: I will only say I went to the top of the mountain, and therefore could see farthest. I leave you to say who was right, the man at the top or the man at the bottom (laughter). Biology. On the sitting of the sections on Friday, the biologists at the People's Callege assembled attracted a larger meeting than could be contained within their room. The address of Professor Huxley, the pre- sident, was expested to be not only interesting in itself, but to give rise to some discussion on the ever- fresh Darwinian theory. Mr. Huxley pomtea out that through millions of ages there had been living things exhibiting the same properties as were exhibited now. It was true there had been in the long succession since then a vast difference of form, through which they could go back and back until they could reaoh no farther, and the thread was lost. still through all these differences of form, the kind of knowledge had remained the same. As biologists, they were con. cerned with nothing but the observation and classifica- tion of form; they were not concerned with eauees; they were not concerned with forces. Still these things were at the bottom of the question, because on examining a group the thought must occur to them, What is the cause of all thi- ? How is it that living matter came into existence at all ? Wnatever opinion, therefore, men might have as to the Darwinian theory, no thinking man could doubt that the name Ðf Darwin would go down as that of one who bad endeavoured to elucidate this great question (applause). As a neces- sary preliminary to the studies of zaology and botany, which were now classified under the name of bielogy, an acquaintance with unliving things, and with physics and chemistry, was essential; anduf, instead of the students in our schools being taught to know with exactness what other people thought long ago, they were taught something about what they had to deal with at present, a few narrow-minded people, of whom he confessed be was one, ventured to think the system of education would be more beneficial. In the discussion which ensued, Professors Humphry and Wallace, Dr. Bennett, and Sir John Lubbock took part, but no controversy arose. Life in Arabia. In the Geographical section there were not fewer than a thousand members to hear Mr. Palgrave a paper on Arabia. He commenced by observing that, whatever might be the ignorance of Europeans with regard to Arabia, the Arabian's knowledge of Earope was still more limited, the general belief in Damascus aeing that Europe was governed by seven kings, who ill lived in one city. Dividing the country into Northern, Central, and Southern Arabia, and sepa- ra.ting the people into smokers and non-smokers, Mr. Palgrave proceeded to give numerous amusing and curious anecdotes and descriptive sketches of his travels and adventures. Being in one town seized and sentenced to death, he contrived to escape at the time when all the inhabitants, and the guards as well, were at tha mosques at prayers, which, fortunately for the distinguished prisoner, were rather lengthy. He ran out through the gates of the town, which were left open, and was able to conceal himself behind some sandbanks until he could get to a place of greater safety. The penalty for non-attendance at prayers by any inhabitant was a process called purifying hia hide," the meaning of which might be easily imagined where there were palmsticks and skins ready to receive them (laughter). This was among the Waha. bees, where Mr. Palgrave, though not a medical man, found it convenient to practise as a doctor, and that with some success. Before leaviD^ a Datients alwavs paid him, either all they owed or as much m they had-a kind of honesty, said tbe speaker, not always found in Europe. He had houses, servants, and domestic felicity offered him by the king but as by marriage he would have been bound to remain in the country all his life, he was obliged to decline to accept two wives. In Central Arabia he rooe^five or Bix days, fifteen or sixteen hours a day, on awift camels, without finding a drop of water or a single blade of grass-a country which showed utter hopelessness of ever being reduced to the service of man for any purpose whatever..
INSURRECTION IN SIBERIA :…
INSURRECTION IN SIBERIA CONDUCT OF THE POLES. they pillaged, and marched towards the mills of Petrowski and the auriferous sands belonging to the Crown, where a large number of Poles were working. On their road, they took away all the horses belonging to the post stages, pillaged and burned down the villages, tore down the telegraph wires, and destroyed the bridges and ferry boap. It is reported that a large number of Poles who had been authorised to settle in that province had joined the insurgents. However, they all soon contrived to arm themselves stud to possess ammunition. Evidently, everything had been prepared long beforehand bv the Polish colonists. The commander-in-chief of East Siberia, General Korsakow, had left some time ago for the Camoor (4,000 versts from Irkutsk) for a tour of inspection; the telegraph being cut off it has been impossible to inform him of the insurrection, but the Governor of Irkutsk lost no time in taking the neces- sary measures. Besides a, strong detachment directly sent against the insurgents, other troops have been despatched by steamers running on the Baikal, and artillery detachments have been aUo sent to the pur- suit from Verkne-Ondinsk. The Imperial troops and the insurgents were already skirmishing. Colonel Tcherniaiew, who was superintending the road works, was found in a wood, tied to a tree, and badly wounded. The body of Mr. Porokhow, aide-de-camp to the chief of the staff, and who had been killed by the Poles, arrived at Irkutsk on the 11th of July, with some wounded soldiers. General Kubel, chief of the staff of the troops in Siberia, is gone to take the command against the insurgents. Poles, made prisoners, are beginning to arrive here. It is stated that the insur- gents, surrounded on every side by the Imperial troops, have retreated in the woods but they are hemmed in by the troops and the volunteers—the latter belonging mostly to the Toungouaes and Bouriates, who are excel- lent sharpshooters. The town is much agitated, because it contains many inhabitants and employes who are Poles. Foot and horse troops patrol the whole night; in every street are stationed 10 mounted Cossacks and 10 on foot. The heat is excessive; yet no one dares to go from town either to bathe or walk in the woods. Advices received to-day from Oassolie (Crown milli;, 60 versts from Irkutsk) announce that the Poles working there have also revolted; likewise in the towns of Kansk and Balagansk. Yet, by a decree, dated 13th of April last, the Emperor had considerably mitigated the condition of the Poles deported to Siberia. Those condemned to penal servi- tude for six years were made colonists; those who were colonists received the permission to circulate freely through the whole of Siberia. It- seems that they have availed themselves of this act of clemency only to mutiny, kill, and pillage, for escape was out o £ the question. The number of wrecks reported daring the pas week has been 40, making for the present year a total wee 80S ee of 1,315.. It was generally reported m Duplin on Satur- day says the Liverpool Albion, that a Queen's counsel, who' was in great practice, haa absconaea, and that a series of forgeries, amounting to £ 20,000, is attributed to him. The Dreadful Accident in Paris.-The Patrie gives the following additional detailsThe first cause of this great disaster was evidently the violation of the regulations by the crowd. All the measures for preserving order were upset by the violence with which the mass going from the Place de la Concorde bore down on the briage. The shock was such that the mounted guards were carried away, horses and all, and forced nearly to the railings of the Legislative ralace. At the moment of the rush, a woman unfor- tunately fell, and that circumstance led to the subse- quent calamities. By a chance of which no possible explanation can be given, this woman, who would naturally be expected to be the first victim, escaped death, by the others in their fall forming a sort of aroh over her body, and themselves losing their lives. It is impossible to describe all the heartbreaking incidents of this terrible event. One woman, climbing up on the parapet of the bridge, got out of the crowd, and ran fearlessly along withoat knowing what she was doing. She was at last taken down uninjured. From 16 to 20 children are stated to have been reoeived at dif- ferent polioe-stations without having been «« yec olaimed by their parents. Of the eight exposed at the Morgue, seven have been idenuned. #
-,--..., FEARFUL ACCIDENT…
FEARFUL ACCIDENT TO AN EXCURSION I TRAIN. An alarming fatal accident occurred on Saturday afternoon on the Peterborough and Ely branch of the Great Eastern system, about a mile and three-quarters from Ely and a mile and a half from Chittisham stations. Every Saturday an excursion train leaves London for Yarmouth and Lowestoft, and takes up passengers at very moderate fares at the whole of the principal stations on the line. This train is due in Ely at 3.25, and out at 3 35. To meet this, and to accommodate residents on the Peterborough branch, a train leaves Peterborough at 2.30, and on arrival at Ely between the above times is coupled on to the main train. On Saturday the train left Peterborough as usual, made up in the following order: A powerful tank engine, a guard's break (next the engine), a first-class smoking carriage, an ordinary first-class carriage, one i,,Ii n second and three third-class carriages. William Brown, an old and experienced hand, was driving, and a guard named Puller was in charge. The train passed Whittlesea, March, and Chittisham stations in safety, and had taken up about 130 passengers. All went well until reaching the spot above mentioned, which is situated on a our ve of about a mile radius, with a slight up gradient to Ely. On the Ely side, about half a mile, is the junction of the Lynn, Norwich, and Peter- borough lines with the main line. About half a mile on the Peterborough side of the junction is an auxiliary signal, and this was against Brown as he ap- proached, but he whistled it off," and was proceeding at the rate of about 25 miles an hour when the train left the metals at or about a spot known as the Adelaide crossing of the Peterborough turnpike road, and close to the auxiliary signal; the engine, break, smoky," and first-class carriage ran down the bank, here about five feet high, and heaped pell-mell upon each other in the adjacent field. The alarm being raised, Mr. Barnes, the station- master at Ely, with all available assistance, hastened to the spot, and the telegraph was put in requisition to summons some of the head officials, and Mr. Sproul, the district superintendent, arrived with all speed, followed by Mr. Robertson, the general superintendent, .1. by special train. The engine lay upon its side, partly embedded in the soft earth of the field on this the break had partially mounted, the smoky had shot out, and lay upon its aide, at a short distance, and on the top, or nearly so, of the break and engine, the ordinary first-class carriage had mounted, and had turned itself completely topsy-turvy; the remain- ing carriages were off the metals, the wheels embedded in the bank, and leaning towards the field, looked as though the slightest touch with the hand would topple them over after their fellows. The break was literally smashed to atoms. Such passengers as had escaped from the carriages were grouped round in a state of the utmost consternation. The entire available medical assistance in Ely was freely rendered. It was soon discovered that the un- fortunate driver was killed; he was found pressed down by the handrail of the engine; he had one leg over the handrail of the engine, and the other round the pillar of the break, so it would appear that he was in the act of jumping-off when he met his death. His ribs were broken, and portions had penetrated the heart and lungs, and he had received other severe injuries, so that death must ,have been instantaneous. Had he not endeavoured to jump off he would probably have escaped, for the fireman was found uninjured -under and protected by the wind-guard of the engine. The escape of the guard was a miraculous one. He was literally hemmed in in all directions by the re- mains of his break. He was with difficulty got out, when it was found one leg waa-slightly injured, and he J was suffering from eonouasion. He speedily recovered from the latter, however, and pluckily set to work to I render what assistance he could. So soon as it was ,I iknown that the whole of the passengers were collected, the medical inspection resulted as follows:— i Mr. and Mrs. Grounds, who were in the ficst-olass i carriage, were removed to the Lamb Hotel, at Ely. Mr. Grounds is much cut about the head, and -severely injured in the back, so much so that on Saturday night paralysis, resulting from concession of the spine, was feared. Mrs. Grounds is frightfully shaken by the concussion, and dreadfully bruised and scratched. She was insensible for a considerable period, and great; fears are entertained in her case. On Sunday night both Mr. and Mrs. Grounds were reported worse.— Miss Coward: This lady is suffering severely from con- cussion, and was in-a state of collapse for a consider- able time. She is «ut about the face. This lady was likewise removed to the Lamb, and will be unable to be moved for sometime. Mr. John Hills, jam., of was returning home. Removed to his father's house. Is much bruised and cut, and has received a tre- mendous blow on the back of the head. Is suffering, in addition, from intense nervous excitement.—Mr. Legge, jun., of Ely, was returning home. Conveyed to his father's house much and severely cut about the 1 head, branch of temporal artery severed, severely bruised. Many of the other passengers were bruised or suffered temporarily from concussion, but not so severely as to prevent their return to their homes, to effect which every facility was afforded by the com- pany. The remains of the driver were conveyed to an aa- jacent public-house to await an inquest. He was a married man with a family, and resided at Peter- borough. He was a careful, frugal man, and reputed one of the best drivers on the line. The engine was one of the steadiest. The most strict scrutiny has failed at present to reveal the cause of the accident. The inquest into the circumstances attendant upon the death of William Brown, the øJílgine driver, who was killed at the late accident upon the Great Eastern Railway, just below Ely, was opened at the Shire-hall, in Ely, on Monday, before Mr. Wm. Marshal!, coroner for the Isle. The jury, composed of some of the prin- cipal inhabitants of the place, having been sworn, they proceeded to a minute and critical examination of the scene of the accident, and the remains of the engine and van left in the field. Headed by the coroner, they inspected everything likely to throw any light upon the cause of the accident, and then returned to the Shire- hall. The com. pany was represented by Mr. Robertson, the superintendent of the line, Mr. Johnson, locomotive superintendent of the line, and Mr. Sproul, the distriet superintendent. Mr. Gaches, solicitor, of Peterborough, attended to watch the case on the part of Shepherd, the fireman, and some of the sufferers. The coroner said that he proposed to take all the evidence that was forthcoming, and then to adjourn the inquiry, if neces- sary calling in the aid of a Government inspector. No conclusive evidence was given as to how the tram got off the metals, but it was stated by more than one witness that the train was running at a rapid rate- from 30 to 50 miles an hour-which was faster than usual, and faster than the rules allowed. The train was a little late. The inquest was adjourned for a week.
AUTISTIC ROBBERY OF SILVER…
AUTISTIC ROBBERY OF SILVER PL A TE. ] One of the most daring and cool hotel robberies was < nerpefcr&ted at Folkestone on Monday. About four P, vLi_ ti,a afternon of that day a fashionably- 1 drflssed man carrying a large black-glazed leather bag, dressed J^an, way Hotel, and ordered tea and M ushered into the reception-room, SfJStly rental to to refresh himself with a wash. His desire was com plied with, and he was shown ^tairaj» » on the first floor. This particular j opened into a corridor, at the end of which was a room containing a large _uijBi,mGnt silver plate and other valuables of! the eBt were kept. In about half an hour the gentle down refreshed, carrying the black lea'ther J, him, which he had taken upstairs. As he pass the bar he mentioned that he was going ? ness for half an hour, but was very particular in r questing that the "tea and chop" should be ready at the expiration of that time. So he depart* • Half an hour-an hour-two houra passed away without the return of the traveller," when it just struck the landlady to go upstairs to see whether all was safe. On going into the room where the plate had been left, she found that the cabinet had been broken open, and the whole of the plate, amounting in value to about < £ 70 abstracted. In one drawdr in the cabinet there were two gold watches, several diamond rings, and other articles of jewellery, altogether valued at about £ 400. This drawer, however, fortunately escaped the notice of the traveller," who, it need scarcely bo remarked, did not come back for his "tea and chop." As soon as thefact of the robbery was ascertained information was given to the police, but up to the present time nothing has been ascertained as to the perpetrator of the daring theft.
lTHE NURSE AND HER PATIENT.
l THE NURSE AND HER PATIENT. Curious Case of Libel. John Donaldson, of No. 54. Margaret-street, was charged on summons before Mr. Tyrwhitt, at Marl- borough-street Police-court, on Friday, with writing and publishing a libel upon Mary Ann Deans, one of the nurses employed at the Middlesex Hospital. Mr. Sleigh said This is a prosecution against the defendant at the bar for a libel on Mary Ann Deans, a prosecution ostensibly instituted by her, but in truth and in fact instituted by the solicitors to the Mid- dlesex Hospital, by direction of the committee of that body. The circumstances under which this prosecu- tion arises are somewhat singular. The complainant is a married woman, and one of the nurses at the Middlesex Hospital. The defendant was a patient at the hospital, and entered on the 10th July, in 20 bed in Forbes ward, and remaining until July 30, The bed No. 18 was near to this. No. 19 bed was occupied by a person named Manning, who had been in the army, and who had received an injury in the leg. Another injury to the same limb having taken place, this person (Manning) was received into thehospltalas an in-patient. Now, on the 15th July Manning was confined to his bed inthe hospital, his leg being in a cradle in the course of medical treatment; it was not only bandaged but sup- plied with casings of-plaster of Paris, so that in fact the man was physically unable to move. You will find, sir, the importance of the facts I am stating pre- sently. On the 1st August the defendant spoke to Mr. Shaw, one of the house surgeons. He said he wanted to make a complaint against, and to show acts of impropriety on the part of one of the nurses named Deans. Mr. Shaw, being occupied at the time, re- quested the defendant to speak to him when more at leisure, and on the 3rd of August the defendant, Donaldson, went into a room, and in the presence of Mr. Hulke and Mr. Shaw, surgeons, he made a statement, which at their request he reduced to writ- ing, and at his request communicated the contents of the paper to the committee. In a day or two after- wards, the hospital committee being assembled, Mr. Smith as chairman, the defendant was called in, and he was then asked by Mr. Smith if the statements in the paper were made by him, and whether he was pre- pared on reflection to abide by them. The defendant said he was sure the contents of the paper were true, and he would adhere to what he had stated. I will now call attention to the contents of this paper, asking you to observe that the occurrence narrated in it was alleged to have taken place on the 15th July, and that the defendant never made any complaint or gave any intimation until the 1st August. This paper is signed J. Donaldson, and witnessed by Mr. Hulke. "Mem.—I was admitted into the Forbes ward as a patient. On the 10th or 11th July, about three in the afternoon, I saw one of the patients and one of the night nurses whispering together, the nurse sitting on the side of the bed. On Sunday morning I was awakened, and I saw the nurse (Deans) in bed with the patient. I got up for a natural purpose, and this dis- turbed them. The nurse rose and Bat by the side of the bed. I got into 'bed again and pretended to sleep the nurse lay down with her arms round the patient. She got up, after having finished the intercourse, and left him about three o'clock in the morning. She went to another bed that was vacant, then into the scullery, then to the empty bed, where she lay until about five o'clock, after which she went abolltiler duties. On Sunday afternoon two young men came to the hospi- tal. I saw them standing with their back to me. I saw them pull out a bottle with brandy in it." Mr. Ribton objected to the reading of this portion of the paper. There was only one libel complained of. Mr. Sleigh I read the charge as forming part of the contents of the paper. But I can promise my friend that, as it does,not form the gravamen of the com- plaint, I shall not dwell very strongly on it. The paper goes on to state this. One of the young men pulled out a brandy bottle—the patient, Manning, whipped the bottle to his mouth and then took it away. Some time afterwards Deans came to Manning's bed- side with something in her dress, which she took out, and it eounded like a bottle. This is the libel com- plained of. I need hardly say that no more serious imputation on a married woman, and especially on a hospital nurse, could be made. The bring- ing drink into the hospital is only an offence against the regulations; the charge of immorality is far more serious. The board of the hospital are naturally de- sirous to have, only nurses ot good behaviour and moral conduct, and if anything is proved to the con- trary against any nurse she would at once be dis- missed. Technically, it is only necesEary to publication of the libel. Tho defendant, if he be- lieves hia statement to be true, is not to be tried here. I shall prove the publication, asd go a step further, and put Deans, the narse, into the witness-box, that she may be cross-examined, as her character is at stake, and the hospital authorities are anxious to know whether there is any truth in the matter alleged by the defendant, and for that purpose will afford every i facility to the defendant in proving his case. J Mrs. Deans and Manning were then examined, and they both denied that any impropriety had ever taken J place between them, as stated by the defendant. Mrs, Deans, upon being recalled, said that on one occasion the defendant had interfered with her. and threatened to report her, upon which she told him he could do so as soon as he liked. For the defence, Mr. Ribton contended that there had been no publication, and that the defendant had been, so to speak, entrapped into making a statement, without being previously warned as to the conse- quences of his act. Mr. Tyrwhitt considered, however, that there bad been a publication, and committed tho prisoner foi trial, fixing the bail at JS10.
EXECUTION AT MANCHESTER.
EXECUTION AT MANCHESTER. For the first time this century the inhabitants # of Manchester have had the opportunity of witnessing an execution in their own town. Few thingsceuld better indicate the change which has come over the spirit of English law than a comparison of the two last execu- tions which have occurred in Manchester. One was in 1798, when a young man named George Russell was found gailty of robbing a bleachcroft, and condemned to death. When the last morning of his life came he was led from the ga.ol, and dressed for the occa- sion in a clean white shirt, without vest or ceat, was, placed on an unsaddled horse, and conducted, with cruel slowness through the immense multitudes that gathered in street after street. Two miles off, on Newton Heath, the gallows was erected, and the cul- prit had to bear all the suspense of that journey, and run the gauntlet of a suoeession of crowds, before the hangman's hands let loose his imprisoned spirit. On Saturday last the culprit was again a youth, James Barrows, only 19 years old. His crime was murder. Although so young, he had but a bad reputation and be is now Buspected to have been concerned in the deaths of two men before he committed the crime for which his own life was forfeited. On the 21st of May last he hs&t to death a labourer employed by his father, because the man refused to lend him a few shillings to spend in drink. Since his condemnation he has had the continuous attention of the prison chaplain, and of Mr. Thomas Wright, known I throughout the north of England as the "prison I 11 -T philanthropist." His behaviour in prison has been unlike what it was outside. He has been docile, 1 constant in his attendance upon religious offices, and professing great penitence. He committed to memory 1 hymn after hymn, and was constantly quoting them- i The excitement consequent upon so unprecedented 4 a thing as a hanging was such as to make thousands 4 of people visit the neighbourhood of the gaol on Thursday and Friday for the purpose of having a passing glimpse of so strange a thing as a gallows, and having seen that were content to go home again. There were, however, others who were, even so early, looking out for places for occupation on the following morning. As morning approached the crowd increased rapidly; the patter-patter of ironed clogs was ceaseless on the pavement; and the whistling and yelling, mingled with the singing of vulgar songs, was such as to suggest that the crowd might be going to Knot Mill fair instead of to see the strangling of a human being. By six o'clock there must have been from 20,000 to 30,000 rseople and aa eight o'clock approached considerable additions had been made to that number. A large moDortion of those assembled were of the lowest nlass Some time before the execution actually took nlaoe, the noises which had been so continuous were Stopped, and all eyes directed to the scaffold, where men had been Bent to make the final preparations. rr £ a cWef of these was to place a screen which should vMffull length of the body from the view of the multitude. The mob greeted these workmen with a hi Atler spending a restless night the criminal awoke, and passed his remaining time with his religious at- tendante. Scarcely a tremor was noticed as Calcraft approached and pinioned him. The procession from I the condemned cell to the scaffold was formed-Cal. craft on the right, and the chaplain on the left of Burrows. As they reached the steps of the drop the chaplain's feelings overcame him, and he bad to retire. As soon as his head was visible to the crowd outside shouts of "Hats off!" and "Shame!" were raised, and the most utter confusion prevailed. As Calcraft pulled down the white cap on the convict's face the crowd started a most hideous yelling, and continued it until the rope was adjusted. The drop fell, and all was over. Burrows died after a few slight convul- sions. About an hour after the body was cut down and buried in the precincts of the gaol.
LANDLORDS, TENANTS, AND RATS.
LANDLORDS, TENANTS, AND RATS. A trial has just taken place before the Civil Tribunal of the Seine in which M. Thiery, a corndealer, who formerly occupied the house No. 70, Quai de la Megis- eerie, sought to recover the sum of 12,0OOf. from his landlady, Mdme. Trouyet, for damage which be had sustained through her not having kept the house in proper repair, which neglect permitted the invasion of a legion of rats. The house has been pulled down in consequence of the improvements in the neighbour- hood, and when that took place the remains of sacks and grain to a great extent were found, and an expert whom M. Thiery employed to estimate the damage reported it at from 10,000f. to 12,000f. The com- plainant pleaded that he had from the end of Sep- tember, 1864, constantly urged the landlady to have the proper repairs executed, but to no purpose. The defendant replied that she had caused them to be effected as soon as she had notice. The court gave judgment to the effect that seeing that Thiery had not been sufficiently careful in giving notice in time of the necessity for repairs, and, on the other hand, that the expert had reported the bad state of the walls which had enabled the rats to penetrate the building, and that the proprietor was bound to provide for the suit- able occupation of the tenant, condemned Mdme. Trouyet to pay M. Thiery the sum of 1,200 £ with interest, and also the costs.