ne 
Lo 
1843.) 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
165 
Directors with his presence at an entertainment to be 
given on the occasion. The interest taken by the public 
in the work was increasing, as was exhibited by the fact 
that 4,440 persons had visited the works last year more 
than in any previous season. Last year upwards of 
40,000 persons had paid for admission to the Tunnel. 
The Directors had received a certificate from Sir I. Brunel, 
the engineer, declaring that there was not the slightest 
settlement in any part of the works, The trustees of the 
Kent-road were about to make three lines of road in the 
direction of the Tunnel. It was then resolved—' That 
the cordial thanks and congratulations of the meeting be 
tendered to Sir J. Brunel, for the distinguished talent, 
energy, and perseverance evinced by him in the design, 
construction, and completion of the Thames Tunnel—a 
work unprecedented in the annals of science and inge- 
nuity, and exhibiting a triumph of genius over physical 
difficulties declared by some of the most enlightened men 
to be insurmountable.”’ 
The Literary Fund.—The annual general meeting of 
the Members of this excellent Society took place on 
Wednesday, Mr. Hallam, the historian, in the chair. The 
report stated that the sum of 1,255/, had been dispensed 
jn relief to distressed authors, their widows and children, 
during the past year, and that no les "a sum than 29,0002, 
has been applied to this purpose since the foundation of 
the Society in 1790. A letter was read from the Russian 
Ambassador, Baron Brunow, to the Marquess of Lans- 
downe, announcing that the Emperor of Russia highly 
appreciating the benevolent purposes of the Institution, 
has been pleased to present it with 1000 silver roubles, 
1551. This is the more gratifying as a similar testimony 
was given to the value of the Literary Fund last7year by 
the King of Prussia, who presented it with 100/. he 
Marquess of Lansdowne was re-elected President; the 
Vice-Presidents were re-elected, with the addition of the 
Earl of Arundel and Surrey, and Mr. Bond Cabbell : 
and the vacancies in the Committee were filled up by the 
election of Dr. Fraser, the Hon. C. A. Murray, Master of 
the Queen’s Household; Mr. James, the Novelist, and 
The Parks.—In consequence of the recent intrusions 
into the parks, a notice has been issued by the Duke of 
Sussex, by command of her Majesty, that no hackney- 
coach, or hired cabriolet, be allowed, under any pretence 
whatsoever, to pass through St. James’s or Hyde-parks, 
except through the Birdcage-walk, from Great George- 
street, to James-street, Pimlico. That no return post- 
horses be allowed to pass through the parks, and that the 
permission for hackney-chaise conveying Government 
messengers, to pass through St. James’s-park, shall not 
extend to any other hired carriages. That the gates of 
St. James’s-park, with the exception of those communi- 
cating with the Birdeag lk, be kept half-closed; and 
horses, but those belonging to such 
day, Feb. 25 :—Weest districts, 145 5 North districts, 181 ; 
Central districts, 206 ; 
tricts, 252. ‘otal, 1003, (515 males, 488 females.) 
Weekly average for the last five years, 903, (males 461, 
females 442,) and for the last five winters, 1004, 
Wrovinctal Webs. 
Chichester.—At the Court of Bankruptcy on Monday, 
an application was made by the junior partner in the 
Chichester old bank (Mr. Wm. Ridge), for his certificate. 
Tt was urged upon the part of the bankrupt, and in fayour 
of his application, that having been only a stipendiary 
partner, he had little or no control over the management 
of the bank, and that there was nothing in evidence to 
show that he was at all aware of those improper transac- 
tions which had been alleged so strongly against the bank. 
Mr. Commissioner Fane, in giving judgment, said, that 
as a partner in the bank he must hold him responsible to 
the public. He was an executor to his father’s will, and 
it was his duty at that time to have looked into the affairs 
of the bank, and have further ascertained whether his 
father’s estate was solvent or not. It was impossible ‘for 
the Court to consider that he was ignorant of the pro- 
ceedings of the bank, He must surely have been cognizant 
of some of the facts ; for instance, In the case of Gardener, 
who, although having embezzled in the year 1834, 3,0002. 
or 4,000/. ; and in 1838, from 7,000/. to 8,0007., was yet 
continued in the situation of chief cashier to the bank, 
even down to the period of the bankruptcy in 1841, But 
admitting that the bankrupt had not the same degree of 
control over the books as his brother, still it was impos- 
sible for him not to have known that a robbery had been 
practised upon the public. Under all the circumstances 
of the case, the Court must come to the same decision as 
it had formed upon the application of his brother, which 
was, that the certificate be delayed for three years, with 
the condition that all property acquired by will, or as heir 
at law, or in other way coming to him, except as the pro- 
duce of his own industry, should at once pass to the cre- 
ditors of the bar 
Halifae.—We alluded in our last to the cruel treat- 
ment of a collier-boy near Elland, which Lord Ashley had 
brought before the notice of Parliament. 
Joseph Whiteley, the master, was summoned before the 
magistrates, charged with ill-using the lad, and an appli- 
cation was made on behalf of the overseers of the town- 
ship that the indentures might be cancelled, and an 
adequate penalty inflicted upon the master. The Jad 
detailed the particulars of the treatment he had received. 
A surgeon said he was called on by the out-township to 
examine the boy. He found the lad full of bruises from 
the top to the bottom of his back. The wounds were of 
different colours, some appearing of an older and some of 
a more recent date ; and appeared as if made with a rough 
board. The magistrate said that he had sat on that bench 
for a number of years, but never had such a case of cru- 
elty come before him. He would leave the master to the 
compunction of his own conscience, believing that he 
would never be able to hold up his head in society for 
years to come, and that he would be shunned by every 
one as‘‘unworthy to associate with. The application for 
cancelling the indentures was granted, and the church- 
wardens were bound over to prosecute the master at the 
sessions. 
Heileybury.—About ten o’clock on Saturday night, a 
fire broke out in a room belonging to Mr. Watson, a stu- 
dent in the East India College, during the time of his 
absence at a meeting of the Debating Society. Imme- 
diately upon opening the door of his apartment, Mr, 
Watson was met by dense volumes of smoke, which were 
quickly fanned into flame by the current of air thus 
admitted, and the room was soon enveloped in a blaze. 
The supply of water was deficient, and as it is not laid 
on throughout the building, it was necessary to bring it 
from a distance in buckets. The students, however, 
exerted themselves successfully, and the flames were 
subdued before they had spread beyond the apartments in 
which they broke out. An inquiry into the origin of the 
fire was instituted by the college authorities ; but no cer- 
tain conclusion has been arrived at: it is considered pro- 
bable that a hot coal had fallen out of the stove upon a 
sofa, the wadding of which ignited, and thence rapidly 
communicated the fire to the wainscotting of the room. 
From the defective arrangements in regard to water, it is 
supposed that if the fire had not been so speedily detected, 
the entire college would have been destroyed. 
Liverpool.—Another destructive fire broke out in this 
town on Tuesday, by which the boiler-workshops, end a 
great part of the foundry of Messrs. Fawcett and Preston, 
the engineers, and two warehouses, were destroyed. The 
fire broke out in the paint-shop belonging to the foundry, 
and though the fire-police were immediately on the spot, 
it was impossible to do anything effectual for a long time, 
owing to the want of water. At last a supply was pro- 
cured, but not until the flames had got such a head as 
to make it impossible to extinguish them, and they had 
destroyed the greater part of the foundry and an adjoining 
warehouse, together with another on the opposite side o 
Lydia Anne-street. This calamity will deprive from 300 
to 400 workmen of employment, and thus add to the dis- 
tress existing in the town. Owing to the pressure of the 
times, the number of men employed in this establishment 
had been reduced from nearly 700 to 358, and of these a 
very large proportion, if not the whole, will be unable to 
obtain employment until the workshops are rebui't. 
Manchester.—During the last two or three years a 
number of silk-warehouses in this townand neighbourhood 
have been broken into and robbed of goods, the amount 
of which is said to have exceeded 10,0002. in value. The 
robberies have been so ingeniously planned and executed, 
as to have defied the utmost vigilance of the police either 
to trace the goods or the thieves at the time, and not the 
slightest information on the subject has, till lately, been 
obtained. About a fortnight ago, it was rumoured that 
parties were connected with these robberies who stood 
higher in the world than the police had ventured to look 
—that they had been planned and effected at the instance, 
in fact, of master silk-manvfacturers and dyers. It was 
said that these parties, entering the warehouses of different 
merchants and tradesmen in the way of business, had 
thus the means in the day-time, without suspicion at- 
taching to them, of observing the fastenings of doors, and 
ascertaining the most valuable or most suitable goods 
for their purpose; that then they laid their plans, and 
submitted these plans to workmen in their employ, by 
whom the robberies were effected; that the goods so 
stolen were mostly yarns, which, on being brought to 
them, were immediately consigned to the dye-tub; and 
that thus, with the change of colour, the possibility of de- 
tection was removed. The police have not been long in 
acting on their newly-acquired information, and have ob- 
tained search-warrants against Messrs. Nathaniel and 
Edwin Lucas, silk-manufacturers and dyers, carrying on 
business at Leigh, near Manchester, and who have also a 
place of business near Macclesfield. They were appre- 
hended a few days since in consequence of stolen goods 
found in their possession, and were brought up for exami- 
nation at the New Bailey on Monday, when so many eX- 
traordinary facts were elicited, in the course of a long 
examination, that the magistrates remanded the prisoners, 
and refused to accept bail. 
Marlborough.—The Council of the new School for the 
sons of clergymen and others have appointed the Rev. 
Matthew Wilkinson, late fellow of Clare-hall, Cambridge, 
and head-master of the proprietary school, Kensington, 
to be h lisk ti 
the in this town, 
Mariow.—On Tuesday night a fire broke out within 
the manor of Swilly Pond, near this town. The old 
Manor House, the property of Mr. Colborne, was burnt 
to the ground, nothing remaining of the structure but 
one stack of chimnies. At one time the Pear-tree, so 
famed in the annals of Marlow elections, was in great 
On Saturday, | danger; but from the exertions of the inhabitants not a 
branch wasinjured. The fire is supposed to have been the 
work of an incendiary. 
Merthyr.—The Welsh papers mention as a remarkable 
feat in the iron manufacture, that a bolt was rolled at 
the Cyfarthfa Works last week, of 25 ft. in length and 6 
ft. in diameter. It was of cable quality, and weighed 
2,600lbs. The bar rolled at the Dowlais Works some 
time since was 14 ft. long, and 8} ft. in diameter, weigh- 
ing about 22 cwt. 
"Porismouth.-A jury has decided that the claim of the 
Duke of Norfolk, as lessee of the right of ferry between 
Holyhead Island and Cumberland Point, near this town, 
is established by what is called ‘‘user,’’ or long uninter- 
rupted right. This gives his Grace’s lessces, the ferry- 
men, the exclusive right to take the toll, which is 2d. for 
strangers, and Id. for inhabitants. The grant of the 
ferry was made by Charles I. 
Railways.—The following are the returns for the past 
week :—Greenwich, 516/.; Eastern Counties, 824/.; 
Croydon, 1732. 3 
Brighton, 2,1102.; York and North Midland, 1,2907. ; 
land Counties, 2,0€32.; Hull and Selby, 832/.; Edin- 
burgh and Glasgow, 1, 2.; Birmingham and Gloucester, 
1,3682; Birmingham and Derby, 9712. ; North Midland, 
3,3402.; South-Western, 4,0142.; Great Western, 10,465/. 5 
South-Eastern, 1,157/.; London and Birmingham, 12,587/.; 
Northern and Eastern, 1,318/.—At the half-yearly meet- 
ing of the North-Midland Company, held last week at 
Leeds, the correspondence was read which had passed 
between the Directors and the Board of Trade, by which 
it appeared that the representations of the Board have 
been attended with good effect as regards the public safety, 
and that the Directors have agreed to allow additional 
intervals of rest to the engi riving pi trains. 
—The half-yearly meeting of the Manchester and Leeds 
Company was held last week. The total income for the 
half-year was stated to amount to 119,113/., including 
receipts for passengers 65,985/., and goods 52,433/., out 
of which a dividend of two and three-quarters per cent. 
was declared, leaving a balance in hand of 15,5002. The 
Directors proposed the establishment of a reserve or de- 
preciation fund, to meet the diminution in the value of 
the carriage and locomotive stock. ‘here is every ex- 
pectation that the branch to Halifax will be completed by 
the summer of 1844; and the Directors are now applying 
themselves to a reduction in the expenditure, so far as is 
consistent with the safety of the public.—The half-yearly 
meeting of the Sheffield and Manchester Company took 
place last week. The receipts during the past year 
amounted to 14,065/., leaving a balance, after deducting 
the expenses, of 3,944/, Though 512,276 passengers had 
been conveyed upon the line, during the last six months, 
no accident had taken place. The works of construction 
were proceeding favourably, and it was expected that the 
entire line, from Sheffield to Manchester, would be opened 
early in 1845.—The half-yearly meeting of the Birming- 
ham‘and Derby Company took place on Thursday. During 
the half-year 98,000 passengers were carried on the line 
without any accident. ‘The third-class passenger-traffic 
had increased at the rate of 72 per cent., and in the goods 
department there had been an increase of 5000 tons, or 
3,412/. The amount received for passengers was 194,870/. 
The balance in kand 8,978/. The meeting recorded its 
approbation of the conduct of the Directors, in their re- 
ailway bave announced that the increase of their fares 
has produced a decrease in the receipts, from the mo- 
ment the change was introduced ; and they are now about 
to fall back upon their old prices.—The share-list of the 
Yarmouth and Norwich Railway is completed, and the 
chairman stated, at the first balf-yearly meeting, held at 
Norwich, on the 24th ult., that the works would speedily 
be commenced.—The works on the Eastern Counties 
Railway, which we noticed last week, have been com- 
pleted, so as to allow the passage of the trains. The 
goods’ traffic has been commenced, and a luggage-train 
now runs daily between London and Colchester. There 
are upwards of seventy bridges and viaducts on the line, 
thirty-six culverts and drains, besides numerous crossings 
and cuttings. The cutting at Brentwood-hill is more than 
two miles long, and seventy feet in depth.—The first 
general meeting of the Pontop and South Shields Com- 
pany was held last weck, Mr. Rennie in the chair. It 
appeared that the Company had recently taken possession 
of the Stanhope and Tyne Railway, which they were now 
working at a profit, under the title of the Pontop and 
South Shields Railway. The accounts exhibited a net 
revenue for the half-year of 42,802/., leaving a balance, 
after the payment of 27,618/. for expenses, of 15,183¢, 
This amount had been charged with the interest on the 
loans and liabilities of the late Company, out of which a 
dividend at the rate of 30s. per share for the half-year 
was declared. The traffic in coal and passengers on the 
line exhibited a steady increase. 
IRELAND. 
Dublin.—During the greater part of last week this city 
was in a state of excitement, cccasioned by a discussion 
