1843.] 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
885 
the preservation of trees and plants which it is intended 
to plant in the course of the ensuing summer, some thou- 
sand additional loads of mould will be required to raise it 
toa sufficient height above the level of high water, and 
thus insure sufficient ventilation. 
The New Royal Eachange.—The works of the New 
Exchange continue to progress very rapidly. On Satur- 
day the Grasshopper, the crest of the founder, Sir Thomas 
Gresham, formerly so conspicuous an object over the 
clock-tower of the old building, was placed upon the 
summit of the tower which forms the principal feature of 
the east end of the new structure. Several members of 
the Gresham Committee attended the ceremony, and the 
completion of the masonry of the building was celebrated 
by a dinner among the workmen given by the contractors, 
who have completed their contract within the specified 
time. The foundation-stone was laid on the 17th Jan., 
1842, and the works have been executed to their present 
State in about 20 months. The building is now slated, 
all the divisions of rooms are formed, and the greater 
Part of the fire-proof arches over the shops are turned. 
Lincoln’s-Inn.—The appointment of preacher to the 
Society of Lincoln’s-inn having become vacant by the 
late preacher being appointed ishop of Lichfield, nine- 
teen clergymen have sent in their applications to the 
benchers, The following are among the number :.'The 
ev. Thomas Robinson, late Archdeacon of Madras ; 
Archdeacon Manning; Rev. Mr. Anderson, of Brighton ; 
Rev. Mr. Garbett, professor of poetry in the University 
of Oxford ; Rey. Mr. Claughton; Rev. Mr. Randall, 
rector of Binfield, Berks; Rev. Shergold Boone, in- 
cumbent of a district church of Marylebone; Rev. Mr, 
Jelf; Rev. Mr. Vaughan of Brixton; Rey. Dr. Hussey 
of Hayes : Hon. and Rev. Mr. Best ; Hon. and Rev. Mr, 
Erskine; Rev. Mr. Harness of St. Pancras. The ap- 
Pointment of deputy preacher at Lincoln’s-inn is also 
Vacant ; it was formerly in the gift of the preacher, but 
the benchers of Lincoln’s-inn have now taken the appoint- 
ment into their own hands. 
Metropolitan Improvements.—A numerous meeting of 
the parishioners of St. Paul’s Covent-garden was held 
a few days since in the vestry-room of the church, to take 
Into consideration the propriety of petitioning Parliament 
to pass an act to authorise the formation of a new street 
from the south-west corner of Long-acre to the north- 
West corner of King-street, and to determine on the most 
advisable course to be adopted to secure so desirable a 
carriage entrance into the parish. Resolutions were 
Pgreed to that a committee should wait on the Duke of 
Bedford to request his co-operation, and also wait upon the 
Various holders of premises in the line to solicit their 
Support ; and that a committee should be formed to carry 
ut the object who should report to a future vestry. It 
was also resolved that a petition should be prepared tobe 
Presented to Parliament on the subject.—With the excep- 
tion of a few houses at the Whitechapel terminus and some 
smaller tenements near Spitalfields Church, nearly all the 
houses are down on the site of the new street at the East 
end of the metropolis. It comprises a district previously 
inhabited by the poorest classes, and the removal of the 
Huei has been of great benefit to the neighbourhood, as 
ada of drainage and ventilation and the crowded 
a es with which it was covered rendered it a frequent 
urce of disease. It is the intention of the commissioners 
on the completion of this line of road to carry another 
oblique Street from it to the railways at Shoreditch, by 
which communication will be opened between the trade of 
the northern and eastern counties and that of the docks 
and river-side, The Eastern Counties Railway having 
taken down many houses in Bethnal-green and Shore- 
ditch, advantage has been taken of their removal to im- 
Prove the neighbourhood by the erection of new streets 
and houses, 
Lieutenant Munro.—The daily papers state that it is 
8enerally believed to be Lieut. Munro’s intention to leave 
the Royal Horse Guards and enter the Prussian Service, 
with the view of permanently residing abroad. His house- 
poe &c. has been sold this week, which appears 
he rumour i 
us to take his HED pee en ee 
The Rev. Mr. Melvill.—This popular preacl 
chapel at Camberwell has fee ety Waa a 
Numerous congregations not only from the inhabitants of 
the neighbourhood but from different parts of the metro- 
Polis, has been appointed Principal of the East India 
College at Haileybury, and will consequently retire from 
the sutpel with which he has been so long connected, It 
18 not known whether he will vacate hi tell 
Chaplain of the Tower. Ea eas 
"reemasonry.—A grand lodge was held at © 
masons’ Hall on Wednesday week, for the somincrlon of 
Grand Master of the Order of Free and Accepted Masons 
of England, rendered vacant by the decease of H.R, H. 
Proposed by Brother Peter Thompson, and seconded by 
and the latter by the junior 
Gerne Warden, and seconded by one of the Ae instant 
he ballot for the election will take place at the next 
Wee eas next. 
tests.— On Tuesday an inquest was held on the bod 
ee Wood, a pardons: ad te hep ee of St. samevs 
aan . me Jones, gardener, stated that he and deceased 
me ance employed in the enclosure of St. James’s Park 
ae and gate-keepers, On Saturday morning 
t ae deceased went over to the Horse Guards to 
Heine gardening-tools. Deceased was in the act of 
atotie whe a bill-hook and witness was turning the grind- 
7 When deceased fell backwards on the ground appa- 
rently quite lifeless. Witness raised deceased from the 
ground and carried him to the Westminster Hospital. He 
was evidently quite dead. He had never complained of being 
unwell, and appeared up to the instant of his death to be 
in excellent health. The house-surgeon said that he was 
quite dead when brought to the Hospital, and there was 
no doubt that he had died a natural death. The jury 
returned a verdict in accordance with this evidence.—An 
inquest was held on the 8th at the Model Prison at Pen- 
tonville on the body of John Bremner, aged 24 years, who 
was removed into the prison on the 30th May, 1843, from 
Aberdeen, where he was sentenced on the 27th April pre- 
vious to 7 years’ transportation. The Coroner instituted 
a minute inquiry into the management of the prison 
and went with the jury tothe cell the deceased had 
fnhabited, and having carefully examined it ex- 
pressed themselves pleased with its size and appear- 
ance, and with the bed and everything else that it 
contained. Among the witnesses examined were five 
prisoners, and in order that they should not be selected 
persons, the men numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, were pro- 
duced. Their examination was conducted in the absence 
of all the officers of the gaol. One of the prisoners was 
the second who had entered it. The prisoners then, in 
answer to a variety of questions from the Coroner as to 
their treatment, all concurred (though examined separately) 
in bearing testimony to the uniform kindness of the 
Governor, physician, warders, teachers, and other officers 
of the prison. They also spoke of the sufficiency of food 
and of their comfortable location in the cells ; but two 
complained that the cells were too close; one of the two 
however had a difficulty of breathing. They all appeared 
very grateful for having been taught trades by which they 
could support themselves when set at liberty. Some com- 
plained of the solitude and silent system, and one added 
that his annoyance in this respect arose chiefly ‘‘ from his 
inability to tell people how grateful he was for the kind- 
ness shown to him.’’ From the statement of another 
prisoner it appeared that they were allowed to see their 
wives only once in three months. At the close of the 
examination the coroner requested the attendance of the 
Governor and Dr. Rees, and informed them that the 
first prisoner who was a witness had complained that his 
cell was sadly too close.” That might have seemed so 
only from his difficulty of breathing, but the last prisoner 
had also found his cell too warm. He also mentioned the 
effect of the rope-dust on his lungs. The Governor said 
that complaint was not common in the prison but the 
man should be a basket-maker. The Coroner then 
repeated the statement of a prisoner who had acquired 
a passion for reading the Bible. The man, he said, had 
spoken with tears of gratitude of his treatment, but said 
he felt fagged and weakened, and it was evident from his 
description and appearance that his brain threatened to 
become soft, probably by constantly dwelling on what he 
could not understand. He would advise the Governor to 
stop that tendency, or the portals of Bethlehem would 
soon be open tothe man. The Governor and Dr. Rees 
promised to give attention to these suggestions, and the 
jury having returned a verdict that ‘‘ John Bremner died 
a natural death from pulmonary consumption,”’ the court 
was dissolved, with many expressions of gratification on 
the part of the jury at the facts elicited as to the kindness 
and attention bestowed on the prisoners.—An inquest 
has also been held on the body of Charles Shipley, 
formerly a clerk to Messrs. Williams and Deacon, 
bankers, Birchin-lane, who was under sentence of trans- 
portation for seven years on a charge of embezzling 402/. 
7s. 6d. It was proved that deceased died of an affection 
of the brain, and that he came out of the infirmary of 
Newgate straight to the prison. The coroner remarked 
that such a practice is very unfair to the medical officers 
of the prison, and was calculated to swell the fatal cases 
on their sick list in an improper manner. ‘It is to be 
regretted, ” he said,“ that no statement that the man had 
just come out of the infirmary at Newgate was sent here, 
so as to put you on your guard respecting him. The 
greater portion of what we have heard to-day has been 
extremely satisfactory respecting the prisoners; but I] 
believe that if an indication had been made to Dr. Rees 
on the subject, and he had understood the extent of his 
power in refusing admission to a sick person, we should 
not have been sitting here now. There is no doubt that 
the death was produced by a natural cause, and there our 
inquiry ends. With regard to the surgeon’s certificate 
from Newgate, his reply to us, if we had him here, would 
only be that in giving it he fulfilled the condition of the 
law, and that his official duty as surgeon of the gaol ter- 
minated there, as he is only required to certify that the 
prisoners are not affected by any putrid or contagious 
disease and are fit to be removed.’ The jury, without 
hesitation, returned a verdict that deceased had died ‘¢ A 
natural death, caused by an effusion of water on the brain.” 
A relative of the deceased then came forward, and saidhe 
should retire from the court to tell the family that the 
treatment of the deceased in that prison had been per- 
fectly satisfactory, but that he could not say the same 
with regard to his being sent there from the infirmary at 
Newgate.—An inquest was held on Saturday on the body 
of Lieut.-Gen. Sir John Taylor, whose death was an- 
nounced in our obituary last week, and after a long inquiry 
a verdict that he “died by the visitation of God” was 
returned.® 
Mortality of the Metropolis—The number of deaths 
registered in the week ending Saturday, Dec. 2, was as 
follows :—West Districts, 154; North Districts, 198; 
Central Districts, 211; East Districts, 257; South Dis- 
tricts, 267; Total, 1,087 (males, 572; females, 515). 
Weekly average for the last five years, 903 (461 males, 
442 females) ; and for the last five autumns, 908, 
Probineial Nets. 
Incendiary Fires.—During the last fortnight the count 
of Bedford although generally tranquil has sae dicted 
by repeated nightly fires, and there is evidence to show 
that they have been the work of incendiaries. It is im- 
possible to assign to the commission of such mischief any 
distinct or probable motives as the agricultural labourers 
appear to be generally more contented than in other rural 
districts of the kingdom. A fire occurred a few days ago 
in the barn of Alderman Higgins of Bedford, on the Kim- 
bolton-road, by which an old soldier lost his life. Two 
persons were apprehended on suspicion, but were dis- 
charged for defect of evidence.—A large barn and out- 
houses on the farm of Mr. Eames at Hownes near 
Ampthill were destroyed on Saturday morning, the in- 
cendiary has been apprehended and committed for trial on 
his own confession.—On Sunday night a fire took place 
at the village of Stockton, Norfolk, on a farmin the occu- 
pation of Mr. Grimmer, and in a short space of time a 
large barn filled with the produce of 20 acres of barley 
was entirely consumed—The barn of Mr. Matthews a 
farmer at St , Berks, taining a quantity of corn 
was fired a few evenings since, and with the whole of its 
contents totally consumed. A poor man. named John 
Grey; living at Burden’s Heath near Thatcham, had his 
little barn and all it contained burnt to the ground. 
There is little doubt that both these fires were caused by 
incendiaries.—On Thursday night the 6th inst. a fire was 
discovered in the farm-buildings of Mr. Kirby of Box- 
worth, Cambridgeshire. The flames broke out at half- 
past 11, and notwithstanding every exertion the barns, 
outhouses, carts, &c., two horses, a cow, 17 pigs, the 
poultry, and the produce of 500 acres of land, with a cot- 
tage, were entirely consumed, leaving only the farm-house 
standing. There is no doubt that it was the act of an 
incendiary, as it originated in a barn where no one had 
been employed for a week.—On Thursday last about five 
o’clock a fire occurred in a farm-yard belonging to Mr. 
Fyson of Fen Ditton, about two miles and a half from 
Cambridge. The yard contained 17 stacks of every 
description of grain, two large barns, a granary, pigeon- 
house, cart-hoyels, piggeries, and other outbuildings. The 
fire first broke out in a stack of oat-straw, and ina few 
minutes from the commencement the whole of the stacks 
were ina blaze. The labourers manifested little desire 
to aid in extinguishing the fire. The engines were chiefly 
worked by members of the University who actively 
employed themselves in attempting to save the property. 
There appears to be no doubt that it was the work of an 
incendiary. Two men have been apprehended, one of 
whom still remains in custody. The loss cannot be less 
than 5,000/.—On Monday evening a barn containing 
unthreshed wheat was fired on the premises of John 
Hindley, being part of Hurst Hale farm near Chat Moss 
and on the line of the Liverpool Railway. There seems 
little doubt that “the object of the incendiary was to rob 
the house, the fire being kindled just opposite the door, 
and a man called Hayes has been apprehended on 
suspicion.—On the night of the 5th inst. a farm called 
Noouses in the parish of Sawbridgeworth, in the occupa- 
tion of Mrs. Bennett, was fired and almost destroyed 
together with the outbuildings and? their contents. 
Government have offered a reward of 1002. with a 
pardon to the accomplices, and a further reward 
of, 1007, has been: offered by the Phoenix Fire Office 
for the apprehension of the incendiaries. The following 
rewards have also been ‘issued :—For the destruction of 
barns belonging to Mr. Hindley, of Hurst-ball, Culcheth, 
and a barn the property of Mr. Blackburn, of Hay Astley, 
near Manchester. For barns and outbuildings of Mrs. 
Tyrell, of Polstead-hall, Suffolk, 100/. by Government, 
and 50/. by the Suffolk Insurance-office. For a stack of 
barley belonging to Mr. G. Gayford, of Rymer-house, 
Suffolk, 50/. by Government, 50/. by the Duke of Grafton, 
and 50. each by the Norwich Union and Blackburne As- 
sociation. For the barns and outhouses of Mr. S. Buck, 
of Hawstead Lodge Farm, Suffolk, 100/. by Government, 
5002. by the Suffolk-office, and 50/. by the Essex and 
Sussex “Equitable. For a stack of barley belonging to 
Mr. Kersey, of Fakenham, Suffolk, 50/. by the Duke of 
Grafton, 50/. by the Suffolk-office, and 50/. by the Black- 
burne Association. For the bean-hovel of Mr. French, 
of Whitfield, two carts and hayrick damaged. For the 
bean-rick of Mrs. Brown, of Rothwell, Northampton, 
with wheat-rick barley-rick, and range of beast-hovels, 
502. by Government. Fora barley-stack belonging to Mr. 
Nead, of Easton, 52/.10s. by the Norwich Union. For 
the barley-stack of Mr. Gooch, of Honingham, 105/. by 
the Norwich Union, and 105/. by Mr. Gooch. 
‘Ashton.—The turn-out at this place and Staleybridge 
has suddenly terminated much sooner than was expected 
from its extensive ramifications. All the hands resumed 
their employment on Thursday week and at the old rate of 
wages. This timely cessation of hostilities has given 
great comfort to many innocent individuals and families. 
Brighton.—Since the late fatal accident by the falling 
of the cliff at Rottingdean other portions have given 
way, and on Tuesday night, at Blackrock, close to 
Arundel-terrace, Kemp-town, several tons of earth fell, 
completely undermining the carriage-road and threaten- 
ing its entire destruction. It has been necessary to re- 
move the palings into the middle of the road, leaving only 
sufficient room for one carriage to pass ata time. Num- 
bers of visitors are daily attracted to the spot to see the 
destruction made to one of the best roads out of 
Brighton. Measures are in progress for cutting a new 
road from Kemp-town to Rottingdean more inland, as 
no means can be adopted to save the present road. 
Brill.—The Annual dinner of the District Conservative 
Association took place at Brill on Thursday. Mr. J, Stone 
