160 
[Saturday, 
THE FIELD. 
spects of the colony, which is pronouuced by the local 
journals to be an able and comprehensive exposition of its 
affairs. The necessity of further grants for immigration 
purposes was strongly urged by his Excellency, who also 
declared that crime was not on the increase in the colony. 
According to the custom-house returns, the shipments of 
sugar from British Guiana showed a decrease in 1853 of 
11,000 bhds., as compared with 1852. High winds and 
heavy rains had put a slop to the sugarmaking, which 
was commenced in most paitsof the colony. St. Lucia 
was healthy, and the weather delightfully cool. Gov- 
ernor Power was on the 27th ult. to meet the Legisla- 
tive Council, which had assembled for the purpose of passing 
an ordinance to enforce the rules of the Board of Health, 
and to make some amendments in the immigration ordi- 
nance suggested by Her Majesty's Land and Emigration 
Commissioners. Mr. Ulrlc Pamphile, a merchant of the 
island, and two respectable young men had been drowned by 
the upsetting of a boat in which they were endeavouring to 
read) the village of Gros Islet. The cholera at Nevis had 
abated, and at the last accounts the deaths were only three to 
five per diem. At St. Thomas’s, also, it was greatly on the 
decrease, and about 1 9 was the average daily mortality. No 
European hud been affected. At Tortola it was raging with 
gr»at virulence, chiefly among the black population. 
Colonel Chads, administering the government of the island, 
died on the 28tli or 29th ult. At Antigua, yellow fever of 
a mild character was prevailing. Some disturbances were 
likely to take place at Dominica owing to the refusal of the 
local militia to act against some l iotors, who had resisted the 
police in an ejectment rase. The Lieutenant-Governor hud 
sent to Antigua for assistance. When the packet left Bar- 
budoos Her Majesty’s ship Mesiora whs at that island, and 
about to proceed lo St. Vincent’s with military at the request 
of the Governor, the black peasantry having struck and 
assumed an attitude almost approaching to insurrection. 
AUSTRALIAN A. 
Gold Ships. — T he following vessels are known to have 
left Australia for England, witli gold on board, viz. : 
Date of 
Gold on board. 
Name. 
From. 
Sailing 
Ounces. 
Madagascar. . . 
G0,4fi0 
Alert 
7,145 
Maitland 
...Sydney 
....Nov, 1 .. 
. :i66 
Plnntngenot . 
. . . .Nov. 4 .. 
14,661 
Elizabeth 
....Nov. 25 .. 
34,010 
Total ounces 
. 11G.G31 
The value of this is about 406,4001., but the Madagascar is 
almost despaired of. 
Tenders. — Two more ships are wanted by the Emigra- 
tion Commissioners— one of which is to be ready for Sydney- 
on the 7th of April next, and the other for Geelong ou the 
11th of the same month; 
Outward Bound.— The departures from the Port of 
London for the Australian colonies during the past week 
show u decrea*e. They have comprised altogether four 
vessels — three to Port Phillip, with an aggregate burden of 
1,331 tons, and one to Sydney, of 94G tons. Their total 
capacity was consequently 2,277 tons. The rates of freight 
exhibit a further tendency to decline. 
The Sovereign op the Seas. — This clipper ship, 
which sailed from Liverpool, Sept. 7, with a very valuable 
cargo, arrived at Melbourne, Nov. 26, in 79 days. 
Metals. — Letters from Adelaide, dated the 1st Dec., 
1853. stutc, in reference to the metal market, that for cop- 
per the present price demanded by the South Australian 
Mining Association is 1 10/. per ton. The stock on hand is very 
small. There was a fuir demand for zinc, sheet lead, and 
Ewbunk’s nails. Also inquiries for assorted sizes of iron. 
The new tariff came into operation on the 22nd Nov. 
Arrivals at Port Phillip.— The following British 
vessels arrived at Melbourne and Hobson’s Bay between 
the 1st and 29th of November : — Joshua, Fowler, and 
Blackwall, McKerlie, both from London ; Dosdemonu, 
Sheres, London ; Ann Dashwood, Brindwell, Liverpool ; 
Vimiera, Neatby, Plymouth; Padang, Kwakkelstein, 
London ; Wassenuar, Hofstee, Liverpool ; Semiramis, Mil- 
hank, London ; Black Swan, Gentle, Clyde; Tarbet Castle, 
Russell, London ; Highland Lad, Prcwett, London ; Mobile 
Ponsonby. Liverpool ; Free Trade, Bevan, Bristol ; Mel- 
pomene, Lawrence, London; Javaan, Gleisma, Liverpool; 
Content, Henderson, Aberdeen ; Adelaide, TremeOru, 
London; Elizabeth, Shurpo, Clyde; Marie, Margotin' 
Liverpool; Escape, Brown, Liverpool; Echo, llugberj 
Liverpool; Australia. Mountain, Liverpool; Sovereign of 
the Seas, Warner, Liverpool; East Lothian, Craigie, Leith ; 
Antoinette, Winter, London ; Jueob Cats, Koning, Liver- 
pool. 
Los6 of the Osmanli Steamship.— The Osmanli 
screw steamer, Captain Corbett, which left England, with 
the mails for Melbourne and Sydney, a few months since 
Btruck on a reef of rocks at Cape Linois, in d’Estrces Buy' 
on the coast of Australia, in the month of November last'. 
Happily, the crew and all the passengers were saved, but 
at the last accounts from the spot, the vessel was fa>t break- 
ing up. The Osmanli was a fine vessel, of 1.000 tons bur- 
den. and was insured for 35,000/. 
Committal op the Captain op the Hannah Maria 
Emigrant Vessel. — fn ormation lias been received by the 
underwriters of the emigrant ship Hannah Maria — which 
ve.-sel sail, d from Plymouth for Adelaide and Melbourne, 
and "as lost near Cape Jaffa, when on her voyage between 
the two last-mentioned ports — that Captain Drew, late 
master of that ill-taied ship, had been apprehended in 
Melbourne, and fully committed for trial on a charge of 
having, through carelessness, lost the ship, thereby' en- 
dangering the lives of the crew and passengers. The trial 
will take place at the criminal sessions, Melbourne. 
Alt RIVAL OF THE GREAT BRITAIN. 
Liverpool, February 14.— The screw steamer Great 
Britain, Mutthews commander, arrived in the Mersey nt a 
quarter past 10 o’clock this morning from Australia. She 
l.as brought 199 passengers, and 1G4, 465 ounces of gold dust 
cn freight, and a large amount in the hands of passengers. 
The pas-age of the Great Britain has not been distinguished 
by any particular feature. She sailed from Sydney on the 
19t>> of November, Melbourne the 3rd of December, and the 
Falkland. Island* on the 2nd of January. Her run from 
Melbourne has, then fore, occupied 72 days. From leaving 
Melli'.uri.e she hed no wind till rounding Cape Horn, when 
blie had thre> dayB very strong breezes. On each of these 
three dny» she sail'd 304 mil' s. Afterwards she had south- 
ea-t trade and light winds; 15 days boforo reaching Liver- 
pool she had no sails set, but steamed against heavy eust 
winds. The passengers during the passage have been in 
good health, and no deaths occurred. She was off Holyhead 
at 3 o’clock a.m., and docked in the Sandon Dock at noon. 
The whole of the crew, with the exception of three or four, 
have returned with the vessel. The new clipper ship Gaunt- 
let, from London, had arrived at Melbourne, after a passage 
of 88 days. 
FOREIGN MISCELLANY. 
The Quaker Deputation. — Letters from St. Peters- 
burg mention that the three gentlemen forming a depu- 
tation from the Quakers of England and America had 
reached that city, hud obtained an interview with Count 
Nesselrode, and were to be admitted to an interview with 
the Czar the following day. Their mission is to present 
to the Czar n memorial in favour of peace from the great 
body of Quakers of England and the United States. 
Copenhagen, Fed. 8.— To-day the Folksthing passed 
the bill for augmenting the naval service by a majority of 
71 to 3. 
“ Extremely Dangerous ! " — We have received the 
following despatch, dated Vienna, Wednesday evening: — 
“The circular forwarded to the diplomatic agents of Aus- 
tria is in the following sense : 
“ ‘Austria considers the armed intervention of the 
Western Powers in Turkey extremely dangerous, Aus- 
tria has full confidence in the loyalty and rectitude of the 
Emperor Nicholas, and will take the necessary measures for 
securing her own frontier.’ A battering train of 80 guns 
and 6,000 cwt, of powder has been seut to the south- 
eastern frontier.” 
United States. — A patent cartridge manufactory at 
Ravenswood, Long Island, has been blown up, and twenty 
persons killed. 
THE METROPOLIS. 
LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S OFFICE, Feb. 13. 
(From the London Gazette of Tuesday, Feb. 14.) 
Notice is hereby given, that her Majesty will hold Leveps 
at St. James’s Palace, on the following days, at two o’clock 
—Wednesday, the 22nd February inst. ; Wednesday, the 8th 
March next. 
Coventry Club. — W e are given to understand that 
this fashionable establishment, wluch was originally started 
by the elite of the members of the hunt tun for their 
especial accommodation, as well as for that of the foreign 
corps diplomatique, will he closed on the 25th of March 
next. Fruncutelli, the celebrated chef de cuisinti, who was 
one of the chief attractions of the club, it is rumoured, lias 
been secured by Lord Ward. 
The London Docks. — A portion of the largo tobacco 
warehouse ut this vast commercial establishment has been 
>et apart and added to the cigar warehouse, expressly for 
the show of cigars to the trade. The entire building is 
covered with glass and otherwise rendered light, and espe- 
cially well-adapted to the show of this article of merchandise 
when exposed for the inspection of the trade. The formation 
of such a place has long been felt to be desirable; and the 
new show-room is nearly completed, and will shortly be 
ready for its intended purpose. 
Departure of Troops for the Seat of War.— On 
Wednesday the inhabitants of the metropolis witnessed a 
spectacle to which, for many years, they have been strangers, 
and which it is impossible they could see without emotion. 
Shortly after 12 o’clock the 1st battalion of Coldstream 
Guards marched out from St George’s Barracks, Tiahilgar- 
squarc, en route for Chichester, preparatory to embarka- 
tion fur the Mediterranean. Colonel Bentinck commanded 
the battalion, which, as it passed along the Strand, was 
enthusiastically cheered by the assembled multitude. Even 
the occupants of the omnibuses and cabs joined iu these 
manifestations, and so great was the excitement to which the 
event gavu rise that for some time the thoroughfare was 
entirely suspended. At Walerloo-bridge the tollkrepers 
were completely overwhelmed by the torrent of people 
accompanying the troops, and who were not to he stopped 
ill their farewell greetings by any number of turnstiles. The 
men appeared to bo iu tlm highest spirits, and marched 
cheerfully along to the familiar air of “ The girl I left behind 
me.” At 2 o’clock the third battalion of the Grenadier 
Guards removed from the Tower to St. George’s Barracks, 
and they, too, in their passage along the streets, were 
accompanied by crowds of people. At these barracks they 
will be reinforced from the other battalions of the regiment ; 
and, having made up their effective strength, ns already 
announced, to 850 bayonets, w ill bo embarked at Gravesend'. 
On Wednesday, also, a draught or35U picked men from the 
2nd battalion of the Scotch Fusiliers, now stationed at 
indsor, arrived at the Wellington Barracks, to complete 
the full complement of the 1st battalion, which proceeds at 
once to the Mediterranean. The inhabitants of tlio Royal 
borough and the young Etonians accompanied the men to 
the station, and on their departure by train to town gave 
them u most hearty farewell. The only officers of the 2nd 
battalion likely to accompany the expedition are Lieutenant- 
Colonel Dixon, Lieutenant-Colonel Moncrieff, and Qnurter- 
Master Allen. [See “ Military.”] 
The Fire and Loss of Life in Westminster. — 
On Wednesday afternoon Mr. Bedford held a long inquiry 
at the Chequers Tavern, Tothill-street, into the circumstances 
attending the dentil of Mrs. Elizabeth Hester, u widow, aged 
raj years, who lost her life at the fire which broke out on 
tlio premises of 44, Charles-strect, Westminster, on Sunday 
night last. The jury having proceeded to view the body, 
found that the face was the only portion of it that bore any 
resemblance to a human being, us the left leg was burnt 
entirely away, the right leg burnt to u cinder and nearly 
severed, and the trunk was one perfect char. William Crow, 
summoning officer, deposed that he had known the deceased 
for twenty years. On Sunday night last lie heard the alarm 
of fire at 44, Charles-strect, and immediately hastened 
thither with the parish engine. One of the brigade engines 
arrived at the same time. He found it was the tup room 
that was on fire. They set to work, and having got the fire 
under, a search was made for the deceased, whose body was 
found lying on her back. The body was nearly entirely 
consumed and the room was destroyed by fire; the flooring 
and ratters were destroyed, and nothing was left but the 
plaster and laths of the ceiling beneath. He removed the 
body. I he Coroner: It is wonderful that the house was 
not burnt down. Ann Cooke, resided in the room under 
that occupied by the deceased : She saw deceased about 
half-past one o’clock on Sunday, and the next thing she 
heard was about hull-past five, when she smelt fire, and on 
going up stairs saw tlio flames coming through the door. 
She instantly gave an alarm. By the Coroner: Did not 
know how much money deceased had in her room 
Deceased had 4001. in the funds. She had been vestry- 
keeper 3o years ut St. Margaret’s church. Mr. Heather 
landlord of the bouse, said that on hearing the alarm he 
went up stairs, and having got assistance, he, by means of 
u large quantity of water, put out the fire in about half-an- 
liour. After some further evidence, in which it was stated 
that deceased’s ankle was found in the fire-grate, but no 
other portion of the limb could be found, the Coroner 
summed up, and the jury returned as their verdict, “That 
the deceased was burnt to death nt a fire at 44, Charles- 
street, Westminster, but bow that fire occurred there is no 
evidence to show.” 
High Tide— Overflowing of the Banks of the 
Thames. — The flood tide of Wednesday nlternoon rose to 
the remarkable height of 18 iuches above tlio ordinary flood 
tides, and to within 5 inches of the highest ever known in 
'ho river, in February, 1840. Wandsworth, Battersea 
Bunksido, and many other districts along the banks of the 
Thames were flooded, besides many hundred wharves along 
Bermondsey, Rotherhilhe, and on the opposite side of the 
river, creating very serious damage. 
Important to Dealers in Coffee.— On Wednesday, at 
the Court of Inlaud Revenue, Mr. Henry Coleman, of No. 
27, Chlswell -street, grocer, was charged with having sold 
chicory mixed with coffee. Mr. Fleming, an officer, proved 
going to the defendant’s shop, where he purchased half a pound 
of coffee, which he bunded over to’ the chemists to the Board, 
it was found to contain 17 per cent, of chicory. The wrap- 
per bore the words “ Mixture of chicory and' coffee.” Mr. 
Commissioner Stephenson inquired of the officer how he 
had received such a mixture with his eyes open ? The 
officer said ho read the words when lie made the purchase 
but lie did not call the trader’s attention to it. Mr. Com- 
missioner Stephenson said it was a strange thing he did not. 
\ pdor person going into the shop might not have been able 
to read the Words, and have gone away with the article, 
having no knowledge but that it was genuine. As the officer 
could read, when lie saw the words, “ Mixture of Chicory 
and Coffee,” he should have expected he would have said to 
the tradesman, “ I did not ask for chicory and coffee, hut 
coffee only.” The defendant said ho thought they were ut 
liberty to sell coffee and chicory mixed, if they attached a 
label slating that it was so mixed. Mr. Commissioner Ste- 
phenson : Then you must clearly understand that you cannot 
sell coffee and chicory if you aro only tisked for coffee. 
Mr. Coleman said the whole trade had been under nn im- 
pression that they could do so, for a question hud been asked 
in the Houso of Commons, supposing a person went into a 
shop and asked for a pound of coffee, could a mixture of 
coffee and chicory be given to him if a label to the effect 
was placed upon the package? To thut question Mr. Wil- 
son guve an answer that if it had u label “ Mixture of coffee 
and chicory,” it would be legul. Mr. Dually, (lie solicitor 
to the board, said i he trade seemed to be under nn impres- 
sion that t hey were not bound to sell genuine coffee, unless 
it was specially asked for. Now that was not so; they had 
a right to give the article that was asked for. Mr. Com- 
missioner Stephenson said it was but common sense. If a 
person went into a shop and asked for coffee, he expected to 
get it. He wus glad that this conversation had arisen, so 
that persons might he no longer under such an idea that they 
weio allowed lo sell one thing for another, for if they did so 
they would each timo render themselves llublo to a fresh 
penally. lie then gave judgment against the defendant for 
the penalty of 122. 1 ().«. 
John Weller, of No. 2, Horry’s- place, Shoreditch, and 
John Hare, of No. 141, Aldersgate-street, pleaded guilty to 
similar informations, and were .severally fined 12/. 10?. 
John Skinner, of 122, Lower Marsh, Lambeth, was fined 
bl. for adulteration of coffee with chicory. 
Monster Diamond. — The extraordinary diamond re- 
coutly deposited at tlio Bank of England from Rio was 
submitted to the Queen by tlio consignees, Messrs. Dovey 
and Benjamin. It weighs 254J carats, and is alleged to bo 
likely, when polished, to exceed in size and brilliancy the 
Koh-i-noor. 
Post-Officp, Policies. — The Lords of the Treasury 
hove consented to appropriate the fund arising from un- 
claimed money-orders, and from unclaimed property in 
dead letters, to the payment of part of the premium ou the 
policies of such of the officers of the Post-office, in any 
part of tlio United Kingdom, ns may insure their lives. 
This fund now amounts to about 1,OUO/. u yeur, and there 
is an accumulation from past years of about 15,000/., which 
is also to be applied to this purpose. 
SOCIETIES AND INSTITUTIONS. 
Institution of Civil Engineers, James Simpson, 
Esq., President, in thrCiiair.— On reading the minutes 
of discussion of the January meeting, attention was directed 
to the statement of the experiments recently made at Aluwick, 
on the quuntity of water discharged through a “pot-pipe,” 
of eighteen inches diameter; for while, on tlio one hand, the 
results of the experiment sufficiently confirmed the accuracy 
"f the formula of Du Boat, Eytelwein, Smeaton, Piony, 
Hawkelny, and other investigators, and as decidedly contra- 
dicted the results published iu the Bine Books emanating 
from the Board of Health, these results, nevertheless, 
differed too considerably from other consistent conclusions, 
to be fully relied upon ; and it was, therefore, desirable that 
this experiment should not be taken us a datum upon which 
to found any hydraulic law, for the determination of the 
quantity of water which might bo transmitted through tubes. 
For this purpose, indeed, the cited experiment must be 
deemed unsatisfactory ; because pot-pipes were never of 
uniform or exact diumeter — inclinations were always, more 
or less, vaguely stated — joints were seldom sound, and when 
the discharge was into free space, the differential level was 
rarely satisfactorily afforded. Moreover, this experiment 
itself was, in some respects, contradicted by very carefully 
conducted experiments, made by Monsieur Couplet, at 
Versailles, on a pipo eighteen inches in diameter, iho 
results of which wero extremely consistent with the mathe- 
matical determinations successfully resorted to by oil practical 
hydraulic engineers. The experiment by Monsieur Couplet 
wus mode ou a pipe of 43,200 inches long and 18 inches 
diameter, tho motive head was 145 inches (all French 
measures), the calculated velocity was 40^ Inches, while the 
observed velocity was 30J inches, differing from Lite velocily 
calculated from established formula? only about 3 per cent. 
It was also contended lo he extremely undesirable that 
centralised authorities should continue to exist, as it was 
uniformly found thut these authorities did great mischief, by 
tbo wide dissemination of errors, apparently under Govern? 
ment influence, and by the consequent repression of scientific 
