February 25.] 
THE FIELD. 
185 
— -rr 7 ^"^ 000 Z. has been remitted to the colony, and 
Jbe tawh thus for purchased amount to 9,219 acres, at a 
C °JiS U BonND.- Th e departures from the port of 
T Hnn for the Australian colonies during the past week 
Tow an increase. They have comprised altogether seven 
6 cbIs— four to Port Phillip, with an aggregaie burden of 
o C i an tons ; two to Adelaide, with an aggregate burden of 
i’iOI tons • and ono to Sydney, of 1,022 tons. Their total 
capacity was consequently 5,303 tons. No material varia- 
tion has occurred in the rates of freight. 
Arrivals. — The specie arrivals of the week have 
..mounted to nearly 800,000/., chiefly in gold from Australia. 
“V* A icrt has arrived from Sydney, whence she sailed the 
omli of October, with 7,145 ounces of gold, valued at 
oh ''.BO/ The Plantagenct has also arrived from Sydney, 
whence she sailed the 4tf> of November, with 11,612 ounces 
of cold, valued at 46,000/. 
Desperate Combat with Two Convicts. — The 
following account of the capture of two convicts near Mel- 
bourne is from a letter of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Andcr- 
« ] a te of the 50th liegiment of Foot, addressed to his 
Sster at Glasgow “ About two months ago two notorious 
nnd desperate convicts made their escape from Van Die- 
men's Land, and reached our coast. They at one commenced 
a fearful course of highway robberies, plundering and 
otherwise cruelly maltreating men, women, and even the 
children of all who resisted tlieir outrages, and, before they 
bad been a week at large, bad committed no less than three 
murders They were armed to the teeth, and from the 
beginning possessed themselves of the best horses they could 
flnd in their way, and in this manner, passing rapidly from 
place to place, 'they carried terror, death, and destruction 
wherever they went. Parties of our mounted police were 
sent out in all directions, and, for a fortnight or more, 
gc 0U red the country in pursuit, by night and by day, with- 
out avail. At last a party, consisting only of your eon 
(Charles Hope Nicholson), a brother cadet of the name of 
Thompson, und a trooper, came suddenly about sunset on a 
hut in the distant bush, many miles away from any other 
habitation, and found the door fixed ; but on listening 
they heard voices within, and, on bursting open the door, 
found in an inner room no less than nine persons, who 
had been robbed and tied up by the bushrangers. While 
the captives were being released one of them called 
out ‘There they are;’ and, on our heroes looking out, 
they saw the men galloping up with their revolvers 
levelled towards them. Although our party was on foot 
they Instantly dashed at them, and inquired who they were. 
The villains, 'as if to gain time to ascertain how many they 
had to contend with, answered at first that they were neigh- 
bouring settlers, but our heroes were not [to bo done, and, 
seeing this, the bushrangers commenced the attack by firing 
at them, which our people instantly returned ; but, unfor- 
tunately, poor Cadet Thompson fell from the leading bush- 
ranger’s second shot, and thus your boy and the trooper bad 
to continue the fight, and this they did so effectually that 
the villains gave way and galloped off, taking the trooper’s 
horse away with them. Poor Thompson was then carried 
into the hut, and found to be wounded through the lungs. 
The trooper was despatched for medical assistance to Kil- 
more, nine miles off, and your son was left alone with poor 
Thompson, excepting the nine persons who had suffered 
themselves to be tied up, expecting every moment a second 
visit from the foe. Your sou made the best arrangements he 
could by posting the men, on whom lie could place little 
confidence, around the hut, and in this perilous situation he 
continued until 2 o’clock in the morning, when the doctor, 
accompanied by two troopers, came to their relief nnd assist- 
ance. After this night of suffering from bodily fatigue and 
mental anxiety, at dawn of day your son, with his 
two troopers, accompanied by a Dative black from 
Kilmore, again went In chase, the black following the 
trail of the bushrangers with the instinct ol a bloodhound. 
One of the troopers was sent forward for the purpose 
of reporting,' if possible, at the nearest police station, 
what had occurred. Holding on their course for two or 
three miles, they saw the trooper returning at full speed 
waving his cap. They pushed on, and soon got sight of 
the two bushrangers of the previous night, in company 
with a third, coming up at a cool and determined pace 
towards them. The conflict soon commenced, both parties 
rushing furiously and fearlessly at each other, discharging 
their fire from one or more barrels as they met, and after 
passing, each in their turn wheeling their horses round, and 
again at it; and in this way they continued to fire and hack 
with their swords at each other for some minutes. Your 
gallant boy was slightly grazed on the cheek by the leader’s 
first shot, and the second passed right through his horse’s 
neck ; but, nothing daunted, he continued the fight, charg- 
ing his man again and again, until his amunition was all 
gone. He then rode desperately at the fellow and threw 
himself from his horse on the bushranger, seizing him 
round the neck ; both were brought to the ground, the bold 
and desperate villain still retaining one of his revolvers. A 
fearful struggle ensued, but your 6on got over him, disarmed 
him, and kept him so tight by the throat that he called out 
for inorcy and quarter, and surrendered. Meantime the 
troopers had also succeeded in securing the other two villains, 
and all were now bound hand and foot, and brought in 
triumph to Melbourne. On their way down the villains 
complimented your boy for his gallant Hnd honourable con- 
duct towards them, in giving thorn a fair fight and a fair 
chance, and told him, ns his reward, where he would find 
115/. in gold ‘planted’ near tho hut, and to which he 
was welcome, as money was no object to them now. Theyalso 
confessed to no less than seventeen murders during their life- 
time, committed in various parts of the world, and only re- 
gretted that they had not ‘ settled ’ a few more of the police. 
They have been tried and executed since, and your gallant 
son has been promoted, and otherwise rewarded. Poor 
Thompson, strange to say, is still living.” 
was reported, and that led to the discovery and seizure. 
The powder, on being seized, was in the first instance taken 
to the Artillery Ground, but the authorities there refused to 
receive it. It was then conveyed to the Tower, where it was 
ultimately deposited. Mr. Clemmitt received a summons 
from Guildhall, to attend there on Tuesday, to explain the 
reasons why he had lodged so large a quantity of gunpowder 
on his premises in opposition to the statute. [“ See Police.”] 
Postage Stamps of Sixpence. — The London Gazette 
of Tuesday contains the following : — Inland Revenue, 
Somorset- House, Feb. 20. — Notice is hereby given, that the 
Commissioners of Inland Revcnuo have provided a Stamp 
for denoting the duty of Sixpence for Postage, and that such 
Stamps will ho issued to the public on and after tho 1st of 
March next. By order of tho Board. “ Thomas Keogii, 
Secretary.” 
Street Improvements. — Tho Commissioners of City 
Improvements have obtained possession of the la.-d portion 
of the buildings in St. Paul’s Church-yard, Carter-lnne, 
Doctors’-commons, and Old Change, required for the for- 
mation of the new street from King William- street, London 
Bridge, to St. Paul’s Church-yard, and the demolition of 
theso houses will forthwith commence. It is intended to 
open this important line of street for public traffic about the 
15th March. Considerable progress has been mado in tho 
extension of Furringdon- street for the opening to Islington, 
nnd a vast number of houses in Clerkcnwell, Suffron-hill, 
Brook-hill, &c., have been demolished, and tliis new street 
is expected to bo opened for traffic as far ns Clerkcnwell- 
green during the ensuing summer. On the Surrey side of 
the Thames, a new street, extending from the end of 
Stamford-atreet, Blackfriars road, through the borough of 
Southwark, to High-street, near the London-bridgu railway 
terminus, is about to be constructed. 
Wellington Docks. — Tho Admiralty report on the 
proposed Wellington Docks, to be constructed at Rother- 
hitlie on the marsh lands adjoining the Greenwich railway, 
has been printed, and is of a favourable character. No 
objection is mado to tho bill ns regards its effect on the 
navigation of the river, and it is pointed out, that us the site 
selected is low and unwholesome for houses, the conversion 
of such a district into docks and quays, besides the facility 
it would afford to maritime commerce, must prove a salutary 
measure to the metropolis. 
Despatches to the East. — Tho Secretary of State 
for Foreign Affairs and tho Postmaster-General have been 
very busy during the last few days in making the necessary 
postal arrangements for the transmission of moils and 
Government despatches, via France, for Malta and Constan- 
tinople, to commence as soon as tho British military force 
now under orders to 6ail for the Levant shall have taken 
their departure. The submarine and Electric Telegraph 
Company (chief office, Cornhill) have entered into a contract 
to transmit, either by day or night, all Government orders 
that may be sent to the naval and military commanders of 
the Anglo- Fran co (combined fleets and army) forces as far 
as Marseilles. The Peninsular and Oriental Stenm Naviga- 
tion Company have also placed at the disposal of Government 
their two fine steamers Vectis and Vuletta (1,000 tons, 
400-horsc power each), to be employed as despatch steamers 
between Marseilles, Malta, and Constantinople, and vice 
versA. The South Eastern Railway, from London-bridge to 
Folkestone, will also constantly have an express locomotive 
and steutn-pneket in readiness to convey despatches und 
Government couriers to the East, via Boulogne; and the 
same arrangement has been made with tho Boulogne and 
Amiens Railway Company to Paris, and so on to Marseilles, 
to be transmitted by cither of the above-named mail steam- 
packets, or else by a special French mail despatch stenmer. 
The postal arrangements, as regards the transmission ol 
despatches, couriers, ami letters to Constantinople, will bo 
as speedy and perfect as possible, not only by means of the 
electric telegraph, hut railways nnd steam via France, and 
the regular mail packets via Southampton. 
Grand Banquet at the Mansion-house. — The 
Lord Mayor is about to invite Lord Raglan, his Royal 
H ighness the Duke of Cambridge, and the other distinguished 
officers of both services who are ordered to embark on 
foreign service, to a splendid banquet, at the Mansion-house, 
on the 11th insr. His Royal Highness Prince Albert may 
honour the entertainment with his presence. 
parts of tho ground leading between the turnpike and 
Tarraby. From this Inspection, and the evidence of wit- 
nesses, it appealed that the gig was heard to pass Whitedose 
Gate, turn up Taraby lune, proceed nearly ns far as the west 
end of tho villugo, and stop for two or three minutes. A 
person was heard to speak from tho gig, and utter tho words 
1 How aro you, mistress,” throe times in succession, after 
which the horse and gig returned at a quick pace to White- 
close Gate. The marks of the wheels nnd tho horse’s feet 
distinctly showed that in passing up the lane towards 
Tarraby, the near wheel had grazed tho breast of tho fence 
tho whole distance, and had struck a tree standing in tho 
hedge-row. Beyond that place marks of blood woie found 
along the road us far as the entrance to tho villugo. 
Deceased’s hut was found near to tho tree, and, on n careful 
examination, hairs were found adhering to the bark. It is 
ovldent that Mr. Twenty man hod received some serious 
injury long before lie was thrown out ; for besides tho marks 
of blood seen in Turraby lnuo, blood was found on the out- 
side of the gig apron, in tho bottom of the gig (both in large 
drops and ns if rubbed in), on tho Iron plate of the near 
shaft, on the near sldo lump, on tho shafts behind tho lamp, 
nnd on the hind cross-bar ; human hair was also found on 
tho near side lamp, and tho dirt had been rubbed off the 
front glass, where tiio hair was sticking; from which it may 
he supposed that his head or fuco lmd been struck whilst in 
the vehicle, and that lie lmd been thrown into different 
positions by tho jolts of the gig until It was upset, when 
tho force of the full terminated life, if the previous injuries 
had not already done so. He was in his 50th year.— Carlisle 
Patriot. 
SOCIETIES AND INSTITUTIONS. 
Bath and West op England Agricultural 
Societv. — The council of this prosperous society huve just 
fixed the day for the coming summer exhibition. It will 
take place on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the 7th, 
8ih, and 9th of June, at Bath. The local committee have 
chosen a very excellent spot; and we hear from the indc- 
fatigible secretary, Henry N. John Maule, Esq., that the 
funds are in a very flourishing condition. [From our own 
correspondent.] 
Turkey. — The council of the Imperial Oriental Society 
of Constantinople has conferred the distinction of Honorary 
Fellowship on Dr. Patrick Colquboun, LL.D., of the Uni- 
versities of Cambridge and Heidelberg, formerly accredited 
at the Sublime Porte, and has appointed him the correspon- 
dent of the society in England. 
THE METROPOLIS. 
Seizure op Gunpowder in the City'. — On Saturday 
1,200 lbs. weight of gunpowder was discovered on the 
premises of Mr. Clemmitt, carrier, Old Bailey, and seized 
by the police under the statute. It appears that the Messrs. 
Pigou, the gunpowder manufacturers, have some large 
orders to forward powder to Winchester, Southampton, and 
other places, and Mr. Clemmitt was selected to convey it 
to the various railway stations. Not having the opportunity, 
from the pressuro of business, to effect the immediate 
transit of the powder, lie hnd it carefully deposited in an 
ice well on his premises, and Messrs. Pigou’s carts having 
been seen there several times by the police, the circumstance 
PROVINCIAL. 
Carlisle.— Fatal accident.— A fatal accident befel 
the Rev. Joseph Twentyman, of Crnokadyke, near this city, 
during the night of Sunday last. Mr. Twenty man drove a 
friend into Carlisle, and attended divino service. He after- 
wards proceeded to the Coffee House, and remained there u 
considerable time, drinking several glasses of spirit and 
water. A few minutes after ono in the morning lie had his 
horse nnd gig brought to the door. Tho ostler led the horse 
a short distance and then got into the gig, and drove to 
Eden Bridge, when Mr. Twentyman insisted on his leaving, 
and ho did so. Mr. Twentyman having taken the driver’s 
seat, gave the reins a sudden jerk, the horse immediately 
struck into a gallop, and continued in that pace as fur as tho 
ostler heard tho noise. Mr. Joseph Wannop met the gig at 
the foot of Whiteclose Gate Brow: the horse was then 
trotting at its utmost speed, and Mr. Twentyman was sitting 
on tho near side, his head rather leaning over the wheel. 
Mr. Wannop returned within half an hour, ODd found the 
unfortunate gentleman lying on the Newcastle turnpike 
road, quite dead, and fearfully disfigured by cuts and bruises 
on his face and head, which were covered with blood. Tho 
gig box seats and deceased’s cape were lying close by. The 
horse and gig wore shortly afterwards found in the dyke 
gutter, between that place and Drawdykcs Castle, with both 
shafts broken and the wheels uppermost. The coroner and 
jury made a minute examination of the road, and other 
Ramsgate. — A committee lias been appointed hero, who 
will act in conjunction with tho ono in London, to enable 
the people of England to show their sympathy for tho Sultan 
of Turkey in his present very trying position, by joining in 
the penny subscription to present him with 1,000 Miniu rifles, 
which may bo tho means of aiding him in releasing the 
Dauubiau principalities from their oppressors. Mr. J. F. 
Roods, of the Prince Albert, is treasurer, uud the subscrip- 
tions will ho received by him with much pleusure. 
THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION AT WIGAN. 
Tho following is n detailed account of tho explosion in the 
Al ley Mine of the Ince Hall Coal and Cunnel Company at 
VVigun, which was even more dreadful in its cousequonces 
than tho similar catastrophe which took place in the samo 
pit in March of last year. The accident took plnce on 
Saturday afternoon, and up to a late hour on Sunday 
evening 86 bodies of the dead had been taken out of 
tho mine, and it was supposed that 120 lives hud been 
lost. The explosion took placo In tho north levels of tho 
mine, where tho previous explosion alluded to occurred, by 
which upwards of 60 persons were killed. Tho colliers 
proceeded to work on Saturday morning at tho usual 
hour. Their number is not accurately known, but 240 
Davy lamps were distributed among tho colliers, but of 
these 14 hud been returned up to noon, accounting for as 
many persons having left work. The workmen were spread 
over the north and soutli levels, tho greater number being 
in tho north, which are of great extent, and urowell known 
to he highly charged with carhurctted hydrogen gas, so 
dreaded by ull persons connected with coal-minpson account 
of its explosive nature. The engine-driver and tho banks- 
men in charge of tho “ pit brow ” (tho term given by 
colliers to the bank at the surface of tho shafts) had 
no suspicion of accident, or danger of accident, until 
tho afternoon, when a loud report, as of an explosion under- 
ground, was heard, am] was quickly succeeded by u second 
report of a similar diameter. Then came tho sudden rush of 
air, smoke, and dust Irocn the upcast shaft which follows 
theso dreadful occurrences. It was now known to those at 
the top that an explosion had taken place, and they began 
to take immediate steps to rescue the colliers below. An 
alarm wus spread to tho neighbouring mines, so that other 
colliers might ho obtained, or volunteer to go down us search- 
ing parties ; and Mr. Darlington, the muuaging partner of 
tlio works, then in Wigan, was also sent for. In tho mean- 
time a number of colliers below signalled to ho drawn up, 
and five cagelonds (probably 4U persons in all) wore wound 
up the shaft. Theso hud been ut work in the south 
levels, and came to the top almost unscathed, hut they re- 
ported that the north levels were on fire neur tho bottom of 
the shaft, thus cutting off the retreat of colliers who had 
escaped with life after tho first burst of the explosion, or 
at least rendering their escape much more huzavdous ; and 
it was now that the reully appalling nature of the accident 
becamo apparent. Nearly three hours elapsed before this 
fire could bo extinguished, so as to enablo the searchers to 
proceed into tho levels; and when they could proceed, 
their progress was necessarily slow, on account of the 
destruction of brattices, doors, and stoppings by tho ex- 
plosion, some of which had to be replaced before sufficient 
ventilation could be restored to support life. The work 
was of a trying and revolting character, and heaps of tho 
dead and mutilated remains of the colliers had to bo passed 
uud left lor a time, in order that tho first attention might 
bo given to tho living. One of the first men brouuht to tho 
surface alive, from i ho north levels, was James Murphy, a 
collier, who had been working at the very fur end of the 
mine, or 1,200 yards from the shaft. lie und another man, 
on feeling the shock of tho explosion, started towards the 
shuft, but on reaching a point in the levels where the sul- 
phur wus overpowering, his companion turned back, while 
Murphy, rosolutely putting his cap between his teeth, ran 
towards tho shuft und wus saved. Tho other man was 
lost. About 20 minutes to eight o’clock at night a man 
and a boy were taken out nearly suffocated with sulphur, 
and 6eoii afterwards another mun was found, who was so 
much exhausted that he has been insensible over since. 
In all about fourteen persons made their escape alivo 
from the north workings during Saturday evening, and 
these wero the last, oil that wore found during the night 
and on Sunday being dead. Forty dead bodies hud been 
discovered on Saturday evening, and on Sunday morning at 
10 o’clock the number had been increused to 70. On Sun- 
day night, at » lute hour, 87 bodies hud been recovered 
and brought out of the mine. On Monday tho seurch was 
perseveringly continued. A collier whoso life had been 
saved, and who was well acquainted with his fellow-work- 
men, thinks there are not so many lives lost as men- 
tioned generally (120), hut says there will probably he 
over lOi). It appears that no accurate list of workpeople 
was kept by the company, os the oolliers frequently tuko 
down assistants without giving their names. Fifty lamps 
were missing on Monday, but this would bo no accurate 
measure of the number of persons who wore in the iniuo, as 
those who escaped left their lamps behind. 
