186 
THE FIELD. 
[Saturday, 
THE WEATHER AND THE FARM. 
On Saturday afternoon Mr. Simm, the chief constable of 
Wigan, with a body of police, went to the “ pit-brow” and 
rendered effective assistance to the colliers, seeking to rescue 
those below by keeping back the crowds, consisting of 
thousands of persons, who pressed eagerly round the mouth 
of the shaft. The relatives of the colliers then missing were 
almost frantic with excitement and alarm, and the officers 
had a painful duty to perform. The borough police were 
subsequently relieved by the arrival of Mr. Superintendent 
Fowler and Mr. Serjeant France, of the county constabulary, 
to take this task off their hands. Very little con bo stated 
with respect to the immediate cause of the explosion; and 
as all near the spot probably perished by the first shock, it 
is not unlikely that the truth will never be elicited ; but the 
surviving colliers suppose it to have been the firing of a 
“shot” or blast. Since the accident last March, the sug- 
gestions of the government inspector, Mr. Dickenson, have 
been acted on in several respects. For instance, men 
have been rigidly prohibited from smoking tobacco 
in the workings, or when caught in the fact, have 
been taken before magistrates and fined. Colliers 
have not been allowed to fire their own blasts, but, 
after drilling for a shot, have hud to fetch one of the fire- 
men to perform that duty. The supposition that the explo- 
sion on Saturday was caused by the firing of a blast is 
founded on the facts that a collier named Woodcock had 
stayed behind some of his companions to drill for a blast, 
that his body was found near the spot, much scorched, after 
the occurrence, and that Brown, one of the firemen, was 
found dead near him. On this supposition the explosion 
occurred on what is termed the “ first slant,” upwards of 
100 yards from the working 6haft of the pit. A collier 
named Leo, who, after escaping himself, went in search of 
his brother, says, he found him, with several others, at the 
far end of the levelu, crouched down in a circle chatting 
together, and speculating as to who would be sent in search 
of them. This party bad tried the air in several directions, 
with a view to escape, but, believing the air at the point 
where they started from (and where they were found) was 
less dangerous than any they found on penetrating towards 
the shaft, they had turned bock. Mr. Driffield, the county 
coroner, opened the inquest on Tuesday afternoon for the 
identification of bodies, and to give certificates for burial, and 
now the Government Inspector will have an opportunity of 
examining the mine. One of the colliers rescued from the 
mine soon after the explosion — Anthony Mulroy — is in a pre- 
carious state, having had both legs broken by the force of the 
blast, and received a severe contusion of the head. 
Bicester Fairs and Cattle Markets. — Fairs: Friday 
in Easter week, cuttle, &c. ; first Friday in June, cuttle and 
pleasure; first Friday in July, wool, cattle, Ac.; August 
5th and 0th, cattle and pleasure; Friday before, and first 
and second Friday, after October 11th, cattle, hiring, kc . ; 
Friday after December 11th, cattle, &c. By order of the 
market committee, G. Hewlett, secretary. 
Embarkation of tiie 28 tii for Turkey. — Liver- 
tool, Feu. 22. — Never has such a sight been witnessed 
in Liverpool as the embarkation of the gallant 28th this 
morning. At an early hour the whole town was on the 
alert, and the entrance to the station-yard of the East 
Lancashire Railway Company, in Tiihebarn-street, was 
besieged by a dense multitude. At 10 minutes to 9 the 
first train arrived, containing two companies, followed by 
three other trains, each of which also contained two 
companies, composed of upwards of one hundred men, 
rank and file. At twenty minutes past nine o’clock the 
troops were formed, four deep. The band struck up a 
spirited march, the word of command was given, and, amid 
the cheers of the assembled thousands, the troops pro- 
ceeded. The regiment, composed mainly of active young 
men, appeared animated with the greatest enthusiasm. 
The regiment is composed of upwards of 1,000 men, 
having been strengthened on Monday by the arrival of 
109 volunteers from Chatham. Of these, however, only 
850 embarked this morning; two skeleton companies (the 
4th nnd 5th) having been left at Preston, under the com- 
mand of Captain Rawson. The troops are supplied with 
the Minie' rifle, in which they appear to have great con- 
fidence, speaking of it ns lighter and “more handy” than 
the old musket. Though the distance from the station to 
the Exchange-flags is trifling, its passage occupied some 
time, owing to the thoroughfares being almost choked up 
by the multitude. The windows along the route were 
occupied ; and every elevation which afi'orded facilities for 
adventurous gazers was covered with human beings, and 
as the troops filed past, cheer after cheer burst from the 
occupants. Tbe Exchange-flags were speedily reached, 
and here a grund spectacle was presented. *A closely 
packed mass of people were wedged beneath the piazzas'; 
each side of the capacious square was occupied by the 
troops formed in double line; the Nelson memorial formed 
a picturesque centre object ; while from the Town-hall, 
balconies and windows, fair faces smiled and cambric 
handkerchiefs fluttered. Lieutenant-Colonel Adams and 
the commissioned officers were invited by the Mayor (Mr. 
J. B. Lloyd) into the Town-hall, where they hurriedly 
partook of his worship’s hospitality. In a few minutes the 
troops were again formed in inarching order, the band 
struck up a martial air, and the progress to the landing- 
stage was continued. The windows on each side of Castle- 
street were thronged with ladies. The vast concourse of 
people lined the piers north and south of the stage, blocked 
up its approaches, took possession of the old burial-ground 
of St. Nicholas, crowded the landing-stage, and appeared 
to take forcible occupation of the river steamers. The 
roofs of the waiting-rooms on the landing-stage, and of 
the salt-water baths at St. George’s pier were also made 
available ; while the drivers of cabs and lorries reaped an 
abundant harvest by converting their vehicles into moveable 
platforms. Access from the stone piers to the landing-stage is 
obtained by means of two bridges, one at each end. The 
south bridge was kept clear for the passage of the troops, 
as was also that end of the stage against which were 
secured the Cunard steam-tenders Satellite and Jackal, to 
each of which a large barge was fastened alongside. The 
troops were embarked with marvellous despatch, the time 
occupied by the whole process, from their going on board 
the tenders and barges at the landing-stage to their occu- 
pation of the berths appropriated to their use in the 
Niagara, riding at anchor in the Sloyne, not being more 
than an hour. As the tenders, with the barges alongside, 
slipped their moorings, nnd steamed steadily towards the 
Niagara, each filled from bow to stem with soldiers, cheers, 
repeatedly demanded “for the gallant 28th," were given 
with right goodwill, the troops waving their hats and 
echoing the “ hurrahs.” 
Dublin, February 18. — It Is really gratifying, in the 
face of an impending war, to witness the steady decline of 
prices which has been observable for some weeks past in 
our provision markets, and the confidence with which the 
circumstance appears to inspire all classes of the people. 
The sowing of spring wheat is carried on to an extent quite 
unprecedented in Ireland. 
Extraordinary Increase. — Mr. Joseph Moore, of 
Little Wilbraham, has a flock of fine ewes feeding on some 
turnips, at Pulbourn. On tbe 7th instant, one of his ewes 
produced five lambs, all alive, and the next day they were 
skipping round their dam. One is unusually small, but the 
other four are very sizeable. 
An III Wind. — A correspondent of the A tlienceum 
says that the whirlwind which raged near Macclesfield a 
few days since, “ lifted the cows from their feet, and bore 
thorn in the air to a considerable distance, and then 6afe)y 
let them down again, at the same time breaking large trees 
in the midst, like rotten sticks.” 
WORK AND WAGES. 
PnESTON, Feb. 18. — The chief event of the week has been 
the resumption of work at Mr. Hollins’s Royal Sovereign 
Mill. An interview between that gentleman and the opera- 
tives resulted in mutual concessions, and an arrangement as 
to prices satisfactory to both employer and employed. On 
the 17th the hands re-commenced work, entering the mill 
amid the hearty acclamations of a vast crowd, numbering 
several thousands, assembled to witness the gratifying scene. 
Messrs. Gratrix, brothers, have also made an arrangement 
with their operatives, who have resumed work this week. 
A notice has been placarded by the committee of the 
Masters’ Association, to the following effect : — “All persons 
desirous of obtaining employment may rely upon the 
assurance alreudy given by the Associated Masters, that the 
mills will be kept at work, and that those engaged at 
the sevqral mills may depend upon a continuance of work.” 
The committee entrusted with the management of the 
defence fund intimate that the masters will continue to keep 
open their mills “at whatever sacrifice,” adding, “The 
most vigorous measures are being adopted by the committee 
to contribute to an early termination of the dispute.” It ap- 
pears from the reports that the number of unemployed hands 
relieved this week from the Trades’ Union Fund was 15,567; 
last week, 15,875: decrease, 308. The amount disbursed 
in relief this week was 3,4541. 5s. 10 d. \ last week, 2,995 1. 
11s. 6d . : increase, 461 1. 14s. 4 d. 
Meeting of Manchester Millowners. — A crowded 
meeting of factory owners took place on Tuesday afternoon 
at the Town-hall, Manchester, to consider what steps should 
he taken in corsequence of the recent order of Mr. Leonard 
Horner, chief inspector of factories, directing the machinery 
in cotton and other mills to bo fenced off. Mr. It. H. 
Gregg, who was in the chair, observed upon the difficulty 
of fencing off every portion of the gearing in mills, and said 
that in many cases greater danger would arise from its being 
fenced in than if it were left uncovered. Mr. Gregg pro- 
ceeded to condemn the order, on the ground of the im- 
practicability of complying with it, and entered into some 
statistieswith a view to show that, under the present system, 
accidents in mills were not frequent, and were, indeed, but 
trifling as compared with the fatalities in collieries, or even 
in farming operations. He therefore contended that there 
was no justification for the order in question. Mr. Henry 
Ashworth pursued the same line of argument, and moved a 
resolution that the order in question was uncalled for, that 
it could not be practically carried into effect, and that the 
Legislature did not intend that the provisions of the Factory 
Act should be enforced to the letter. The resolution was 
unanimously agreed to, and another, proposed by Mr. 
Thomas Buzley, was also carried, to the effect that the pro- 
posed fencing of the shafts would increase the risk of 
accidents, and also expose mills to the danger of fire. 
A committee was then appointed to confer with the factory 
owners, and to form a deputation to Lord Palmerston, with 
a view to carry out the object of the meeting. 
SCOTLAND. 
The Biter Bit. — A few days ago a woman named 
Elizabeth Paul, who is well known to the police in the 
eastern district by a variety of aliases , decoyed a little girl 
about 18 months of age into a close in Green-street, Calton, 
where she speedily stripped her juvenile victim of a petti- 
coat aDd a pair of boots, with which she immediately de- 
camped. She had not gone far, however, before she had 
arrived at a small broker’s shop, which she at once entered 
for the purpose of having her ill-gotten booty converted 
into money. On offering the articles to the woman of the 
shop, she, of course, commenced a minute examination of 
the goods. She had not done so above a second or so, how- 
ever, when she was struck with the resemblance which they 
bore to similar articles of dress with which she had recently 
invested her own little daughter, who had afterwards gone 
out to play. Further investigation confirmed her suspicions, 
when she gave the alarm, and had the infamous wretch then 
and there taken into custody. The child was soon discovered, 
and, of course, was found to have lost the petticoat and 
boots alluded to. The prisoner was brought before the 
eastern police-court, and sentenced to an imprisonment of 
60 days . — North British Mail. 
IRELAND. 
Cork. — The head quarter division of the 62nd Regiment, 
under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Trollop, have 
arrived at Cork from Fermoy, and proceeded to Queens- 
town, to embark in the transport 6hip Orient, under orders 
for the Mediterranean. The following scene took place the 
other day in one of our market places “ A sergeant was, 
nfter his custom, importuning some people to ‘ list,’ when 
one who appeared to be spokesman for the whole, advanced 
to ask something about their prospects in the army. Ho 
did not inquire whether the eating or the drinking might 
be good, or if they would have fair pay, or anything of that 
kind, but simply, ‘ Musha, 6ir, d’ye think we’d ever git a 
prod at the Imperor o’ Rooshia?’ Of course the sergeant 
said, they would not fail to come face to face with the 
redoubtable Nicholas, and in five minutes after her Majesty 
had some 20 additional soldiers, and, we sincerely believe, 
good and true ones, to the backbone.” 
Naval Coast Volunteers. — The Cork Examiner 
6ays: — The enrolment of voluuteers for the defence of the 
coast by Captain Jerningham, R.N., is proceeding with 
unexpected rapidity. The number of eager applicants is 
quite prodigious, and the office of the Mercantile Marin 
Board is completely besieged by parties offering themselves* 
On Thursday over a hundred were enrolled, which, con," 
sidering that each individual has to undergo medical in 
spection, nnd receive a certificate, may be considered rapid 
work. The parties who have been at present enrolled 
consist chiefly of fishermen ; the next class that will bo 
accepted will be such of the lumpers on the quays as can be 
furnished with a good character. There is little doubt 
but the coast volunteers of this port will soon amount t 0 a 
very formidable body. 
The Dublin Police.— The Beard Movement.— 
The following document, signed by nearly 400 of the Dublin 
metropolitan police, has been forwarded by them to the 
commissioners: — “The undersigned, believing that almost 
ull, if not all, diseases of the respiratory organs are in g reat 
part, if not altogether, caused by the practice which obtains 
of shaving off the beard ; that the discontinuance of the 
practice would greatly conduce to their comfort, exposed as 
they are to the inclemency of the weather, as well as save a 
great deal of trouble and sometimes considerable difficulty • 
that Nature, having supplied man with such an adornment] 
manifestly never intended that he should disfigure himself 
by the use of a razor, respectfully and earnestly request the 
Commissioners of Police to permit them entirely to discard 
it, and henceforth to wear their beards.” 
RAILWAYS AND TELEGRAPHS. 
Horses for the Artillery. — Fifty-six well-trained 
artillery horses withdrawn from the cavalry barracks at 
Manchester have been sent, per London and North Western 
Railway, to London, to make up the increased complements 
required for service in the East. 
The Prefect of the Seine has issued an order calling 
for plans for a railway to unite the line round Paris with the 
central markets. These plans are to be deposited at the 
office of the Hotel de Ville, and at the sub-prefecture at 
Saint Denis. 
West-end and Crystal Palace Railway.— The 
preparations for the formation of this line, extending from 
the new bridge at Chelsea across Battersea Park to the 
Brighton Railway at Sydenham, and from thence eventually 
to Farnborough, have commenced. The cost of ’the lino 
from Chelsea to Sydenham, as estimated by Messrs. Beddei* 
and Fulton, the engineers, is to be 400,0001. It has been 
agreed with the Brighton Company that the West-end and 
I Crystal Palace Company shall receive a rental of 8,0001. per 
annum for the use of the line to Sydenham and through 
traffic, and the Brighton Company have agreed to work the 
line at the rate of 42^ per cent, on the gross traffic receipts. 
The line is expected to be opened in 18 months. 
The BlACKWall Railway. — The new station at Fen- 
church-street is now completed, and the widening of the 
viaduct across Crutched Friars, Cooper’s- row, and the 
Minories. The station at the Minories ha9 been demolished, 
and the space occupied by it added to the permanent way. 
Considerable progress has been made in the construction of 
the line to Tilbury Fort and Gravesend, and that portion 
of this railway is expected to be opened for traffic about 
Easter; about the same time the booking of passengers by 
the North London Railway for conveyance throughout to 
all places on the North Western line is expected to commence 
at the Fenchurch-street station. 
fain IntcIIiprc, 
COURT OF QUEEN’S BENCH, Guildhall, Feb. 20. 
(Sittings at Nisi Prius, before Lord Campbell and a Special 
Jury.) 
LUMLEY v. GYE. 
Sir F. Thesiger, Sir F. Kelly, Mr. Hoggins, Q.C.. Mr. Cow- 
ling. and Mr. Huddleston appeared for the plaintiff; nnd the 
Attorney-General, Mr. Brnmwell, Q.C., Mr. Creasy, and Mr. 
Willes for the Defendant. The plaintiff in this action was Mr. 
Benjamin Lumley, the lessee of Her Majesty’s Theatre ; nnd tho 
defendant, Frederick Gye, was the director of tbe Royal Italian 
Opera, Covent-garden. The action was brought against the 
defendant to recover damages for enticing nnd proenring Miss 
Johanna Wagner to break a contract into which she had entered 
with the plaintiff to perform as prima donna at Her Majesty's 
Theatre in the season of 1852. Tbe declaration contained several 
counts. The defendant pleaded the general issue. The coso 
occupied three days. 
Sir F. Thesiger said, the case which he had to introduce to the 
jury was one which had for a long time excited great interest in 
the publio mind, and was one of considerable importance, not 
only to the parties, but to all who wore interested in the fortunes 
of the Italian Opera in London. It nppeared that in tho year 
1851 Miss Wagner had acquired considerable reputation ns a 
singer. At that time Mr. Lumley was manager of the Italian 
Opera at Paris, and a Dr. Bacher, having been authorised by 
Miss Wagner, put himself in communication with Mr. Lumley, 
nnd proposed that she should beengaged to sing at Her Mojesty’s 
Theatre in this country. Mr. Lumley had with him his usual 
printed form of agreement, nnd gave a copy to Dr. Bacher, with 
which the latter proceeded to Berlin, where Miss Wagner and 
her father resided. The form of agreement thus proposed was 
considered by Mr. Wagner as too complicated, nnd in conse- 
quence, Dr. Bacher suggested that Mr. Wagner should draw up 
one with his own hand. This was accordingly done, and the 
agreement so prepared was signed by himself and daughter on 
the 9th of November, 1851. (The learned counsel here read tho 
agreement, which has already been several times laid before tho 
publio.) Mr. Lumley found that an important nnd usual stipu- 
lation had been omitted — viz., that Miss Wagner should engage 
not to sing at any concerts or assemblies without the written 
consent of Mr. Lumley. Dr. Bacher then said, it was a mere 
omission ; that that point had been mentioned by him to Miss 
Wagner and her father, and that he was authorised to insert it 
on their behalf. He accordingly inserted tho stipulation nnd 
signed it, and transmitted the document so signed by Mr. Lumley 
to Miss Wagner at Berlin. One question for the jury would be, 
whether Mr. Gye was aware of tho existence of that contract. 
There would, however, be no difficulty upon that subject, for in 
that very month of November, 1851, Mr. Gye was negotiating 
with Mr. Lumley to take a lease of Her Majesty’s Theatre at a 
rent of 12,0001. a year; and, from a document in his hand- 
writing, dated the 5th of December, 1851, Mr. Gyo said expressly 
that he was prepared to assume the engagement which Mr. 
Lumley had made with Mademoisello Cruvelli and Mademoiselle 
Wagner. At the close of the learned counsel’s speech the follow- 
ing witnesses were examined: — 
Dr. Bacher, examined by Sir F. Kelly. — I am a native of 
Germany, and a doctor of civil law. In the year 1850 Miee 
Wagner brought me letters of introduction at Viennn. I 
recommended her to go to London nnd Paris. She was accom- 
panied by her father. Ho tran8aols business for her. When I 
was at Paris I saw Mr. Lumley, and proposed that an engagement 
should be entered into with Miss Wagner. Mr. Lumley gave 
me a printed form of engagement, and so did the director of the 
Opera at Paris. I proceeded with them to Berlin, where I 
arrived about November, 1851. I remained there somo days, 
