804 
THE FIELD. 
loss. On the 13th of July a fire broke out there, which 
consumed property to the amount of £600,000 before it was 
checked. In reading these accounts, it is to be remembered 
that property is estimated in these new countries at avalue 
far beyond that which it could have in Now York and 
London. 
foreign MISCELLANY. 
Ccba —At Havaunah the yellow fever was raging at our 
last advices. The intendento, and a number of other .Spanish 
officials had fallen victims to the disease. A slave vessol of 
20U ton* called the Grey Eagle, of Philadelphia (cargo landed), 
had been captured off the island by her Majesty’s ship 
Eapiegle, and left at Havannah for condemnation. 
TkialofStf.au Fire-engines. — An American paperinforms 
us that a committee of the board of aldermen of the city of 
Now York having arrived at Cincinnatti to examine the firo 
apparatus of that city, a trial of the engines was made one 
Friday afternoon. Firo was applied under the boilers of the 
"Uncle Joe Ross" juBt as she was leaving her depot, in 
Ninth-street, and in nine minutes and three seconds she was 
at the cistern throwing water through the lioso. Eight 
BtroamB were afterwards thrown at olio time from each 
engine. After their powers were thoroughly tested, by a 
concerted signal every engine in tho city left their respective 
houses, and, in nine minutes by tho watch, all wore on the 
ground. The exhibition of speed and efficiency proved 
most satisfactory to all. 
Euti'T. — Wo lmd not thought it right to mention the 
rumours which were afloat after the death of Abbas 
Pasha; but, at present, information obtained from a good 
source does not allow any doubt to be entertained that his 
death was one of violence. Two of his Mamelukes, who had 
recently witnessed tho execution of several of their com- 
rade *, the victims of the cruel caprice of their master, and 
who had been menaced themselves with a similar fate, 
strangled him in the midst of his debauches, and then im- 
mediately fled, carrying with them all the jewels that they 
could Iav hands on. It was said that one of them had been 
discovered in his hiding-plnco and arrested. On the fith, tho 
Egyptian steam-frigate Nil arrived at Alexandria from Con- 
stantinople, having on board Ferid Effcudi, first socrotary of 
the Sultan, bearer to Said Pasha of the firman of investiture. 
’Assault on the American President.— Tho Washing- 
ton correspondent of tho New York Daily Times, writing on 
August 5, says : — “ Immediately after the adjournment of 
the Senate this afternoon, as President Pierce was leaving 
the Capitol, at the northern door, under tho eastern arcade, 
he was followed out and addressed by James M. JuffardB of 
Charleston, S.C. Joffards was considerably intoxicated at the 
time, and was in company with J. S. Duke, of St. Louis, and 
F Wjggaus, of New York, all of whom had boon drinking. 
The President shook hands with him, and Joffards naked tho 
President to take a drink, which ho declined, and turned to 
enter his carriage. As ho was doing so, liiH liat was knocked 
oil' by a hard boiled egg. Joffards returned into tho Capitol, 
saying the President was ft d fool. The President spoke 
to" one of the police, asking if he had authority to make an 
arrest. Captain Dunuington and officer Wuiles shortly after 
arrested Jeffards, who denied throwing tho egg. An exami- 
nation was had boforo Captain Duiinington, when one wit- 
ness testified that he saw Joffards with au egg in his hand a 
few minutes previous to the assault; another testified that he 
saw him throw in tho direction of tho President ; and 
another that he saw him throw an egg nt aud hit the Presi- 
dent. The justice decided to hold Jeffards to hail, and the 
accused sent for Senator Evans, who declined becoming bail. 
He then sent for nuother. In the meantime, becoming more 
Bober, he cried bitterly, declaring that if sent to gaol he would 
not be living. He then took out a small knife, and stabbed 
himself in the leg, juBt above the kuee, saying ho was deter- 
mined to bleed to death. Ah the blood flowed profusely, be 
became alarmed, and allowed it to be examined, and was 
disarmed. The Attorney-General then communicated to 
Captain Dunnington tho desire of the President that the 
prisoner be not prosecuted, aud ho was accordingly dis- 
charged.. 
COLONIAL. 
Canadian Post-office. — The annual report of the Post- 
master-General of Canada shows that the low rate of postage 
in that province, or tho uniform system, as it is termed, 
works as well as it was expected. The postage revenue for 
the year amounted to £84,806. 0s. ll^d., while tho expen- 
diture, including £14,348. 18 h. 4d., balance due to England 
for British packet postages collected, was £00,034. 16s. 2&d., 
leaving a balanco of £5,108. 9s. 3d. to ho provided for out of 
the Consolidated Fund. As, however, £15,000 had been 
voted in favour of the postal revenue for the year 1852, aud 
a balanco of £2, 4 80. 4s. lOd. of this sum remained unexpended, 
with £5,000 voted for 1853, the deficiency for tho past year 
was amply provided for . — Nt w York Daily Times. 
Available Cafital in Victoria.— From tho returns 
now presented, the amount of money at the command of 
the people must appear truly amazing. The circulation and 
deposits amount to £8,070,100, which, for a population 
amounting, in the first quarter of this year, to about 250,000, 
would give upwards of 132 for every mau, womau, and child 
in the colony. Comparing with Scotland, tho birthplace 
of model banks, we find that in that country the circulation 
of ii • >tei, in 1851, was £3,350,000, for the population of 
2,900,000, or about £1. 3s. per head ; while in Victoria the 
circulation is £2,089,911, for a population of 250,000, or 
more than £8 pur head . — Australian and New Zealand 
Gazelle. 
Arrival op the Cleopatra from Canada. — ThoConndian 
Royal Mail screw s team- ship Cleopatra, Captain Salt, arrived 
at Liverpool on Tuesday morning, from Montreal ami Quebec, 
from the latter of which ports she sailed ou the 9th instant. 
She brought a full cargo and 102 passengers. A proclama- 
tion had been issued in an extra edition of the Canada 
( luztlU of the 9th, convoking Parliament for tho despatch of 
business on the 5th proximo. The Quebec Chronicle of tho 
9th Kays : — " The election returns of 123 constituencies have 
been received, leaving only the counties of Chicoutano and 
(Janp<S to be heard from. The following may be considered 
as accurate a statement of the result of the general election 
as it is possible, under the circumstances, to procure: — 
Ministerialists, 47; Anti Ministerialists, 81 ; majority against 
ministers, 34. Mr. Clyser has defeated the gentleman com- 
monly known as ‘Cicero Rose,’ in the county ol DundnB. 
Chyi on — The question of gold atNewera Ellia (the moun- 
tain sanatorium of Ceylon) is again being discussed in tho 
papers. It seems strange that neither there nor nt Ratua- 
pora did we ever hear gold in connexion with deposits of 
precious stones until European research has proved their 
simultaneous existence. Did nuggets of any size exist it is 
difficult to conceive how tho gem-diggers missed them — 
although, to ho sure, they never effected deep digging. The 
present operations, it is satisfactory to contemplate, are 
carried on in a climate exceedingly congenial to European lifo 
and health, if we except a tendency to dysentery in those 
who work long in the wet, from which Australia and Cali- 
fornia equally suffer. As calculated to interest our readers, 
we take from the Examiner a portion of an article on the gold 
discovery at Mewera Ellia. “ By Friday afternoon, at half-past 
three o'clock, theshaft had reached a depth of some thirty-six to 
thirty-eight feet. The soil penetrated was— first, thick, block, 
and peaty-looking ; next, coarse yellow clay, with sand and stones 
mixed with it ; then, very fine pipeclay ; afterwards, coarse looso 
gravel and large stones, with a larger pipeclay below; and, lastly, 
fine gravel and decomposed rock. The stones found in this 
layer had evidently been exposed to the action of some rapid 
current, all being rounded from the smallest to the largest. 
Although it was not considered that the Bhaft was deep 
enough, it was determined, ns our commissioner hod to leave 
the following morning, to try a few pans of soil, aud about 
four cwt. was washed. Tho result was highly satisfactory, a 
sufficient proportion of gold being produced to pay the work- 
ing expenses. The gold is very fine aud small, and there is 
no doubt that, with the rude appliances used, must 
have escaped No nugget, nor anything in the nature 
of a nugget, was found, nor could it have been expected by 
any one who saw the nature of the soil from which the four cwt. 
were taken, only the smallest and lightest portions of as 
heavy a metal as gold being retained in it. On the request 
to wash some of it, the diggers at first objected that it would 
bo useless, and it was only done to satisfy those who could 
not wait for the deeper digging. We shall receive a report 
in a day or two of the result of deeper sinking, which will bo 
immediately published. Gold has been found in this 
(Newcrn Ellia) district over an immense extent. It has been 
found as you enter the plain on Mr. Selby, the Queen s 
Advocate’s, land, on the side of the hill at the back of Sir A. 
Bullor'a, on the low swamp in front of Mr. O’Connor’s, nt 
Messrs. Baker’s saw mills, ou tho high land close by, on 
the Moonstone plains where the diggers are now work- 
ing; and lastly, Mr. Baker, haviug learned how to 
prospect from the diggers, went some three miles lower 
down, on the Badulla-road, and, in every place that 
ho tried, found gold. How much farther it may extend 
cannot, of course, at present bo known ; but here is an 
extent of six mileB and a half over which it is known to bo 
spread, and that, too, bo thickly that even an unskilled washer 
find it in every pan of surface Boil. 
AUSTRALIAN A. 
Outward Bound. — T he departures from the port of Lon- 
don for the Australian colonies during the past week have 
comprised altogether eleven vessels, of which three were to 
Port Phillip, with an aggregate burden of 1,656 tons ; two 
to Sydney, with an aggregate burden of 1,304 tons ; two to 
Adelaide, with au aggregate burden of 672 tons ; one to New 
Zealand, of 761 tons ; and one to Hobart Town, of 648 ton9. 
Their total capacity was 6,216 tons. Tho rates of freight pre- 
sent no material variation. 
FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON AND 
BRIGHTON RAILWAY. 
Croydon. — A double inquiry took place in this town on 
Tuesday relative to the circumstances attendant upon the 
fatal accident on Monday. The magistrates opened their 
investigation, and the coroner commenced his inquest, but 
it will be, in all probability, a considerable time before either 
of them are brought to a close. Two were killed and 100 
were wounded. 
magistrates’ inquiry. 
The magistrates assembled in the Town-hall, there being 
present Mr. E. R. Addams, the chairman of the bench, 
Captain Kemmiss, Mr. J. W. Sutherland, and Mr. T. Byron. 
The four men who had been taken into custody were 
placed in the dock. They were Robert Simpson, tho driver, 
aud James Sladden, the fireman of the excursion train, and 
Edward Boynett, the driver, and Edward Knyvett, the fire- 
man of the ballast engine, into which the excursion train ran. 
Mr. William Brown stated that he was the superintendent, 
of the Bricklayer's Arms railway station, and had charge of the 
excursion train which left Dover at 8.30 on Monday morning. 
As the train approached Croydon he saw that the auxiliary 
signal, 600 yards distant from the station, was all right, and 
tho driver proceeded with tho train, although at a reduced 
speed. When ho turned the corner a down train was passing, 
the steam from which obscured the station-signal, which 
almost immediately after ho found indicated danger. He 
then saw the ballast-engine in front of him on the same lino, 
but had not time effectually to turn off his steam before the 
fatal collision took place. Tho accident was entirely attri- 
butable to the fact that tho auxiliary signal was not os it 
should bo. 
Mr. Everest, of Epsom, who appeared for Boynett and 
Knyvett, asked what was the charge against his clients ? 
The Chairman said the four men were charged with having 
caused the death of James Gammon on the occasion of the 
accident referred to. 
Mr. Everest contended there was no evidence, and it was 
not pretended there was any, against his clients. Whatever 
might have been the fault of other persons they were in 
their proper place hiking in water. They could not he said 
to bo negligent, aud unless there was some evidence to attach 
blame to them ho submitted that they ought to be dis- 
charged. There was not a tittle of evidence to support the 
charge. 
Captain Kemmis : We aro here to go into the evidence, 
whatever it may bo. 
Mr. Rawlins contended that if the blame rested anywhere, 
it rested on the Brighton people. 
Jamos Chinucr was then called : He said he was signal- 
man on tho London aud Brighton Railway, at the Croydon 
station, llo had charge both of tho station-signal and the 
auxiliary signal. 
Mr. Burgen, who, with Mr. Rawlins, attended for the 
driver and firemen of the excursion train, said as the witness 
was the man who ought to have attended to the signal, it 
was not the right course to examine him at that stage of the 
proccediugs. 
Mr. Church, who appeared for the South-Eastern Com- 
pany, said the witness stood in as suspicious a position as 
either of the prisoners. 
Mr. Inspector Lund said that he took the four men into 
custody. Iu an ordinary case of a man running over another 
I on a road ho should have beon obliged to detain him, and ho 
thought his duty was the same in a great railway accident. 
He had that afternoon been directed by Sir Richard Mayne 
to produce what evidence he could before the magistrates, 
but he could not state at present what that evidence would 
be. He must, therefore, apply for an adjournment. 
The Chairman said that the inspector had acted quite 
properly, and the inquiry must be adjourned. 
Mr. Everest: Will you admit my clients to bail ? — Tho 
Chairman : Certainly not ; certainly not. 
Mr. Everest : Will you not take evidence ? — The Chair- 
man : No. 
Mr. Everest : Then I will apply to a judge at chambers, 
on Wednesday. The Chairman : Very well. 
The inquiry wosthen adjourned until Friday, the 25th inst. 
THE INQUEST. 
Mr. William Carter, the coroner for East Surrey, 
opened the inquest ou the body of Mr. John Gammon, of 
East Peck ham (the earliest sufferer in this unfortunate col- 
lision), at the Railway Tavern, East Croydon. The other 
deceased passenger was the Rev. Mr. W allace, the rector of 
Horsemonden, iu Kent. The rev. gentleman at his own 
request was scut to St. Thomas's Hospital. Mr. Allingham, 
the house surgeon, attended upon him and did all that was 
necessary, hut lie never rallied, and died in twenty minutes 
after his admission. The unfortunate deceased was only 
twenty-six years of age, aud had been married about six or 
seven weeks. 
The Jury having been sworn, the Coroner simply repeated 
that his only object for opening the inquiry was to have the 
body identified, preparatory to its removal for interment. 
He did not propose to go further into the case on that 
occasion. He knew nothing of the circumstances attending 
it, except what he had read in the newspapers, and no doubt 
they (the jury) were all familiar with the fact that the 
deceased came to his death owing to a collision on the rail- 
way; and the question would be, after ascertaining the 
Cause, whether any person or persons were responsible from 
any cause, whether negligence or otherwise, in causing the 
death of the deceased. He would not then offer any 
further observations, but ask the jury to go with him to 
view the body. 
On their return, the only evidence was that of 
William Gammon, a labourer, residing at East Peckham, 
Kent, who identified the body of the deceased as that of his 
father. The deceased was a gardener, and aged sixty-three. 
He resided with his wife at East Peckham, and tho last time 
witness saw him alive was between seven and eight ou 
Monday morning ; he was then getting ready to go by the 
excursion train from Parrock Wood station to tho Crystal- 
palace. He was then in good health. Ho first saw his 
father dead at the Railway Tavern on Monday evening. 
Alfred Batters, a porter at the station, who removed tho 
body of tho deceased from under the carriages, identified 
that viewed by the j ury as the same. 
The Coroner said he did not propose to go any further. 
After some conversation, the inquest was adjourned until 
Wednesday next, the 30th inst. 
On inquiry it appeared that of three cases entered at 
Guy's Hospital neither had proved fatal. Anne Saunders, 
the unfortunate female who suffered amputation of the right 
leg, was going on well, and the other patients were pro- 
ceeding very favourably. Caroline Harris, who was con- 
veyed to St. Thomas’s Hospital, and who underwent a 
similar operation, died shortly afterwards. Au officer has 
been despatched to Dover to institute inquiries. 
^nlirc 3ntolligtnrg. 
GUILDHALL. 
Assault. — Dennis Horrigan, a most repulsive-looking fellow, described 
as a prizefighter, was brought up for assaulting a female, and also fur 
assaulting a policeman in the execution of his duty. — Elizabeth Harris, 
a very pretty-looking young woman, said she saw tho prisoner 
intoxicated and trying to pick a quarrel with her sweetheart, and 
because she advised tho latter to get out of the way, the prisoner 
struck her a violent blow on her mouth. — Tho officer said the 
prisoner was very violent at the station, and knocked him and 
another policeman down.— Alderman Humphrey expressed his sur- 
prise that a little fellow like the prisoner should bo able to throw- 
two such powerful men as the officers evidently were. The officers 
said that the prisoner had a knack of entwining himself round their 
legs in the form of a figure of 8, and the strongest man could not stand 
when he got in that position. — The prisoner was then fined 10s. for tho 
assault on tho girl, and in default seven days' imprisonment; and 
for the assault on the constable lie was committed to prison for twenty- 
one days, without the option of paying any pecuniary penalty. 
CLERKENWELL. 
The Mouse Trick. — George Grant, an "artful dodger," fifteen years 
of age, was put at the bar, charged with having picked the pocket of 
Mrs. Eliza Richards, a lady residing in the neighbourhood of Islington. 
— The prisoner was in the habit of going about the town with a 
machine, containing three white mice, which he had trained to crawl up 
a ladder, and to perform other antics. He was possessed of the " gift of 
the gab," and would attract n crowd of persons by loudly describing the 
merits of the "performers,” while he was otherwise engaged with other 
young thieves w ho were in the crowd picking the pockets of women, &c. 
The prisoner was observed to pick the pocket of the lady, who was 
watching eagerly the “ncting of creeping Jenny," one of the mice, and 
he was taken into custody. — The prisoner denied the charge, but he was 
sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment, with hard labour, in the House 
of Correction. 
LAMBETH. 
Alleged Illegal Detention or an Heiress and Ward in Chancery 
— A gentleman, accompanied by a young lady of prepossessing appear- 
ance, attended before Mr. Elliott, when the former, who represented 
himself as the proprietor of a ladies’ boarding-school at Clapham, 
handed to the magistrate a weekly paper, and begged to call his attention 
to the particulars of an application made to his worship on Saturday last 
on behalf ol the lather of a young lady, wherein it was alleged that the 
daughter of the applicant had been illegally kept away from her parents, 
with the improper and sinister purpose of getting her married to a poor 
relation, and a person much inferior to her in property and station. 
Mr. Elliott having read the report to which his attention had been 
called, observed that the representations made to him were most faith- 
fully given, but having no jurisdiction in tho matter he referred the 
parties to a judge for a habeas — [Sec “The Field," p. 780). — The gentle- 
man said that the parties who had made the application had not stated 
the facts us they should have done. Tho young lady on whose belmh 
the application was made was then present, and could contradict him i 
he stated anything but the truth. In the first place, he wished to say 
that the lady had not been placed at his school by her father, but by an 
order of the Court of Chancery, of which Court she was then a ward- 
In the second place, she was not prevented from seeing her father on 
the day in question ; but the fact was, she was not nt home when her 
father called, and he was told so. She was, however, sent lor, and on 
her return, and on her father calling a second time, she had an interview 
with him. With regal'd to her not leaving the school and going home 
to her parents, the young lady herself would stato her reasons. T ie 
young lady thus referred to, said her principal objection to going home 
was an evident desire on tho part of her father to obtain a control ovc 
her fortune, which was £5,000, and not £2,000 ns stated. This di»P°* 
