The inquest on the bo(ies of the nine persons who;
lost their lives by the explosion on the Victoria, Hull steam-boat, was closed on Tuesday. The Foreman of the Jury delivered the verdict in the fol- lowing terms.
" The Jury confider that the death of Andrea. Brown was accidentally oc- casioned by the explosion of the boiler on boar' the Victoria steam-vessel, on
the 14th of June last. The Jury consider that the construction of the boilers , unsafe, the water-spaces no small, and the plates too thin. The Jury consider, that the engineers having no immediate control over the maefrett-y.-vaive in the engine-room, is highly reprehensible ; and the Jury lery a &Auld of 1,5001. upon the boiler and steam-enyiue of the Victoria." [It is not probable that this verdict can stand the examination to which it will probably be subjected. The majority of the scientific men spoke favourably of the plan on which the boilers were constructed ; although it is well known, that the engine-makers of the metropolis are very unwilling to admit the superiority of the Cornish engines, which are now very generally coming into use. The foreman of the -j'ory bad declared that the engine-room of the Victoria realized his notions (whatever they might be) of Pandemonium ; though the evi- dence did not warrant such an expression. The animus of the Jury against the owners of the steamer was frequently manifested during the inquiry. Mr. Hall, one of the proprietors, who appeared for the Company, was subjected to the moat entitling interruptions ; and on one occasion a Juryman told a witness on his oath, that " he would never believe what that witness stated ! " The feelings which actu- ated the Jury are not unnatural ; and if greater caution in the manage- ment of steam-boats is the consequence of their verdict, the public, at any rate, will have no cause to regret the large deodand.]
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