Zig Vrobintes.

At the meeting of the East Suffolk Agricultural Association, in Hales- worth, on Thursday week, the Earl of Stradbroke made a few remarks ou the subject of leases which have attracted a good deal of attention. " The objects of leases are threefold,—first, to enable and encourage the tenant to invest his capital, and to give him due and proper time to recover remuneration for that investment; secondly, leases are advantageous to the landlord, for they give him hope that his land will be better cultivated; and thirdly, they are bens ficial to the poor, because they insure them better and more constant employment than they could otherwise secure. It is my fixed opinion that the landlord does not perform the duty he owes to himself, the duty he owes to his tenant, or to the poor, unless he includes in the leases of his farms a clause to insure a certain portion of labour being continually employed on the land, the effect of which will be that the farms, if unhappily not renewed to the same parties, shall be given up in a good state of cultivation; and in such case the tenant ought to be entitled to adequate remuneration for the improvements he may have made. But I sub- mit, the practice would have a better effect still—it would encourage a desire to renew leases, and thus cement the affection and reciprocal feeling which axe sure to be the result of friendly intercourse. I am aware there are in this county many energetic and skilful agriculturists who object to the clogging clauses—such as the four-course system. But the difficulty the landlord has to solve is this— how is he to distinguish between a skilful farmer and a land-jobber? It is true, the one may cultivate a farm without detriment to the land, while the other, resting upon his own judgment, may ruin it in eight years, or injure it so much that a suc- ceeding tenant could not hire it without a great reduction in the rent. Gentlemen, I am then an advocate for the rotation of crops as being most advantageous. • • * The next subject which I shall touch upon is one which I think you ought to re.. ceive as deserving your best attention: but whether you agree with use or not, you ought to receive it in the way in which I wish to impart it. It is a well- known fact that the farmers of thepresent day are superior to those of seventy years ago; but if it is the desire of the farmers of this generation, as indeed it must be, to witness theirsons stand in the honourable position that they themselves hold, it will be necessary for them to pay the utmost attention to their education, and to see that they are not kept behind in the rapid course of civilization. Al- ready there is established at Cirencsster, in Gloucestershire, a college part) endowed, in which men of great science and professional skill have been eng and where young men can be boarded and educated for 301. a year, and instruct in every branch of agricultural knowledge; where they will be instructed in the difference and variety of the soil, and the efficts of different manures; and where they will be instructed in all the branches of scientific knowledge connected with agricultural pursuits. Should these studies prove successful, they will produce a set of young men capable of taking their position in society, and entering upon the science of agriculture as a means of livelihood, which cannot fail to have the most beneficial effect upon this kingdom."

All this was much cheered by the two hundred and fifty farmers pre: sent. Captain Rous also made some remarks, which are rendered curious by the circumstances. He contended that something must be done, if the population increased in the same ratio that it had of late years, to supply them with food. it was a well ascertained fact, that the inhabitants of this country were annually increasing to the extent of 400,000 ; and it was also well known that the resources of the country, though not developed to the extent to which they might be, never could be adequate to supply the wants of the people multiplying at such a rate. What, then, he asked, would be the case if this state of things existed forty years hence? The idea was a dreadful one to contemplate; and he was at a loss to conceive how any Mi- nister of this country could lay his head on his pillow and regard such a prospect without a feeling of horror. (" Hear, hear!" and cheers.) This country pre sented an anomaly to the practice adopted in all other countries similarly situate, He would not contrast it with any European state: he would compare the prac- tice with the Celestial Empire; and lie was quite sure that the result would prove that the Government of China had far surpassed that of Great Britain in the measures they had taken to ameliorate the condition of the bulk of their people. What was the usual practice adopted in China in reference to the laws that regu- lated the importation of food ? It must be recollected that in that country there was a population of not less than 300,000,000 souls. To provide that vast popu- lation with food, the Government of China not only threw open their ports for the admission of foreign vessels conveying rice and other articles of consumption, but also relieved them from paying harbour-dues, or the other ordinary charges connected with the admission of those articles. Captain Rous concluded by ex- pressing a strong opinion in favour of a relaxation, at least, of the duties on colo- nial produce.

The annual dinner of the Buckinghamshire Agricultural Association took place at Beaconsfield on Tuesday; about one hundred and thirty country gentlemen sitting down to table, with the Duke of Buckingham at its head. Before the dinner, there was a ploughing-match; the society giving 51. each to the successful labourers; while to the master who con- trives the implement used, a plough or some other agricultural machine is given. In proposing the toast of " the Royal Buckinghamshire Agricul- tural Association," the Chairman recounted what the society had done— From the period of the foundation of the Buckinghamshire Agricultural As- sociation, in 1834, a great deal of good had been effected by it. They had disposed of rewards to the amount of 9481. 7s. 6d.; and it was a most gratifying inquiry to consider the several heads under which it had been laid out. In bringing up families, they had bestowed 1501.; to single male-servants, 571.; to single tienale- servants, 571.; to servants working creditably under various masters, 158/. 10s.; in cattle and live-stock, 125/.; and to those who could obtain satisfactory certifi- cates of good behaviour during long service, 168/. Such was some of the heads of their meritorious expenditure. No one in the world could say that the money bad been badly bestowed. They had rewarded the industrious men of all parts of the country; and they might depend upon it, that as long as good-feeling existed between the employer and the employed—between the tanners and their labourers—so long would their country prosper and be happy. For his own part, lie was de- lighted to live in a county where that good feeling was so marked and healthy. For no one seemed to be backward in showing how ready he was to contribute to its existence. Their accounts were therefore in a flourishing condition; and he was sure they would think it a lamentable condition to be in it they were unable to do what the kindness of their hearts prompted them to. He finally hoped that the improvements everywhere being made in agriculture would strengthen the attach- ment of a labourer to his farm, and prove the means, in Buckinghamshire at least, of maintaining that adherence to tranquillity, for which its population was so noted.

The sittings of the Archaeological Association (No.2) closed on Monday. Several interesting communications had been read; but there has been little in the reports calculated to interest the general reader. The most stirring matter has been the dispute with the original society, the facts of

which have been somewhat more clearly explained. It seems that Mr. Wright gratuitously edited the Arcluvological Journal, a publication sanc- tioned by the Society, and published by Mr. Parker. He also edited a newer periodical, called the Arclueological Album, published by another bookseller, who paid the editor. Mr. Parker feared that the new pub- Emotion would injure the other, and pointed out the fact; the Committee called upon Mr. Wright to withdraw from his paid engagement; whereat, Lord Albert Conyngham, indignant at the treatment of that gentleman, resigned the Presidency; and he was followed by a considerable number of seceders: they, as comprising a majority of the original founders and officers, claimed to carry with them the original title; and under that name they met at Winchester, to the number of about a hundred and fifty, a few weeks ago. They had reelected Lord Albert as President. The other section of the society, constituting the great numerical majority, say 1,650 or 1,750, denied the authority of the seceders; and also, retaining the original title, met at Winchester. On Monday, the Marquis of North- ampton made some good-humoured allusion to the "split," justifying his own acceptance of the schismatic Presidency. He told how an overture had been made to accommodate matters by a mutual abandonment of the title, with hints at readmitting the seceders. Lord Albert declined con- cessions, and the negotiations came to nothing. Lord Northampton now suggested that the majority could afford to give up the mere name; and he proposed that the Association [No. 2] should be called " The Archmo- logical Institute of Great Britain." At the suggestion of a member, the words "and Ireland" were added, and the title was adopted. Thanks to the several officers and friends of the institution were then distributed, and the meeting broke up.

The Bishop of Exeter is at issue with the Vestry of St. Andrew's, Ply- mouth. The Churchwardens, with the concurrence of the Reverend John Hatchard, the Vicar, and of the parishioners, have reverted to an ancient custom, for which they allege a prescriptive right, of raising money for the repair and use of the church by means of a pew-rent. The Bishop declares such a practice to be an illegal abuse, and he has absolutely prohibited it. At a meeting of the Vestry, on Tuesday, the Vicar presiding, a resolution was adopted all but unanimously, strongly deprecating the course taken by Bishop Philpotts.

A public meeting of the rate-payers and inhabitants of Rochdale took place in a large open space called the Butts, to hear a statement from the late Guardians, who had been prosecuted by the Poor-law Commis- sioners for refusing to act under the new law. Mr. Whitaker, the Chief Constable, who was called to the chair, said that the meeting was held in order to enable the so-called " Guardians " to explain the precise position iu which the district stood. From his statement it appears that the question of law is still before the Court of Queen's Bench. Mr. Livesey made a strong speech against the new Poor-law; in the course of which he stated, that only three persons had accepted the office of Guardian; and as one of those had since repented, there only remained two, James Holt and Samuel Brierley; whose very names would become terms of reproach, infamy, and contempt. Mr. Livesey also said, he had just been told that there was a policeman present taking notes. He had no doubt he was a worthy tool of a bad cause. (Groans.) He cared nothing for policemen—(Shouts of execration)—he cared not for all they could do; the policeman was welcome to put down all he said. The Chairman invited the amateur reporter to take his seat at the table of the regular reporters: but he declined, and, being assailed with hostile shouts, soon afterwards withdrew. Resolu- tions supporting the Guardians in the contest passed unanimously.

Doncaster Races began on Tuesday. There had been some decided im- provements; among which was a large extension of the "enclosure," in which the process of saddling was now performed. The attendance each day was considerable; and though not highly "fashionable," there was an in- crease in the number of aristocratic visiters in comparison with last season. The Fitzwilliam Stakes were won by Mr. Meiklam's Trueboy (J. Hutchin- son); a Matcb for 2001., by Mr. Clifton's Nottingham (Whitehouse)beating Mr. Jaques's Semiseria; the Queen's Plate, Mr. Cook's Shadow (T. Lye); the Cleveland Handicap, Mr. Meiklam's Godfrey (T. Lye); Sweepstakes of 5001. each (3 subscribers), by Lord George Bentinck's Ennui (Nat); Plate of 501., Mr. Dawson's filly by Sheet-anchor (Cartwright); Produce Stakes, Mr. Jaques's Pedigree. But the principal race was that for the Champagne Stakes of 501. each, for which thirteen horses started- BErrING—Even on Malcolm (notwithstanding he was coughing); 6 to 1 against Peri colt; 7 to 1 each against Free Lance and Fair Star; 8 to 1 against Princess Alice; 9 to 1 against Prospect; and 10 to 1 against any other.

THE RACE—Two or three false starts, and the final one so unsatisfactory that Malcolm and Fair Star got off badly, and Banana was left behind altogether. The front rank at starting consisted of Free Lance, Iago, Peri colt, The Traverser, and Stockport filly. Princess next, and the rock, with the exceptions mentioned, laid up. They ran so at a strong pace to the distance; where Princess Alice joined the leading horses, took up the running half-way up, and won cleverly by a length; The Traverser beating lago by a neck. Free Lance was a bad fourth, and Fair Star fifth. Malcolm made an effort at the turn, and at the distance was in the first rank, but gave way in a few strides, and was nowhere at the finish. Wednesday was the chief day; and the principal race was that for the Great St. Leger of 501. each (101 subscribers); the owner of the second horse to receive 2001., the third to save his stake, and the winner to pay 1001. towards expenses. Fifteen horses started. BETTING —5 to 2 against Miss Sarah (at one time 2 to 1 taken); 4 to 1 against Mentor (taken); 8 to 1 against The Pacha; 10 to 1 against Weatherbit; 10 to 1 against Patasa (taken); 12 to 1 against Annandale (taken); 16 to 1 against The Baron; 25 to 1 against Duc-an-Durras; 30 to 1 against Mid-Lothian; 35 to 1 against Fitzallan; 50 to 1 against Chertsey; 100 to 1 against Clear-the- way; 100 to 1 against June. THE Race—The start was undertaken by Lord George Bentinck; who, pre- viously to the saddling, assembled the riders in the weighing-room, and required them to draw lots for stations; seven to be in the first rank, and eight in the rear. This proceeding took up some time; and it was not until a quarter-past three that Dawson's horses, the last to make their appearance, were on the course. Having taken their preliminary canters, they were "dressed" by the noble starter in double ranks; paraded about half a distance down the course; brought back quiet as lambs, and in excellent order, to the post, and started at the first signal; all getting off capitally, except Clear-the-way and The Baron. Chert- sey, and two or three others belonging to the front rank, got away nearly abreast; but before they had run fifty yards were passed -by Twig, who took up the run- ning, and with Chertsey, Pantasa, Miss Sarah, /did-Lothian, Duc-an-Durras, Weatherbit, and The Pacha many lengths in his rear, went at a strong pace over the hill and almost to the turn. , The "go" was by this time taken out of him, and his followers closing up he fell back: but he had done all that had been ex- pected, namely, to cut out the work for The Baron; who caught his horses at the hill, and was now lying in the first nick behind Mentor and Weatherbit. Chertsey now took the lead, followed by Pantasa, Miss Sarah, The Pacha, Annandale' The Baron, and Duc-an-Durras; Mentor and Weatherbit next, and in good places: in this way they rounded the turn; on completing which, it did not require a very powerful glass to discover that Chertsey, Duc-an-Durras, and Weatherbit had had quite enough of it—in fact, they were unequivocally beaten before they were in straight running. The Baron, Miss Sarah, and Pantasa, were now fairly singled out; The Baron with his head in advance, and Pantasa, closely laid up with the mare. It was a fine race with this trio to the corner of the stand; where the mare, after defeating Pantasa, got her head first, and appeared to have the race in hand. From this point, however, she tired; and the Baron, heading her again at the centre of the stand, ran the longest, and ultimately, after one flourish of the whip, won cleverly by a length. Pantasa was beaten half-a-length for second; The Pacha fourth, Weatherbit a bad fifth, and Mentor sixth; the rest nowhere. The last horses in the race, and the worst, were Red Robin and Clear- the-way. The value of the stakes, 2,5001. It is stated that Mr. Watt, the owner of the horse, has not won a shilling in bets; but that his son has netted four or five thousand pounds.

The other winners were these—the Municipal Stakes, Lord Chesterfield's Arkwright walked over; Selling Stakes, Mr. Vane's Valerian, (F. Butler.) On Thursday, the winner of the Scarborough Stakes was Sir J. Haw- ley's Comrade (F. Butler) ; Three-year-old Stakes, Sir R. W. Bulkeley's Chertsey (S. Tenapleman); Innkeeper's Plate, Mr. Jacques's Semiseria; Great Yorkshire Handicap of 251. each with 2001. added, the second to re- ceive 1001., and the winner to pay 301. towards expenses, by Lord George Bentinck's My Mary (Kitchener); Sir C. Monck's Glossy (Cartwright) be- ing second. There were 59 subscribers; of whom 33 " declared," and thus saved 201. of their stakes each.

BETTING-3 to 1 against My Mary; 3 to 1 against As-you-like-it; 5 to 4 against Trueboy; 7 to 1 against Stomacher; 8 to 1 against Extempore; and 8 to 1 against Glossy.

THE RACE—Duc-an-Durras, Stomacher, Glossy, and Trueboy, went away together, and up to the gravel-road were so level that we could not make out that either had a decided lead. Glossy then went in front, but at the hill was headed by Trueboy, who made play over the hill; the Duke of Kent then went in front, and with Glossy, Trueboy, As-you-like-it, and My Mary in his track, cut out the work to the Red House; when Glossy again showed in front, but lived there only round the turn; My Mary then took the lead, keeping it to the end, and winning easily by a length; Glossy second, Trueboy a good third, Jenny Wren fourth, and As-you-like-it, fifth. Cartwright complained that My Mary crossed his track after taking the lead; but made no formal objection.

Mr. Robert Gardner, the Preston manufacturer who voluntarily reduced the hours of labour of his workpeople, with advantage to all concerned, gave his factory-hands a treat on Saturday week. Seven hundred people of all ages as- sembled at six o'clock in the morning in the milliard, and walked thence in pro- cession, with banners, music, " a large massive crimson crown," a model of a ship, and a cotton-tree, carried by a Black boy in "full costume," to the Fleetwood Railway station. At seven o'clock, a special-train started with the people for Fleetwood. On their arrival at their destination, they walked in procession to the Mount. Here there were various old English sports,—a foot-race, a crab-fish race, in which the competitors run on all-fours, a sack-race, a bell-ringing race, and foot-ball. Then came dancing, followed by a dinner for the grown-up people and buns and coffee for the youngsters. After dinner, six hundred were taken out to sea in a steamer, and they steamed round a ship bound for America. On returning to laud, there was more dancing, with foot-ball playing, donkey- racing, and other rural sports. The party returned to Preston in the evening; ex- pressing great delight at their day's pleasure.

We are happy to inform our readers, that Messrs. J. and T. Brocklehurst and Sons, of Macclesfield, have agreed, at the request of their hands, to close a portion. of their mills, in which about six hundred persons are employed, one hour per day earlier than heretofore. We hear that preparations are making to celebrate this auspicious event by a public entertainment.—Macclesfield Chronicle.

The proceedings in the Andover Union Workhouse have been resumed in a strange way. In answer to Mr. Westlake, the Medical Officer, who declined to prosecute, and demanded a continued inquiry, the Poor-law Commissioners wrote a long letter, saying that they did not want to force upon him the functions of prosecutor, and promising to consider the renewal of the inquiry, should the Master not be suspended by the Guardians. At a meeting of the Board of Guardians on Saturday, a motion to suspend Mr. Macdougal was negatived by 22 to 10; and on Wednesday the inquiry was resumed. The defence was opened. The witnesses were—Sarah Annetts, one of the paupers employed as a servant in the Workhouse; Mr. Stephen Holley, a parch ment-maker, and his wife Elizabeth, Mr. Macdougal's daughter; and some of the pauper women who had been servants to Mrs. Holley. Annetta and Mrs. Holley denied that any provisions had been sent to Mrs. Holley's house, except one dish of dripping, to which Mrs. Holley confessed; and Mrs. Holley also denied the sending of clothes and bedding; though she admitted that at the time of her marriage one bed had been sent. Some of the servants averred that they had slept at Mrs. Holley's in sheets bearing the Union mark. Mr. and Mrs. Holley declared that they had bought all their provisions at houses in London and other towns; but, having Raid ready money, they had no bills to produce. The inquiry was ad- journed for a week, to give Mr. Macdougal further time for his defence.

The "Queen's Own " line of railway, which consists of a branch or extension from the terminus of the South-western Railway at Gosport into the Royal Clarence Victualling Establishment, constructed for her Majesty's accommodation on her visits to Portsmouth or the Isle of Wight, was opened on Saturday; when_ a special train, which arrived from London at a quarter before eleven, conveyed the Cabinet Ministers to the Council held at Osborne House at one P. m. The Ministers expressed their satisfaction to the Directors at the increased facilities which this line would afford for the Queen's privacy and convenience. The railway originated in a suggestion made to the Directors by Prince Albert on one of the Royal visits to the Isle of Wight. The length of the new rail, from the Gosport terminus to the pier or stage in the Clarence yard, is about six hundred yards: it goes through the Gosport fortifications, and, crossing the moat upon piles, a bridge or tunnel admits the train through the lines; thus the upper part of the works is not interfered with, and the promenade is left for the public, as before. The whole of the cost of construction is under 8,0001.

General Pesky inspected the Tunbridge Wells branch of the South-eastern Railway on Saturday, as a preliminary to its opening. He expressed himself sa- tisfied with its stability and condition. The length of the branch to the proposed permanent station is five miles; but it is at present open to the temporary station at Jenkwood's Spring, situated about a quarter of a mile from the town. The permanent station will be in the centre of the town; it is approached by a tunnel, eight hundred yards long, under a portion of the town. 'The works to the tem- porary station are heavy, there being half-a-million yards of earth-work or cut- tings, chiefly in rock. There is also a tunnel of a quarter of a mile near Lomer Hill Park, and a brick viaduct two hundred and seventy yards long and forty feet high. The line was commenced in July 1844, as a single line, exactly twelve months before the Act was obtained; and in April 1845, it was determined to make it a double line. The cost to Jenkwood's Spring, including land, has been 100,0001., and the extension into Tunbridge Wells will be 80,0001. more. A very alarming accident occurred on the Midland Railway, on Saturday night, caused by the villanous act of some person or persons unknown. Close y the Holmes station, a short branch connects the Sheffield and Rotherham Railway, which now belongs to the Midland, with the main line at Masborough. At half- past seven o'clock, a train, consisting of three passenger-carriages, with sixty or seventy passengers, a parcel-van, and eleven baggage-waggons, left the Sheffield station to join the down-train from London, due at Masborongh at eight ; with which it was to proceed forward to Leeds. The parcel-van and waggons were placed next to the engine and tender, and the passenger-carriages at the tail of the train. When the train arrived at the Holmes station, the engine-driver, in con- formity with the general orders from the superintendent of the line, slackened his speed, as in passing from the Sheffield and Rotherham line to the branch there is a very sharp curve round the corner of the station. At this place the train was not going at a greater speed than ten or eleven miles an hour; and had not passed the station more than fifty or sixty yards, when it was suddenly stopped by some obstacle, and the engine and tender, with the force of the shock, were lifted off the rails and thrown on their broadsides across the up and down lines; the en- gine-driver and the fireman were thrown a distance of ten or twelve yards, and ray insensible for some minutes; three of the luggage-waggons and the parcel- van were thrown off the line; and the guard, who was seated on the last carriage but one, with his back to the engine, was thrown with great violence upon the roof of the carriage in front of him, but fortunately escaped injury by catching hold of the rails on the top of the carriage. Two of the waggons were smashed to pieces, and a third was rendered useless by the concussion. The shock was felt severely by the whole of the passengers. The engine-driver and stoker were found to have received only some contusions. Search was made to ascertain the cause of the accident; when it was discovered that a set of "points," used for putting waggons on a side-line, had been wedged open with an iron " chair" and a piece of limestone, so that it was impossible for a train to pass over without being thrown off the lines. The Company have offered a reward of one hundred gui- neas for the detection of the offenders.

Prince George of Cambridge was among the passengers of a train which suf- fered a violent collision at the Oakenshaw (Wakefield) station, on the Midland Railway, last Wednesday. The train from Leeds to Derby which was due at half-past ten o'clock a.m. did not arrive until twenty minutes after its time; and as there were a great number of passengers from Oakenshaw to the Swinton (Doncaster) station, on account of the races, at least twenty minutes more elapsed without any immediate appearance of moving on. At this moment, the train from Hull came up, following on the same line of rails; and it dashed into the carriages of the Derby train. Most fortunately, several of the other car- riages of the Derby train had been drawn back from the main body, in order that others might be placed between. These carriages received the blow; but having some space to be driven forward before they struck the other portion of the train, the force of the concussion was materially lessened. Moreover, the Hull train was slackening its speed to stop at the station. Nevertheless, the shock was severely felt even in the carriages most remote; and many of the passengers were much shaken and bruised. Prince George of Cambridge was in his own carriage, which stood open, on a truck, at the extreme end of the Hull train. He did not sustain any particular inconvenience; but, like everybody else, he looked ex- cessively pale.

The station of Oakensbaw is close to a bridge, at the end of a deep cutting, through which there is a great curve; so that it is impossible for the driver to see the signals until almost close on the spot.

An alarming accident, but, fortunately, attended with no serious injury to any person, occurred at the Tottenham station of the Eastern Counties Rail- way, on Wednesday evening. Two horse-carriages and a second-class carriage bad been detached from a train, and were in course of being removed from the np-line when a train from Cambridge came up. The two men who were moving the carriages were obliged to desist for their own safety: the engine-driver did all he could to check the velocity of the train; but nevertheless, the engine dashed into a horse-carriage, breaking it to pieces, tore up part of the platform of the station, and then turned off right across the lines of rail. Of course, the passen- gers were much shaken and terrified. Mr. Hewlett, clerk at the station, and a man named Marshall, were discharged on Thursday, by order of the Directors; as the accident is imputed to their negligence.

A labourer named Nixon was sent into the railway-tunnel at Liverpool on Saturday morning, to sand the rails, as they were wet. A pilot-waggon passed through the tunnel half-an-hour after; the driver felt a slight obstruction on the rail, and heard a noise like the breaking of a piece of wood. A man was sent with a light to examine the spot; and, about a quarter of a mile from Edge Hill, he found Nixon lying across the down-rails, with one foot on one rail and his right band upon the other rail. He was quite dead and cold. His right hand was completely crushed, and his left jaw broken. There was also a wound upon the forehead, and another upon the back of the head. A wooden lamp was found near him; which was doubtless the obstruction that the waggon met with. The inquest was begun on Monday, but was adjourned to afford time for a post mortem examination; it being surmised that the wounds upon the deceased were not sufficient to cause death, and that he must have fallen in a fit, which was probably fatal. One man has been killed, and another much injured, his thigh having been fractured, at the works on the Salisbury and Bishopstoke Railway. A number of labourers were cutting down a chalk-hill at Petersfinger, near Salisbury, and a large mass of the chalk which they had undermined fell upon them.

The inquest on Ward the engine-driver and Mills a carpenter, killed by the col- lision on the Bristol and Birmingham Railway at Defford, on the 30th August, was resumed on Monday. James Baird, Ward's stoker, who had sustained the injury of a broken arm, was examined. He gave this account of the accident. "I knew Joseph Ward when living. He was driver of the engine No. 75. I was stoker to that engine. On the 30th August, we left Gloucester, following shortly after the mail-train, which left at nine o'clock that night. Ours was a special goods- train, consisting of twenty tracks: eighteen were loaded, and two empty; they were loaded with wood and iron rails. We came on towards Bredon; when the pumps of the engine failed, and Ward, the driver, would not allow me to Fit more bre into the engine, because he thought we should have to pull it out. IVe then came on towards Eckington; and finding the pumps of the engine working very well, he said we would put more fire in; and I accordingly did so. Then, on passing Defford station, 1 had been putting fuel on; and Ward said there was some- thing wrong. I was engaged in putting fuel on between Eckington and Defford, about a mile apart: my head was down, and on passing the Defford station, Ward said there was something wrong. I looked, and saw Ward shut the steam off the engine; and I was instantly tossed somewhere, and knew nothing else. I can't say if he reversed the engine, but believe he made his way to the lever for that purpose. The first thing that I recollect was finding myself on the ground, and some person pulling at me. Ward was perfectly sober when we left Gloucester.' He saw no signal, because his head was bent down while engaged in supplying fuel. He said he could not tell how fast they were going at the time of the accident; but on being pressed, he thought it was thirty miles an hour. If Ward had been attending to his duty as driver, and if the lights had been in their proper place, he would have seen them. He had never been on an engine which passed a signal unheeded. " On our approach to the Defford station, there was no whistle from the engine which I was on. It is the engine-driver's duty to sound the whistle on approaching every station. He never approached any station before, to my knowledge, without sounding the whistle. He sounded the whistle that night at every station except at Defford. That I am certain of, to the best of my

knowledge. There are some engines that when there is too much water the whistle will not sound." [Mr. M'Connell, the superintendent of locomotives on the line, said—" The whistle of no engine will sound if too full of water."] He had been employed on the line for twelve months; and during that time the number of men had been increased. Mr. M'Connell deposed that lie had a good character with Ward when he engaged him; and he considered him to be a man of considerable experience in the management of an engine. He thought it would have taken as much time to fill up the fire of engine No. 75 as it occupied to traverse the distance between Eckington and Defford. An engine-driver was discharged in 1842, for running past a signal at Stoke; and in several instances drivers had been suspended for disobedience of orders. Every case where disobe- dience of signals had been reported had been investigated, and when proved pun- ishment followed. If there had been a " siding " on the down-line at Di efford, the accident, in all probability, would not have occurred: but the Company have not land to make a " siding " at that spot on the down-line. Thirty miles an hour was too great a speed for a luggage-train; twenty should be the maximum. En- gine-drivers are a class of men that he should like to see better paid and better educated. [The pay of the drivers on this line is 7s. a day; of the stokers, 3.9.6d.] A means of communication between the guard and the driver was very much to be desired, and he hoped it would soon be effected. Two other witnesses were examined, but nothing new was elicited. The inquiry was then adjourned to Wednesday.

The inquiry was resumed on Wednesday. A labourer declared that the lug- gage-train was going very fast—as fast as he ever saw a train go. Mr. M'Con- nell explained, that when he had said luggage-trains should not go at a rate of thirty miles an hour, he did not mean that such a speed was dangerous, but that it was not economical. Mr. Dore, the Defford station-master, said lie had known signals to be disregarded five or six times during eighteen months: he had com- plained to the chief officers, but never received any reply; lie thought his complaints could not have reached the proper quarter: they only brought him into discredit with the engine-drivers, and so he had not made any on some occasions. Guards and others had said he was "making himself busy.' About a week before the accident, a driver had passed the station without heeding a signal to stop. He did not report that case. It was certainly a dereliction of duty on his part. He did not think he had sufficient hands at the station. His duties commenced at five o'clock in the morning and closed at ten at night—except on extraordinary occasions ! Mr. M'Connell, and Mr. Sanders, the Secretary, declared that they had never received any letters of complaint from Mr. Dore; but they promised that the matter should be inquired into, to ascertain if they had been suppressed by those whose conduct was complained of Mr. Sanders declared that no reduc- tion of the working staff on the Railway had taken place. General Pesky had made three suggestions, one referring to the necessity for additional " sidings " at the stations where practicable; another to the propriety of not bringing trucks upon the main line until the trains had stopped; and the third, to the desirableness of resorting to the old mode of signal-lamps upon posts. Orders had been given by the Company to carry out the last two recommendations immediately; and the first would meet with speedy consideration.

The inquest closed on Thursday. Some witnesses were reexamined at great length, but nothing very material was elicited. The Jury consulted for three hours, and then returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," with a deodand of 1,5001. on the engine of the luggage-train.

Several persons have been seriously injured by a cart accident, one fatally, at Stanuington, in Yorkshire. Nine people were in the cart, with the body of a child which they were taking to be buned. The route was through a steep and rough lane, and a man was leading the horse, when the animal became restiff; in the effort to restrain him, the bit was pulled out of his mouth, the bridle over his head, and the blinkers from his eyes; he dashed down a declivity, and the cart was violently thrown over on the stony road. One woman died the following day, after giving birth to a dead child; another suffered a fracture of her wrist, the hip of a third was dislocated, and a girl's face was dreadfully disfigured, while five other persons were more or less injured. A waggoner has been killed at William's Hill, in Hertfordshire, in showing off the power of his horses to come down a bill without being checked. The horses began to trot, and soon he lost all power over them; he went to the head of the leaders, but could not stop them until they ran foul of a public-home on the wayside. He was crushed against the wall, one shaft having run into his bowels. Every assistance that the place could render was given: but he died after a short period of the most agonizing torments.

The little market-town of Moretonhampstead, in Devonshire, which is situated on an eminence about twelve miles from Exeter, has suffered a disastrous visita- tion. Shortly after midnight on Saturday morning, a bakehouse caught fire; as the roofs of time neighbouring dwellings were thatched, the flames soon extended; for six hours the conflagration spread from house to house, and it was not arrested till some of the buildings yet untouched had been pulled down. About fifty houses have been destroyed. rite buildings generally were insured; but their contents, principally belonging to poor people, were not. The fire produced an immense blaze, winch was visible for many miles around.

An Irish labourer has been drowned in the river Dun, at Masborough, in York- shire, in attempting to cross the stream on some stones, in order that he might save a penny, the cost of the ferry. He had several pounds on his person; but he was noted for his parsimonious disposition.

Three lives were lost in Plymouth Sound, on Sunday evening, by the upsetting of a boat. Mrs. Graham, the wife of one of the light-keepers of the Breakwater Lighthouse, was returning to the shore from a visit to her husband, accompanied by her son, a boy six years of age, and a waterman; by some means the boat was swamped, and all perished. The first intimation which the father re- ceived of the bereavement, was seeing the corpse of his son washed up on the breakwater in the morning.

Mrs. Theobald, of Feltham Lodge, Hounslow, well known to those who hunt with the Queen's hounds as a good horsewoman, was killed last week at Hanworth by her horse's falling in a stubble-field. She had gone into the field to try the horse; be fell, and the lady was thrown on her head with great violence. From the evidence given at the inquest, it appears that the saddle gave way when the horse fell; and thus the rider, although a good horsewoman, lost her seat. Mrs. Theobald was a widow, and in her twenty-ninth year. The farm-buildings and the crop of a hundred acres of land at Old Park Farm, Great Waltham, were destroyed by fire on Sunday. It is feared that the fire was wilful.

On the last day of the year 1844, Mr. Thomas Peacop, a young partner in the firm of Golding and Company, corn-merchants, residing at New Ferry, near Bir- kenhead, was waylaid on his way home, about ten o'clock in the evening, and beaten to such a degree that he died a few days after from a fracture of the base of the skull. No clue could be obtained for the discovery of the murder- ers, though a reward of 1001. was offered for their apprehension to any one except the man who struck the fatal blow. A few days ago, a letter was sent to the Governor of Birkenhead Gaol by one Michael Burns, living in Dublin, con- fessing that he was of the party concerned in the affair. That person was. in consequence brought to Birkenhead on Sunday morning; and on his information three other persons were apprehended. Their names are Patrick Tallant, William Nowlan, and Robert Lynch, all Irishmen; the two former being engaged at the works of the Birkenhead Gas and Water Company, and the other at the brick- fields of Mr. J. R. Pim, at New Ferry. On Monday, they were placed before the Magistrates at the Police Court; and remanded, in order to afford time to produce the necessary witnesses.

The examination of the prisoners began on Tuesday. They declared that they were not guilty. The evidence given described the murder of Mr. Peacop, but was not very cogent in proving the accused to have been the criminals. On Wednesday, Burns, the approver, described the robbery and murder of Mr. Peacop. Tallant proposed to him to rob Peacop, and he met that prisoner and the two others for the purpose. Lynch and Nowlan ill-used Mr. Peacop, and Moisten struck a man who came to his assistance. Burns got 5s. as his share of the plunder. He afterwards went to Dublin; made a confession to his priest, and was ordered to inform the Magistrates of the crime that had been committed. Cross-examination did not shake the man's testimony. He and Lynch had in- tended to rob Mr. Peacop before, but an opportunity did not occur. All four swore to stand by each other. The Superintendent of the Birkenhead Police de- posed to finding suspicious weapons at Lynch's house. The prisoners were re- manded for a week. They were sent off to Chester for security, the populace of the town being greatly excited in their favour; so much so, that military aid had been obtained to prevent any outburst.