網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

the workhouse, and ascertained that the deceased, who was a widow, had been an inmate eleven months. She was at intervals of unsound mind. It was quite a mystery how she could have got to the top of the wall, which was ten feet high, as no ladder or steps were kept near that part of the building.

Mr. Wakley remarked, that it was evident that the deceased was insane, from the fact of her wishing to get away from the Islington Workhouse, which was well conducted, to become the inmate of a pauper lunatic asylum.-Verdict "Accidental Death."

After

ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF STATE PRISONERS. The Journal du Peuple gives the following interesting details relative to the recent attempt at escape of some of the political prisoners at Mont St. Michel.- "The four prisoners who made the attempt were Barbès, Martin Bernard, Blanqui, and Hubert. The time chosen for it was the morning of the 11th inst., at three o'clock, at which time there was a dense fog. having sawed through the bars of their cells, they reached the bottom of the great staircase, and thence proceeded without obstacle to the elevated terrace called the SautGauthier. They had to descend from this great height to the path which terminates at the barracks. Once in this path, they would have had only one wall to climb to reach the sea-coast, where the tide would have favoured their flight. They began by fixing to the parapet of the terrace a long rope, which they had contrived to conceal in their prison, and, when it was fixed, Barbès grasped it and began to descend. In the mean time, his three companions looked

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

with strained eyes over the parapet, but the fog was so thick that they soon lost sight of him. In a short time the slight noise occasioned by the descent ceased, and another of the party was preparing to follow thinking that Barbès had reached the ground in safety, when they heard a noise like that of a body falling down a rapid steep, and they could not doubt that Barbès had met with an accident. A cry of Barbès, Barbès,' escaped simultaneously from the three prisoners, and this cry having reached the nearest sentinel, the alarm became general, and in a few moments soldiers and turnkeys were moving about in every direction with lighted lanterns The three prisoners were soon discovered, and taken back to their cells, and a rigid search was set up for Barbès, who, although dreadfully maimed by his fall, had contrived to drag himself to a distance of nearly 100 yards from the spot where he fell, and had attempted to conceal himself between two rocks. In this situation the persons in search of him passed the spot twice without discovering him; the prisoner keeping himself perfectly quiet, and even holding his breath to prevent the noise of his respiration from reaching his pursuers. At length, however, as they were about to withdraw, he could not resist the desire to look out, and at that fatal moment his face was seen by one of the guards, and he was immediately laid hold of. He was conveyed to his cell, and the surgeon of the prison was summoned to his aid. Whilst the examination was going on, the most breathless attention was manifested, and the most rigid of the gaolers who were present could scarcely refrain from manifesting

emotion. The surgeon, after a close examination, reported that there were a great many contusions, but that no bones were broken, and, having bled his patient, and prescribed long rest, he left him. At the end of four or five days Barbès was able to rise, and his friends may now be perfectly easy as to the results of his accident."

MARCH.

1. EXPLOSION OF A FIREWORKS FACTORY LOSS OF FOUR LIVES. -One of the most appalling and fatally calamitous explosions that has occurred in or near the metropolis, took place at Mr. D'Ernst's fireworks manufactory, Lambethbutts, by which the premises have been destroyed, and four lives have been sacrificed. At about twenty minutes to twelve o'clock, the inhabitants of Lambeth, Kennington, Vauxhall, and the surrounding neighbourhood, were alarmed by a loud report such as is usually produced by the ignition of gunpowder in large quantities, or perhaps resembling more strictly the explosion of gas. This was rapidly followed by reports of less violence of sound, but sufficiently loud to create serious apprehension even to persons residing some hundred yards distant. The first impres sion was that the Vauxhall gasworks had exploded, and that the successive discharges were created by the bursting of the retorts. In a very few minutes, however, the nature of the calamity and its situation were made manifest by a dense body of smoke which as cended above the houses on the north side of Lambeth-walk, be

hind which the factory had been erected some few years back by Mr. D'Ernst, when he was engaged as pyrotechnist at Vauxhall gardens. The alarm having once gone abroad, thousands of persons hurried to the spot. A large body of the metropolitan police hastened from the stationhouse in High-street, and expresses were sent off to the various fire-engine stations, at several of which the brigade men were already prepared for action by the loud reports which they had just heard. The assistance was prompt and ample, but such was the terror inspired in all those assembled by a report having spread that there were some hundreds weight of gunpowder under ground, that the most resolute men of the fire brigade hesitated to approach suf ficiently near to the fated premises to render their efforts for its preservation effective, An abundant supply of water was speedily obtained from the main pipes, and seven or eight large engines were brought to bear on the south-west angle of the building, which was easiest of access, there being at the other extremity enclosed ground, attached to some small cottages, the inmates of which fled out in the most pitiable consternation, conceiving that the whole place must be blown up. In less than half an hour, the factory itself was reduced to complete ruin, and the dwelling-house, in front, a slight building, two stories high, shared the same fate soon after. The discharge of fireworks having created sufficient apertures, the firemen directed all their attention to the cellarage, with the view of preventing the expected explosion of gunpowder, it having been ascertained, beyond all doubt, that

there were on the premises at least six barrels of that terrible combustible. By great exertion, they were enabled to throw in some thousand tons of water directly over the cellars, so that the ground was covered to the depth of two inches, and the rockets and fragments of burning timber were quenched as they fell. The firemen, perceiving that there was no further danger of the gunpowder exploding, proceeded cautiously to the interior, and, with the hose of several engines, deluged the smouldering wood that lay scattered about. Their next duty, and it was one of some peril, was to search among the ruins for the remains of whoever might have suffered. In a few minutes the charred body of a lad, about seventeen or eighteen years old, was dug out; the next was that of a man of muscular frame, supposed to be Wright, the foreman of the factory; the next was that of a full-grown man, believed to be the unfortunate proprietor, Mr. D'Ernst; and a fourth, which was so horribly burned as to present scarcely any traces of humanity, was the last victim found. The latter was pronounced to be a woman, and the sister-in-law of Mr. D'Ernst, who had charge of the premises. The lad was one of the apprentices.

2. ANCIENT HIGHLAND DUNGEON. The road over the stone bridge at Inverness is at present undergoing repair, and the workmen threw open the vault built in one of the arches, which was for merly used as a gaol, and afterwards as a cell for maniacs. was truly a double dungeon," made by "wall and ware." About a foot below the surface of the road they came upon a small iron

It

.

door, from which a flight of stone steps led down to the damp and miserable chamber. An iron-grating or air-hole lighted the place, which was found to be about twelve feet long, nine feet wide, and six feet high. There were no indications of a fire-place; a hole on the floor was used for letting down a pitcher for water; and it is scarcely possible to conceive a more wretched or horrid receptacle for human beings. The situation of the captives, with the river rolling below them, and the sound of horses and vehicles passing over the roof of the cell, is strongly calculated to impress the imagination. In winter, when the river is in flood, or during a storm, a sort of wild and fearful sublimity must have been added to the scene. The last inmate of the cell was half devoured by rats!

COLONIAL BISHOPS. PASTORAL LETTER of the BISHOP OF LONDON TO HIS CLERGY.-Rev. Sir,-You are no doubt aware, that a declaration was agreed to by the Archbishops and Bishops of the United Church of England and Ireland, at a meeting held at Lambeth, on the Tuesday in Whitsun week, 1841, setting forth the insufficiency of the provision made for the spiritual care of the members of our church in the distant dependencies of the empire, and the great importance of erecting additional bishoprics in the colonies. A copy of the declaration is sent herewith, to which I request your most serious attention.

I am persuaded that the accomplishment of the object which we have in view may be insured, under the blessing of God, if the clergy will exert themselves to

collect contributions in their respective parishes; and I am desirous of suggesting to those of my own diocese the propriety of commencing that exertion on the first day of the approaching holy week, in which we commemorate the death and passion of our blessed Lord, and offer up our special prayers for all estates of men in his holy church, and for the gathering together in one fold, under one shepherd, of all those who are not yet within its enclosure.

It is my wish that you should have a collection made in your church in aid of the Colonial Bishops' Fund on Palm Sunday next; and I would suggest that it might be made in the following manner:-After the sermon, in which I trust you will explain the object for which the offerings of your people are solicited, let the offertory sentences be read from the communion table, not omitting those which instruct them that are taught in the word to minister unto them that teach in all good things. Whilst these sentences are reading, let the churchwardens, or other persons appointed for that purpose, collect the offerings of the people, and bring them to the minister, to be by him humbly presented and placed upon the holy table. Let him then proceed with the prayer for the church militant, and with the remainder of the service, according to the rubric. This revival of the ancient practice of our church has been attempted in several parishes with great success; but, although I would gladly see it become general, I do not wish to interfere with your discretion in the present instance, if you should have good reason for preferring

some other mode of making the collection.

I conclude in the words of the declaration, and "under a deep sense of the sacredness and importance of this great work, and in the hope that Almighty God may graciously dispose the hearts of his servants to a corresponding measure of liberality, I earnestly commend it to the good will, the assistance, and the prayers of all the members of our church." I am, Rev. Sir,

Your faithful friend

And brother in Christ,
C. J. LONDON.

THE COLONIAL BISHOPRICS. -The following is the declaration agreed to at Lambeth on the subject of the erection and endowment of episcopal sees in the colonies and dependencies of our empire, alluded to by the Bishop of London in his pastoral let

ter:

"We, the undersigned archbishops and bishops of the united Church of England and Ireland, contemplate with deep concern the insufficient provision which has been hitherto made for the spiritual care of the members of our national church residing in the British colonies and in distant parts of the world, especially as it regards the systematic superintendence of the clergy, and the absence of those ordinances the administration of which is committed to the episcopal order. We, therefore, hold it to be our duty to undertake the charge of the fund for the endowment of additional bishoprics in the colonies, and to become responsible for its application.

"On due consideration of the relative claims of those dependencies of the empire which demand our assistance, we are of opinion

that the immediate erection of bishoprics is much to be desired in the following places:-New Zealand, the British possessions in the Mediterranean, New Brunswick, Cape of Good Hope, Van Diemen's Land, and Ceylon.

"When competent provision shall have been made for the endowment of these bishoprics, regard may be had to the claims of Sierra Leone, British Guiana, South Australia, Port Philip, Western Australia, Northern India, and Southern India.

"In the first instance we propose that an episcopal see be established at the seat of Government in New Zealand, offers having been already made which appear to obviate all difficulty as to endowment.

(Since the publication of the declaration the right rev. G. A. Selwyn, D.D., has been appointed Bishop of New Zealand, and has sailed for his distant sphere of labour.)

"Our next object will be to make a similar provision for the congregations of our own communion established in the islands of the Mediterranean, and in the countries bordering upon that sea; and it is evident that the position of Malta is such as will render it the most convenient point of communication with them, as well as with the bishops of the ancient churches of the East, to whom our church has been for many centuries known only by name.

"We propose, therefore, that a see be fixed at Valetta, the residence of the English Government; and that its jurisdiction extend to all the clergy of our church residing within the limits above specified. The church, erected through the munificence of Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, will form a suitable cathedral.

"Our attention will then be directed to the countries named in the foregoing lists, without binding ourselves to the exact order therein followed, or precluding ourselves from granting assistance to any place where means may be found for the earlier endowment of a bishopric.

"In no case shall we proceed without the concurrence of Her Majesty's Government; and we think it expedient to form a standing committee, consisting of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York, the Archbishop of Armagh, the Archbishop of Dublin, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Durham, the Bishop of Winchester, the Bishop of Lincoln, and the Bishop of Rochester, with full power to confer with the Ministers of the Crown, and to arrange measures, in concert with them, for the erection of bishoprics in the places above enumerated.

"For the attainment of these most desirable objects, a sum of money will be required, large as to its actual amount, but small when compared with the means which this country possesses, by the bounty of Divine Providence, for advancing the glory of God, and the welfare of mankind. Under a deep feeling of the sacredness and importance of this great work, and in the hope that Almighty God may graciously dispose the hearts of his servants to a corresponding measure of liberality, we earnestly commend it to the good will, the assistance, and the prayers of all the members of our church.

[blocks in formation]
« 上一頁繼續 »