ebt Probintts.

The past week has produced its crop of agricultural assemblies. The Northallerton, the North Staffordshire, the Worcestershire, the South Buckinghamshire, (present the Duke of Buckingham,) the Wisbeach, the Stewponey, and the Waltham Associations have met and dined. The speeches were generally free from acrimony, and the speakers still seemed to take the hopeful view of agricultural prospects which we notified last week. At the North Staffordshire dinner, Earl Talbot spoke strongly on the subject of leases, and announced, amidst loud cheers, that if any tenant of his would ask him for a lease he should have it. At the Waltham anni- versary, the Duke of Rutland, without giving up his opinions on protec- tion, intimated that he was disposed to bow to the recent decision of Parlia- ment; modestly declining to set his humble opinion against the wisdom of the nation.

A respectable and numerous meeting of farmers was held at Farrington, in Wiltshire, on Tuesday, to agitate for repeal of the Malt-tax. Lord Bar- rington, M.P., was present; and a question arose as to his future conduct. He could not agree to exclude from his consideration the state of the na- tional revenue; and he insisted upon the expediency, and also the efficiency, of petitioning. Mr. Selmes said that petitioning had done no good, except to make parchment dear; he urged that electors should require their Repre- sentatives, individually, to vote for the repeal of the Malt-tax; and ho de- clared that at any future election he should not support any candidate who refused to do so. Ultimately, however, the meeting agreed that pour- ing in petitions should be the tactic recommended; and thanks were unanimously accorded to Lord Barrington for his attendance.

Lord Morpeth presided over the festivities attendant on the opening of the Mechanics Institution at Bradford for the session, on Tuesday. There was first a dinner in the Athenaeum of the Institution, and in the evening a soiree in the lecture-theatre. Lord Morpeth began the proceedings with an agreeable discourse, in which be conveyed a friendly exhortation against too exclusive an utilitarianism, and mentioned several attractive features in the Institution. He said diet it appeared to possess a useful library, but that it wanted a more complete selection of good poets. Ho referred in terms of approval to the occasional concerts, to the establishment of a drawing-school, and to the new condition of admission; by which, if a per- son subscribed a guinea a year to the funds of the Institution, he was not only entitled to share in all its privileges and advantages himself, but had the advantage of introducing two pupils gratuitously to all its benefits. The speech was much applauded.

A meeting was held at Bradford, on Wednesday, to originate a movement in Yorkshire for the moral and social improvement of the female factory- operatives. The Reverend Dr. Scoresby, Vicar of Bradford, occupied the chair; and on the platform were Lord Morpeth, Mr. William Busfeild, M.P., and a large party of clergymen, Dissenting ministers, and manufac- turers of the town and neighbourhood. Mr. Robert Baker, Factory In- spector in the district, also took an active part. Lord Morpeth made a speech in his usual kindly spirit. He stated that there were in the town 12,000 unmarried female operatives, exposed to a variety of unpleasing and contaminating influences. The plan of improvement was explained by the ,

Reverend Walter Scott, President of Airedaile College. It is this: 1. The provision of boarding-houses in different parts of the town, conducted under economical arrangements; 2. The register of other lodging-houses kept by private parties, and certified as clean and well-conducted places of abode; 3. The establishment of evening schools for instruction in general; 4. The organization of a general sick society on sound financial principles, and the encouragement and facilitation of depositing money in savings-banks. A committee was formed to carry out these objects, consisting of the clergy, Dissenting ministers, and the leading gentry of the district. Other resolu- tions were passed, calling upon all classes in the district to coiipemte in the movement.

A meeting was held at the Town-hall of St. Alban's, on Wednesday,— the Mayor presiding,—to consider a plan devised by Mr. Bond Cabbell for encouraging the working classes to do without the New Poor-law. Letters were read from Mr. Walter, Mr. Wakley, and Mr. Ferrand, regretting their inability to attend. Mr. Cabbell described his plan to consist in the formation of a " National Anti-Poor-law Provident and Benevolent Insti- tution," to be incorporated by act of Parliament; which should combine the advantages of a friendly society, a building society, and a mutual assurance society. The funds, it is to be inferred, are to be raised, in the first instance, by means of advances from persons of substance, and ulti- mately by small subscriptions from the members. Several resolutions involving the adoption of the plan in its different parts, were agreed to, and the meeting separated; to reassemble, however, at dinner in the evening. It was then announced that Mr. Cabbell would start the project with a subscription of a thousand guineas.

According to the commercial intellegence of the Globe, the advices from the manufacturing districts are not encouraging. " The rise in cotton at Liverpool is a serious drawback upon an extension of the manufacture of goods, and until something with accuracy is known as to the probable yield of the crops, it is pretty certain that speculators will command very nearly the market value of the staple. At this period the advices received from the United States as to the condition of the crops (and there are many ver- sions as to them) are of great interest. The following is the latest that has come to hand from the Southern States of the Union- " New Orleans.—The accounts received since have confirmed our worst fears upon the subject, and the question is no longer whether or not the crop will be short, but to what extent it will be diminished. Under the influence of these causes, the increased animation noticed has been followed by a continued demand, nearly sweeping the market bare of the small amount offering for sale; the trans- actions of Wednesday and Thursday embracing 713 bales, at a considerable advance on previous rates. These high figures will probably bring forward several small lists in speculators' hands, or withheld from sale under limits above our late quota- tions; but the amount must be limited, and until the new crop comes freely in, we shall probably have but few transactions to notice.

"` The accounts from the interior in regard to the crop are discouraging, and from all appearances we cannot expect any receipts of consequence before the end of next mouth. The lateness of the season renders an abundant yield out of the question, since it not only exposes the plant to the numerous chapter of contingen- cies and casualties at a later period of the year, but likewise involves a loss of time at the most valuable period of the picking season, which under the most favour- able circumstances can never be requited.'

At the preparatory quarterly meeting of the ironmasters of South Staf- fordshire, held at Dudley, on Monday week, it was resolved to maintain the present prices.

The quarterly meeting was held at Birmingham on Thursday. It was resolved to maintain present prices; the general feeling being rather in favour of an advance than a reduction. The nailers in the neighbourhood of Halcsowen still remain out; the masters being determined to resist the advance of price demanded. Hitherto the turnouts have conducted them- selves peaceably.

There is an accredited rumour here, says the Hereford Times, that Sir John Guest, of the Dowlais Iron-works, has just completed a contract to supply two hundred thousand tons of iron rails at 101. per ton; the total value of which will be two millions sterling. The same iron three or four years ago would have been sold at from Si. to 61. per ton.

The Howden great horse-fair terminated on the 26th September. The demand was very great, and the supply less abundant than it was on some former occasions. As a consequence, prices were high; varying from 1001. to 200/. One horse was purchased for the Duke of Cleveland at 2301. There was a large attendance of foreign buyers, principally from Prussia. Extensive purchases were also made by the troop-horse buyers.

The Worcester Chamber of Commerce, and the Town Council of the same place, have " pronounced " against the Indian salt monopoly.

The Hull and Bridlington Railway was opened on Tuesday, with great eclat; Mr. Hudson, the chairman, being present. The directors had dis- tributed tickets for an excursion from Hull to Bridlington with so much liberality, that to accommodate all the excursionists, every variety of carriage which could be spared from the lines under King Hudson's sway had to be congregated—first, second, and third class, old and new. As the morning opened very wet, with a boisterous wind, the prospect for the late-corners, - who had to put up with open carriages, was not very inviting. However, the guests nrrived in crowds, and eventually the weather brightened. " Shortly before eleven o'clock," says a writer on the spot, " a distant cheer and the scream of a steam-whistle announced the approach from York of the much-desired potentate; and in a few minutes afterwards he arrived, accompanied by a fresh supply of carriages, and drawn by an engine named after himself, the Hudson ; which was decorated with laurel, and sur- mounted by an imperial crown. The aggregate train, truly a monster one, started. It consisted of fifty-seven carriages in all, and was drawn by three powerful engines. Two bands, one near each end of the train, enlivened the passengers with their music; whilst at all the principal stations additional bands 'e ere placed, who played suitable pieces as the train approached and passed." The length of the line is thirty-three miles. It passes through a low country, for the most part rich, and so level that the line presented not Merely no engineering difficulties, but absolutely required little more than consolidating the ground and laying down the rails at once. The deepest crating may possibly have been, for a few yards, from six to ten feet. The highest embankment about the same. No tunnel, few bridges, and those of the cheapest description. The entire cost was about 950,0001. -The

. .

district is principally agricultural, and is well peopled.

On arriving at • Bridlington, the Hull party were received by a large concourse of people, and by a procession of Odd Fellows and other in-

habitants, with banners. A collation was served in the engine-store; about sixteen hundred people had been invited, and the scene was very animated. Mr. Hudson occupied the chair, and proposed various toasts. He also made a speech in acknowledgment of an address from the inhabitants of the town. He implied a promise that the undertaking should realize the two great ends of railway speculation—accommodation at the cheapest possible rate for the public, combined with proper remuneration to the proprietors for their outlay and enterprise. The railway interest of England, he should repeat again and again, was the country's inte- rest; and the object of that which was called " the railway interest" was to aid the public interest as much as possible, whilst seeking to obtain that to which they had an undoubted right, viz. a fair return for their capital and enterprise.

In the evening, upwards of four hundred gentlemen dined together in the Assembly Room at Hull; Mr. Hudson again presiding.

The Stamford and Peterborough Railway was opened to the publics on Friday week. Great numbers of persons travelled on it for the first few days.

The turning of the first sod of the Chesterford and Newmarket Railway- s "sporting line," intended for the accommodation especially of the racing patrons of Newmarket—was performed last week, at Dnllingham. Master Jeaffreson, the heir of General Jeaffreson, boldly wielded the spade, before a large concourse of people of all degrees. Lord George Man- ners, the chairman of the company, and Mr. Pigott, made speeches. Mr. Pigott afterwards entertained a party at his mansion. After the repast, among other toasts was that of " Mr. Shelley and the Jockey Club." In returning thanks, Mr. Shelley said—" The Jockey Club felt that a railway to Newmarket would not only be a great convenience to parties anxious to participate in the truly British sport of racing, but would also enable Mem of Parliament to superintend a race, and run back to London in time for the same night's debate."

The workmen were feasted with beef and beer by the contractor, Mr. Jackson.

The Reverend Sidney Godolphin Osborne has at length drawn out the farmers of Ryme. In a letter to the Times, which appeared on the 24th September, Mr. Osborne denounced the practice of paying the labourers on the truck system, as well as the miserable wages given in that part of Dorsetshire. A correspondence ensued in the local papers, and Mr. Osborne's assertion was denied. The correspondence was conducted on behalf of the farmers by Mr. Daniel Brake; who finally called for a public investigation in the presence of the Rector and a reporter. Accordingly, on the 1st instant, the parties assembled in the parochial-school. Mr. Osborne and the farmers of Ryme were present; the latter having engaged Mr. Vining, an attorney of Yeovil, to conduct the investigation on their behalf. The inquiry was remarkable, independently of the curious facts elicited, for the insolent tone exhibited by Mr. Vining, and the " laughing " commentary of the farmers.

The first witness was Benjamin Barrett, who, in answer to questions from Mr. Osborne, gave the following testimony— "I am a labourer' working for farmers here, just as I can get employed. Last spring twelvemonth I was working for Mr. Brake. I remember finding a bullock dead in a ditch at that time; it was pulled out by horses. It was quite dead, and appeared to have been so for some hours. Mr. Brake was with me when it was found. Mr. Brake sent for a carving-knife, and farmer Ring came and stuck Blood came, out; but it was watery blood, not the same as when a live bullockets' knocked down and stuck. Mr. Brake said, he had no doubt it was good'; and told me to go for butcher Dodge. I did so. William Bartlett told me he had some of the meat of that bullock."

Mr. Vining objected to this being stated, and demanded the observance of the strictest rule of evidence that would be applied in a court of justice. Mr. Osborne felt called upon to prove publicly what had been stated to him; thus helping the farmers to disprove it if it were false. The examination was resumed—" William Bartlett said that meat made him sick. Mr. Brake paid me 7s. a. week wages; that was what he paid me in harvest time. I was paid in money. I have a wife and three children,—a son twenty-two years old, a son eighteen, and a daughter about fourteen."

Sarah Barrett, the wife of the last witness, was next examined. She said-

" We have lived in Ryine about sixteen years. I recollect a scouring but, lock being killed about Whitsuntide last year. I heard there was some beef to be sold, and I went to Mrs. Brake to buy some. She told me it was all gone, but that I could have some mutton if I liked, and I did have two small joints; I think I had a breast and part of a neck. It was mutton that had been salted to keep it from going; the weather was very warm. The price was 2d. per pound. Some of the workpeople told me after I had got it that it was part of a sheep that was found dead in the fold; and they laughed at me because I had got that instead of beef. I ate the mutton, but I did not much fancy it after what I had heard; and I have had no more of their mutton since."

In her cross-examination by Mr. Vining, Mrs. Barrett made this statement- " I cannot say now who in particular told me about the mutton; they all laughed at me. When my husband or my sons worked for Mr. Brake, we have had mist' from him. (By " grist," or " first tailings," is meant the wheat which remains after the best portion has been separated from the mass for market.) " We never went and bought grist, carrying money for it. When we have had grist, or butter, or meat, instead of wages, I dare say we might have had the money if we had asked for it. The mutton did not look very nice; it did not look like the butcher's, what they kill. If I had not heard anything about it, very likely I might have eaten it with a better stomach." (Laughter from the farmers.) Reexamined—" I generally receive my husband's wages. I have never in any one year received much more than 21. in money for his work, unless when he has been working for Mr. Blennerhassett; it is all ready money there."

At the close of this witness's examination, the following colloquy took place—

Mr. Vining—" Now, don't let the witnesses that have been examined go to the other witnesses."

Mr. Osborne—" Appoint anybody you please to keep them separate; I am Ca much interested as you. Will you go and take any precaution you like?"

Mr. Vining—"No; you are to do that." Mr. Osborne—" I will take any precaution you will point out." [A person was sent to take the examined witnesses to a cottage just by.] William Bugler came next-

" I have worked for Mr. Brake for these dozen years, in and out, doing any kind of work. For twenty four days in the summer I had 9s. a week, besides cider; the rest of the year I have 7s. a Week I have two sons, George and Daniel, seventeen and fourteen years old; each of them has 2s. 6d. a week for wages. I have grist or first tailings; I pay 6s. a bushel for it, 5s. or 5s. 6d. for second tailings, and 7s. for best wheat I take my wages out, same in money and some in goods. I have not drawn as much as 2l. in any one year letely; the most I drew at once was 86s. to pay fur two pigs. We are not obliged to take our wages in goods, but certainly we are expected to do it."

Mr. Brake—" Oh, no, no; you don't understand: are you compelled to take goods?"

Mr. Osborne—" No; my last question was, are you expected to take part in goods ?"

Witness—" Yea, Mr. Brake expects us to take some in goods. In times past, I am sure I have given offence when I did not take some out to goods; and if I did not, there was nothing for me to do. I have been told by Mr. Brake, that if I did not take some of my wages in goods, there would be no employment for me. I would sooner have the ready money, if I could, and lay it out the cheapest

rosy • • •

. Vining (to a farmer)—" Now, go out with that man, and see that he has no communication with the witnesses. 1 distrust that man."

Samuel Capel was examined- " I recollect doing some draining for Mr. Read at 3d. a perch, along with W. Bogler and G. Nichol: we were to take half in meat; but when he settled with us he made us take more than half in meat. Mrs. Read, who is sitting there, said she could not find money to pay us any more in money. Mr. Read is a farmer, and keeps a huckster's shop. I have had meat of Mr. Brake at different times. Some of it has been very bad indeed." "M wages are is. a week, and have been '

so for these eight or ten years; in harvest, for about two months, I earn about 10s. a week, and have cider allowed me. I take my wages out in goods mostly. I have been working for Mr. Brake mostly this year, but left him in May. I have sometimes taken as little as 21. in a whole year in money, taking the rest of my earnings in goods. I have five children. I recollect finding a sheep that had been dead a few minutes. I cut its throat; it bled a little. That sheep was sold to the men at 40 per pound; it was a nice sheep. If we are accused of any- thing, Mr. Brake often talks of ' putting us to hat ; that is, making us hold our hats before us, and hope our eyes will drop in if we know anything about it. * • • Mr. Brake used to say when he had a misfortune with a bullock or a sheep, that it was our duty to take some of it off his hands, there was no force whatever, but I thought my master would not like it if I did not take some of that bullock off his hands."

This was the general tale. We subjoin further extracts—

Henry Sims—" The regular price of labour given in this parish for years past has been 7s. a week. I worked for Mr. Brake for that sum all through the sum mer and harvest of last year, but liquor was allowed me. This spring the wages were raised to 8s., and this harvest 1 made 9s. by tut-work. I had seven children living when I worked for 78. a week; and in the summer of last year I had only one day's tut-work [piece-work ?] at mowing. My wife and children are allowed to glean, giving half to the farmer: if we do not do that, the farmer employs women to glean for hisn first at 6d. a day.

Charles Bugler—" Mr. Baston, the farmer, sent to me a year ago to do some thatching for him, but told me, Ile should not pay me in money, for Brake did not .pay his men in money, and he should not; it made a d—d deal of difference, paying all in money, to what it was when it was taken out in goods; it made more than ls. a week diference.' I took the job; it came to is. I had one cheese of him that was not weight by a quarter of a pound. I have three young children."

.Agrippa Gill—"I am nearly twenty-three. I have worked mostly for Mr. Brake. I recollect being with him in the Batson field, when we found a sheep quite dead and stiff; he cut its head off almost with his knife; a little blood came, but scarcely anything. He offered me that mutton at 3d. per pound, but I would not buy it. This was about six years ago. My wages were 8s. a week last harvest; they were 5s. a week in the harvest of 1845. I do different work. I was on the farm at four or five in the morning, and stayed till ten or eleven at night: In the dead time of the year I was there all daylight. I took my wages mostly in goods. Sometimes I have drawn money, and Mr. Brake has asked me, why I don't take the wages out in goods? and said I might as well have them of him as of any one else. Once when I asked for money, he called me ' a ready-money chap, which would not do for him.' IV When I was sixteen, my wages were 4s. a week.

William I have worked twenty-two years for Mr. Brake. I had some meat of him some years ago that was not good. I paid about 3d. per pound. I told him my wife would not eat it, and said I must not bring any more of it. I could eat it myself; my stomach is not particular. Mr. Brake said, 'If he had the hands of her he would make her eat it.'

Cross-examined.—" I have nothing to say against master, but he is a sharpish man. He has sometimes told me to help him out of his meat when he had had a loss, such as an accident with a sheep; but he did not compel me. I have my grist. of him. I would as soon have dust as money, because I hare got the win- nowing of it—.(a laugh), and I know it is fit to use. I pay Mr. Brake 31. 10s. a year for my cottage."

Capel supplies an illustration of the enlightened custom of "going to hat "— " I remember hearing of Mr. Brake and George Hallett 'going to hat' about a young woman that both of them were said to be intimate with. Master joked George about it, and George asked master if he could go to bat; Master said, `Yes; can you, George?' They went to hat; and each of them wished his eyes might drop out into the hat he was holding if he had had anything to do with the young woman. I think George had; and a little while afterwards he lost one of his eyes." (A laugh.) Daniel Bartlett—" I am twenty-two years old. I am single. I work for Mr. Ring. About a year ago I worked for Mr. Brake. I was carter. I had Gs. a week and some cider. I had to be with my horses between four and five in the morning, and stay till nine or ten at night in the harvest-time. I took a good deal of my wages in goods. Mr. Brake told me if I did not, I might bide at home. I was obliged to take goods, or else I was not to be employed. I had a quarter of a sheep of him once, a year or a year and a half ago. He charged me is. for the quarter. I could not eat it. I gave Mr. Baston's dog some of it, but the dog would not eat it."

The investigation closed with a strange conversation. Mr. Osborne stated that other witnesses whom he might call would only repeat the same things, and he explained that he had not written the letter to the Times without getting corroboration of the labourers on the leading points from thoroughly respectable men, in a higher condition of life, likely to know the facts; but he had quite made up his mind not to disclose their names at present. He would expose no one to annoyance where it could be avoided. (Laughter from the farmers.) Mr. Vining observed that not one of the grave charges made in the letter to the Times had been supported, and that there was not a shadow of evidence on which those charges ought to have been founded. He stated that as a lawyer. He had never attended an inquiry so disgraceful to the parties who promoted it. (Loud cheering and stamping by the farmers.) Mr. Osborne declared that he was satisfied with what had passed that day, and felt convinced that he had done what he had a fair and full right to do, when he wrote the letter. He had thought, and thought still, that good would come of it. He had had no ill- feeling or personal animosity to any man through the whole affair. He was quite aware beforehand that his motives would be questioned; but his conscience acquitted him. Mr. Brake—" This is too bad; I cannot stay to hear it. There is no truth in it; it is too bad; there is no truth in news- pap r," The farmers then rose, and walked out, and the meeting broke up. The inquiry bad lasted above seven hours.

Henry Ivatta, a pensioner, has been committed for trial by the Birmingham Magistrates for embezzling the contents of a letter so long ago as 1842. At that time, Ivatta was a letter-carrier at Birmingham; a letter containing 30. 14s. Gd. was lost ; no trace of it or the contents was discovered till the 19th of last month. The prisoner had been sent to a bank to take up a bill for 101.; but instead of pay- ing in the money that bad been given him, he produced a ten-pound note which formed a part of the contents of the missing letter. The man declares he found the note.

Mathews, an Irish navigator on the Newcastle and Berwick Railway, has mur- dered Hives, a carter on the same works, by stabbing him in the abdomen with a penknife. The deceased and a companion were driving a horse; it shied so as to drive Mathews and another Irish navigator from a road; the navigators beat one of the carters, the deceased; the carters complained to a Magistrate, who went to remonstrate with the assailants; and while all five were in a field, Mathews stabbed Hives, and then ran off The assassin is in custody.

The Magistrates of Reigate were engaged on Monday in investigating an alleged neglect of signals by two engine-drivers employed on the Brighton Railway. The prosecutors were the South-eastern Company. It appeared from the evidence, that on the 28th August the defendants drove two engines attached to a Brighton down-train; while at Reigate station, the signals were exhibited for the train not to move until a Dover up-train bad passed over the Brighton down-rails to get upon the up-line; in spite of this, the men put their train in motion; a switchman ex- tended his arms as a signal for them to stop; this, too, was unheeded; and it was not till the switchman ran up to them and called to them to stop that they re- versed their engines: but it was too late thus to prevent a collision, and the switchman ran up to the points, changed them, and turned the Brighton train on to the Dover down-line, thus narrowly preventing a disaster. It was admitted that the bell had been rung to announce that all was right at the station platform for the prisoners to move on; but that was no authority for them to go on until the signals had been moved to correspond. The Magistrates considered that the case had been clearly made out; and they sentenced the driver of the first engine to, two months' imprisonment; while the other defendant, as he drove the second en- gine, and there were some mitigatory circumstances in his case, was ordered to be imprisoned for one month only.

A labourer employed on the Leeds and Bradford Railway has been killed at Kirk-stall Forge, by a train passing over him as he was walking along the line. The engine-driver saw him about eighty yards in advance; he sounded the- whistle twice, but the man took no heed; he then shut off the steam, and reversed the engine; but the train could not be stopped in time.

A very startling accident occured on a railway near Whitacre last week. A shower of red-hot cinders from the funnel of the engine descended in an open third-class carriage, burning the clothes of the passengers, and setting fire to an umbrella which a female was holding over her, and then to her dress.

A boy has been cut in two, at a colliery at Rounds Green, in consequence of his own wilfulness. He would persist in riding on a flat chain which wound round a drum-barrel, jumping off when he was carried near the drum; the engineer drove him away; but during the man's absence, he returned, got on the chain, and neglecting to jump off in time, was carried round the drum; his body was almost severed into two parts.

In throwing a basket of cinders into a furnace at Newport, a workman over- balanced himself, and fell into the glowing mass: in three minutes, notwithstand- ing that the blast was immediately stopped, not a particle of the unfortunate man remained!

A fire broke out on Monday night in the engine-horse at the Gloucester termi- nus of the Bristol and Gloucester Railway. It was prevented from spreading be- yond the building in which it originated; that, however, was destroyed. Three or four engines were in the house when the fire occurred, but they were got out uninjured.

An extensive fire, destroying farm-produce valued at 2,0001., has occurred on the premises of Mr. James Watson, of Waudby, about ten miles from Hull; a gentleman noted for his breed of cattle and sheep. There can, it is said, be no doubt that the fire was wilful.

A disastrous explosion has occurred in a coal-pit at Lyttleton Hall, near West Bromwich. On descending to work one morning, the manager found that the air in one of the galleries was foul; he set some men to work to disperse it, and went in another direction; in a few minutes there was an explosion, how caused is not known: seven men were dreadfully burnt. "Suspended in the skip," says the Birmingham Journal," about eighty yards down the shaft., which is sunk to the depth of three hundred yards, were John Robinson, the engineer, and William Hadley, a workman, engaged in repairing the shaft when the explosion took place. The hot air, which rushed up the shaft with irresistible violence, carried the skip and the men fur some distance upward, when it became unhooked from the rope to which it was attached, and these two unfortunate persons were precipitated to the bottom of the pit, a depth of nearly eight hundred feet! They were awfully mutilated; and, in their blackened, shattered, and mangled remains, it would have been difficult even to trace the outline of humanity." One of the miners has since died, and another is in danger. A Coroner's Jury has returned a verdict of "Ac- cidental death."

An explosion of fire-damp happened in a coal-mine at Rainton, near Durham, on Sunday morning. At the time there was only one man in the pit—a miner ninety years old, who had charge of a furnace for ventilating the shaft—and he perished; all the horses, seventeen in number, were also destroyed. It is not known how the disaster originated. Had it happened when the men were at work, it is supposed that a hundred lives would have been lost.

Mr. New, a farmer of Beckford, has been drowned in the Severn, while attempt- ing to cross it on horseback in the ardour of hare-hunting: at a deep part of the river, the horse struggled, and unseated his rider; who was carried away by the stream.

A gale at Weymouth, on Sunday, did much injury to the esplanade. It is computed that the expense of repairing it will not be much less than 1,0001. A stone pier on the Bill of Portland was completely washed away.