The last week has been very prolific of steam-boat accidents
on the Thames. On Friday morning, the Glasgow steam-ship from Hull was about to moor alongside one of the wharfs on the South of the river, off Toolcy Street, when, in bringing her up, the chain of the anchor broke, and she drifted down with the tide as far as Lon- don Bridge, and came in contact with the second arch with a trash which seemed to make the stupendous fabric vibrate. The Glasgow's funnel and foremast were instantly knocked down, and fell in pieces on the deck, effecting great damage to the vessel and the property lying about. The vessel was then brought up by the crew, and subsequently taken back to the wharf.
On Wednesday week, the Royal Victoria steam-ship, on her way to Leith, with passengers and a valuable cargo, got too close to the South shore in the fog while going down the river, and ran aground at Broad. !less Point, near Gravesend. She remained in the same position until Friday afternoon ; when the greater portion of her cargo having pre- viously been got out to lighten her, she floated with the tide, ant re- turned to London.
On the same afternoon, a Greenwich steam-vessel going up the river at full speed, ran down a boat containing a ivaterinan and two passengers, off the Torrington Arms, Mill Wall. The boat was stove in; and the passengers, who had a narrow escape of their lives, were thrown into the river. The party were all picked alive.
The inquest at Gravesend on the body of Mr. Maurer, the German who lost his life at the burning of the Medway steamer, was resumed on Tuesday. No new facts of interest were elicited, and nothing sa- tisfactory stated as to the cause of the fire. The verdict of the Jury was—." That Robert Maurer was accidentally drowned, while endea- vouring to save himself from the Medway steamer when on fire; the cause of such fire being unknown to the jurors, and there being no evidence to prove how it occurred. On Wednesday morning, the inhabitants of Lansdowne Place, Kingeland Road, were alarmed by the fall of two cottages in gardens adjoining, which had long been in a dilapidated state; the tenants having had notice to quit. The affrighted residents, having received early alarm by the cracking of the walls, had time to escape, and even succeeded in removing the principal part of their furniture.
A soldier of the Scot's Fusilier Guards, who was found asleep at his post in Buckingham Gardens, and sentenced to be shot, has been pardoned in consequence of his previous good character; he having been sixteen years in the regiment without being reported.
Yesterday morning, a hostile meeting took place at half-past six o'clock, on Wimbledon Common, between Captain Alexander Briscoe, residing in Sloane Street, Chelsea, and Francis Hemmings, Esq., a gentleman residing at Great Brompton. Having arrived on the ground, attended by their seconds and a surgeon, they proceeded to the Com- mon, where the seconds measured the ground—twelve paces. The parties fired together by signal, without either pistol taking effect. The seconds endeavoured to bring about a reconciliation, but could not. The pistols being reloaded, they both again fired, Captain Briscoe re- ceiving the contents of his antagonist's pistol through the pistol arm, above the elbaw, and Mr. Hemmings those of the Captain's through his left thigh. Captain Briscoe advanced to his antagonist, and they shook hands. After their wounds were dressed they returned to their respective homes with their friends. The cause of the meeting did not transpire.
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