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Leader (1850-1860), 1st February 1851, Edition Town of 2, Page 103, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      She was supported by the officers to a cab that was waiting to receive her , and was taken with all the necessary precaution to Newgate . She was dressed rather shabbily , and altogether , with her apparent prostration of etrength and intellect , she presented a most wretched appearance . The proceedings consequent upon the apprehension were conducted with the greatest secrecy and despatch , in order to avoid creating any unnecessary public excitement .

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      THE I'lEES OF THE WEEK . The new Houses of Parliament were threatened with destruction on Monday afternoon at half-past two o clock , by a fire , which broke out in a story of the Clock Tower , on the side facing Westminster-bridge . This tower will consist , when completed , in part of a shaft for supplying ™ ld air to the rest of the building , and m part of rooms ijioiniiiK the residence of the Sergeant-at-Arms to be used , if required , for the confinement of refractory members . Owing to the presence of a quantity of timber materials in this tower , the flames rose with a vigour rarely observed in the conflagrations of buildings where sWe bears so large a proportion to wood as in the New Houses . From a quarter to three o ' clock until half-past , the tower was more or less concealed in a cloud of dense smoke By ten minutes past three o ' clock the engine of ZTstablfshment , directed by Mr Wing , chief fireman of the house , with others of the London brigade , were broujrht to act on the burning materials , and in about half an hour the flames were extinguished . During the interval between the outburst and suppression of the fire , Westminster-bridge was crowded with spectators , and every point commanding a view of the structure was occupied . In Westminster Hall the excitement attending the transient prospect of a burning-out , gave a temporary fillip to the lagg ing oratory of one or two learned gentlemen , but beyond this , left the progress of business unaffected . It is hoped the damage done will not exceed a hundred pounds in the cost of repairing ; but , from the want of water , the risk of destruction to the entire building was for some time fearfully imminent .

      A fire broke out in the range of premises belonging to Messrs . J . R . Bousfield and Co ., wholesale clothiers , and exporters , Houndsditcb , on Monday morning . The building in which the fire commenced was of the most substantial construction , and nearly 200 feet long , the lower floor being used as the manufactured goods depdt , while that above contained made-up goods for exportation . In one compartment alone there were several thousand p ieces of cloth , worth a large sum , and in another were a great assortment of articles for the spring season , the whole of which have either been destroyed or seriously injured by fire . Fortunately the front house has escaped , and some thousand pounds ' worth of goods have received but trifling injury at the

      extremity of the premises . The total loss , however , will amount to many thousand pounds . We regret to say that Hoffmeyer , one of the London Brigade , received such serious injuries whilst assisting at the conflagration as , in all probability , will cost the poor fellow his life . He was standing on the sill of one of the windows , directing the water from the branch of an engine into the first floor , when the rooms above fell in , and the timber flooring projecting through the opening knocked the unfortunate man from his standing-place , and he fell in a horizontal position upon the top of some iron spikes round an area window . The height he fell was so great , that the iron railings were forced into his side , and he remained impaled until another fireman rushed forward

      and lifted him off . He was taken without delay to the London Hospital , and it was found that two of the spikes had perforated the left bladebone ; one of his ribs was fractured , and it was feared that the bone had entered his lungs . For the third time within nine years the unfortunate New Cross station has been partially destroyed by fire . On Tuesday night , about ten minutes before eleven o'clock , a strong light was observed by one of the signalmen on duty within the storehouse for carriages . On his giving the alarm it was discovered that a fire was raging within the shed , and that several carriages were in flames . So rapidly did the fire spread , that before even

      the local engineB had arrived on the spot the flumes had penetrated the roof , and obtained firm hold of a large portion of the building . The place in which the fire broke out ia upwards of 300 feet long and about 2 /> feet wide . It has a double line of rails throughout , and affords accommodation for about sixty carriages . About onethird of the building is razed to the ground , and the carriuges contained in that portion are of course wholly destroyed . The origin of the fire is altogether unknown . A fire , broke out in the white zinc works at Islington , belonging to Mr . Langstou Scott , on Saturday evening . The flames were got under in about an hour after diMcovery . The damage Hustuined is about £ 300 .

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      a makvi ; i , i , oi ; h kbcape . A workman named Robert Johnson , employed at Mt-HHrH . W . and 11 . Turners , fire iron manufacturers , 15 ri ( l ge-Htreet , miraculously escaped a frightful death on ' 1 ucsduy morning . He was employed uh a grinder , and had '•> oil tin 1 machinery . About twenty minutes after seven >>' elock lie witH ( standing upon a bench oiling a raised horizontal shaft , when the machinery caught his shirt sleeve , and he wuu instantly dragged round the shaft . ' 1 wice he revolved with the rapid machinery , Htriking his head against a beam , and then he was thrown over the ( lanh-trough of a grinding wheel , a distance of eight feet , completely stripped of all hit * clothing , with the exception of nih neckerchief and stockings ! He lay on the ground insensible for a few momenta , and then cried out , in a burnt of joy , " The Lord have mercy on me ! " The men clustere d around him perfectly amazed that ho was alive , find their astonishment was ( increased when he walked out of the room into tho warehouse almost uninjured .

      The poor fellow stood before the fire weeping for joy , and ejaculating thanks to God for his miraculous escape . He says he recollects going round with the shaft twice and giving himself up for lost , the remembrance of similar accidents rushing through his mind like a whirlwind . Considering the frightful position in which he was placed , his injuries are trifling . His head was bruised , but not severely , and the skin was grazed off the right side . He was conveyed to his home in Allen-street , and , we understand , iB progressively recovering his strength . The only way in which his escape can be accounted for is this : —His shirt-sleeve , it is believed , was caught by the head of the key of the coupling-box , which projects about half an inch . The key is sharp at the edges and would force itself into his clothing , and , being a heavy man , his weight caused the fabric to tear , and he wa 8 thus peeled , as it were , like an orange from his clothes .

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      AN UNNATURAL SON . At the Marylebone Police Court , on Tuesday , John William Hamilton , aged 26 , was brought up charged with committing damage to the amount of £ 300 , in the house of Mr . Daniel Milbank , Cumberland-street , Newroad , by the explosion of a quantity of gunpowder . It Spears that the prisoner ' s mother lodges in the house of r . Milbank , and that the prisoner ' s conduct towards her has been very bad . She is a woman of independent property , and , according to Mr . Milbank ' s statement , the conduct of the prisoner was killing his mother by inches . " I have told him so , " said he , " and that he wished for her death on account of her property . He only laughed

      and danced off . " On Monday night an explosion of gunpowder took place in one of the rooms occupied by his mother , immediately under the bed upon which she was lying . She had been seriously injured by the shock , and the damage to the property was estimated at £ 300 . Hamilton had been seen in the house about a quarter of an hour before the explosion took place . The prisoner made a long statement about having been engaged in the making of fireworks , and that on the night in question the box containing the powder was , contrary to his usual custom , left under his mother ' s bed . As the case seemed altogether very suspicious , the prisoner was remanded till Tuesday next to permit the attendance of other witnesses .

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      MISCELLANEOUS . Lord John Russell and Lord Seymour joined the royal dinner at Windsor Castle on Monday evening . Arrangements have been made for the departure of her Majesty from Windsor Castle on Monday , immediately after luncheon , for Buckingham Palace , to preside at the Privy Council to be held on that day , when the speech from the throne on the opening of Parliament will be finally determined upon . Her Majesty will be accompanied by Prince Albert , and , it is expected , by the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal . As the court will return to Windsor on the following day , immediately after the conclusion of the ceremony in the House of Lords , the remaining portion of the Royal Family , according to present arrangements , will remain at the Castle . It is expected that her Majesty will proceed to town for the season on Tuesday , the 11 th of February , orders having been forwarded to Buckingham Palace for the necessary preparations to be completed by that period for the reception of the Court . It is contemplated that the Court will spend the Easter holidays at the Castle , arriving on Thursday , the 17 th of April , and remaining for about ten days or a fortnight . The Duchess of Kent will leave Frogmore for Clarence House , St . James ' s , the week after next , probably on the same day the Court proceeds to Buckingham Palace .

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      The Address in the House of Lords , in reply to her Majesty ' s Speech , will be moved by Lord Effingham , and seconded by Lord Overstone . It is said that Lord Langdale will retire from the Rolls almost immediately , and will be succeeded by Sir John Romilly . Lord Ebrington is about to retire from the secretarynhip of the Poor Law Board , and will be succeeded by Mr . R . W . Grey as Parliamentary Secretary . Mr . Nicholls also retires on account of ill health , and will be succeeded as permanent secretary by Lord Courtenay , who has already acted as a Poor Law Inspector for several years . —Globe . Mr . Sergeant Sedgwick , formerly Chairman of the Board of Stamps , aged seventy-six , died very suddenly on Sunday night . He hud dined with Lord Chief Baron Pollock that day , and left Queen-square for home in his usual health and spirits at nine o ' clock . About fifteen minutes later he was found lying on his back , insensible , close to the kerb-stone , Queen-square . A surgeon was instantly sent lor , but he died before one came . Dr . Richmond , of Queen-square , dipped a towel in cold water and bathed his face and temples , thinking he had only fainted , but life wns extinct . Death was supposed to have resulted from disease of the heart .

      Mr . William Holmes , so well known for many years as the Tory " whipper-in , " died on Sunday , and is honoured with a lengthened obituary in tho Times . ile sat successively for Grainpound , Tregony , Bishop ' s Castle , llazelmere , and lierwick-oii-Tweed . For Ipswich he w . ih a candidate in 18 ' , ) C > , and previously for Qucenltorough , but by neither of those places was he returned ; while he proved equally unsucce 8 Hf . il at Stafford , in 1811 . He filled tho oflico of Treasurer of the Ordnance in the ministries of Lord Liverpool ami the Duke of Wellington . In tho high and palmy days of Toryism the peculiar talents of Mr . Holmes were in great request , for in the private management of the members of an unrcformed lloueo of Commons he was without a rival . Of the confidence reposed in him by Mr . Perceval , and of the close friendship subsisting between them , it would be impossible to apeak in term * too strong . Mr . Holmes wao by

      the side of Mr . Perceval when he sank under the hand of an assassin , and he also happened to be within a few yards of Mr . Huskisson when that well-known statesman came by a violent though accidental death . Noplace was found for him in the ministries of Sir Robert Peel , but he , nevertheless , faithfully discharged his duties as whipperin to the great conservative party . He reached the advanced age of three-score years and ten . The Morning Herald of Tuesday contained a paragraph stating that the Reverend J . Bur net had been seized with paralysis , and was in a very precarious condition . This is contradicted by the Nonconformist , which states , " that though Mr . Burnet met with a fall on Monday week , his public engagements have not been at all interrupted , but have been fulfilled with his wonted punctuality and efficiency . "

      Madame Laity , the wife of Captain Laity , one of the aides-de-camp of the President of the Republic , died last week . She was the daughter of the Marquis de Beauharnais , and consequently a cousin of Louis Napoleon . The reception at the Elysee on Thursday was postponed in consequence of her death . Mr . George Thompson , according to the Anti-Slavery Standard , is abundantly compensated by the towns of New England for his reception in its capital : — "He is greeted everywhere by immense and most enthusiastic audiences . The Boston riot has given an anti-slavery direction to his visit , which it otherwise would not have had . "

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      Travellers in France say that the French police are more inquisitive and strict as to the examination of passports , and making themselves acquainted with all the movements of travellers , than they have been at any time since the time of Napoleon . A letter from Rome states that a picture dealer of that city , named Campani , has lately become the possessor of a picture of Michael Angelo . He bought an old picture at a sale in London , and having cleaned it , discovered that it was the portrait of Victoria Colonna , wife of the Marquis de Pescara , general of Charles V ., a lady celebrated by the great painter in one of his poems , and whose likeness he declares he had taken . M . Campani , conceiving that this might be the picture alluded to , submitted it to the Pontifical Academy of the Fine Arts at Rome , which has unanimously declared it to have been painted by Michael Angelo . It has been exhibited to the public , and the connoisseurs value it at 165 , OO 0 f .

      The Official Gazette of Copenhagen contains a decree , dated the 16 th , ordering that the inhabitants of Sthleswig , who may have returned to their homes after having borne arms against the King of Denmark , shall not be disquieted ; but this is not to extend to officers who were in his service before March 24 , 1848 . The Senate of Hamburg issued notice on the 25 th ultimo , that Austrian troops will be quartered on the town , " because the geographical position of the city renders such a measure , from strategical motives , absolutely necessary for the Federal force advancing to effectuate the peace concluded on the 2 nd of July between Prussia and Denmark . " It was expected that from three to four thousand men , Tyrolese riflemen and German-Bohemian infantry , would enter Hamburg by the 28 th instant at latest .

      Frankfort on the Maine is to receive a permanent Federal garrison of Prussian and Austrian troops , for which barracks are to be built . The Cologne Gazette , under date of Dresden , 23 rd , saV 8 : — «« In a few days Germany will find herself sheltered from the storms which are preparing in France and in Switzerland , at least bo far as considerable masses of troops can do so . The new Central Provisional Government will be invested with all the powers necessary to meet any events . All the forces which it may want will be placed at its disposal . Prussia will place at the command of the Central Government the 30 , 000 men cantoned near Coblentz . "

      The Berlin papers state that there has been a miscreant prowling about the doors of girls' schools in that city , and attempting to cut off the long tresses of hair which German children wear . He even had the audacity to enter the passage of one establishment , seize a child , who came out for a drink of water , put a plaster on her mouth , and commence his robbery , which , however , could not be completed before the alarm given by the child ' s struggles obliged him to decamp . The Chamber of Commerce of Frankfort has just unanimously chosen M . Philippe EliH&on , a member of the Jewish religion , to a vacant seat . This is the first time a Jew has been elected as a member of that body .

      A fatal accident occurred at Gutersloch , on the Berlin and Cologne Railway , on the 21 st instant . The train in descending an incline went off the rails and plunged over an embankment . The engine , the luggage wagon , and five passenger carriages followed it , but the chain breaking , the greater portion of the train remained on the line . Tlie only passenger killed was Mr . Anlen , tho attach ^ of the American Embassy at Berlin , who was on his way to Paris with despatches . Immediately intelligence of the accident was received , Mr . Fay , the secretary , proceeded to Guterslocu to take charge of tho despatches . The driver and stoker of the engine were also killed on the spot ; four other attendants were wounded slightly , and some of the passengers , but none dangerously . Mr . Artlen was in the fourth carriage . Prince Frederic William of Prussia was in the coupo' of the fifth carriage with Colonel Fischer and lieutenant von Heinz ; u sixth carriage fell over on the opposite side of tho embankment . The Prince was the first to get out , and , having escaped with a slight contusion of the head , was able , to help bin companions and the other passengers in the surne carriage . In consequence of cnorcauiiifr . acts of robbery and murder in the military district of Pesth , martial law hua been proclaimed there . A petition for the substitution of arbitration for war , sent up to Congress by the American Peace Society , haa been presented by Mr . Winthrop , treated very respect-

      Untitled Article

      Feb . 1 , 1851 . ] © fc * VLtlMtX . 103

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 1, 1851, page 103, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1868/page/7/