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Leader (1850-1860), 2nd October 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1021, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      branches of the Indian service . To any one who considers what the position of India is it must be obvious that upon us there devolves a labour which is not light . We have an army to reorganise and an empire to pacify . I confess that when I think of the amount of responsibility which at this time and in this position devolves upon as—although , perhaps fortunately for myself , I have not-much leisure to reflect upon it—I am inclined to feel appalled at the weight of the task we haye under , taken This consolation , at least , we have , —I believe we are surrounded by those who are competent to grve advice as good and as honest as was ever afforded to an English Minister . "

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      THE REVENUE . Thb accounts of . the revenue more than justify Mr . Disraeli ' s sanguine anticipations , although , owing to the large reduction of income-tax , they will show an apparent decrease . As far as the quarter ' s revenue is concerned , and its comparison with the quarter of last j-ear , we find that the income-tax revenue is something like two millions and a half less , and even this last falling off is less than might naturally be expected , the collection being in arrear . There is also a reduction in the excise ; but in all other respects the revenue has improved . So that keeping the income-: tax reduction out of the account , the figures would show an increase upon the quarter ' s income . This increase is between 800 , 000 / . and 900000 / . '

      , . ., . „ Looking at the yearly accounts , the increase of revenue is all the more remarkable , but here , again , we first observe how much the reduction of incometax assessment affects the finances of the nation , for within twelve months the loss on this score is nearly eight millions . But in every other branch of the revenue there has been , on the year , a signal improvement , denoting the growing wealth and increasing industry of the country . The actual decrease of revenue during the twelve months is only six , instead of eight millions , as it would have been had the ordinary sources of income remained stationary . The annual revenue now stands at 65 , 000 , 0007 .

      The Times remarks : — " Thus , in spite of last November ' s panic and this year ' s timidity and retrenchment , the revenue is buoyant to a degree which a few years since would have been scarcely conceivable . Free-trade , gold colonies , emigration , and education , are making the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer easier every year . We can only hope that a year or two more of tranquillity will -enable us still further to reduce or abertish our most obnoxious taxes , without impairing the public service or running the danger of a deficit .

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      IRELAND . Galway and America . — -Government are about to send three gentlemen experienced in engineering and maritime matters to Galway , with a view of reporting upon the state of the harbour and roadstead , as to what works may be necessary for rendering the port safe niul commodious . This looks well for the promoters of direct communication between Galway and America . A deputation from the Harbour Commissioners of Galway has waited upon the Dublin Ballast Board to present a memorial requiring that the buoy on the Santa Marguarita rock might bo exchanged for a lightrship or a bell-buoy . After having heard with great attention the several arguments used to show its necessity , in reference to the great project of international steam communication , the boajt f undertook to recommend tho suggestion of tho deputation to the Trinity Board in London . The Gahoay Vindicator s , iys : — "The Indian Empire left our harbour last evening , carrying three hundred und fifty passengers and a largo and very valueable cargo . Tho manager refused a largo quantity of freight , as the marine superintendent would not allow any more dead weight of cargo , nnd the goods brought were the finest description of manufactures from tho manufacturing districts of Lancashire and from tho north of Ireland , From an early hour yesterday morning passengers from all parts of tho United Kingdom wore crowding on board from tho docks .

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      ACCIDENTS AND SUDDEN DEATHS . The inquiry into tho Sheffield accident terminated in a verdict expressing tho fact that tho deceased persons woro suffocated while ondoavouring to escape from tho Surroy Music Hall during a panic caused by a cry of " FU'Q ! " but whether such panic arose in consequence of tho firing of a pistol or explosion of gas , or from whatever other cause , no satisfactory evidence has boon adtluced to tho jury . A fomTul calamity occurred on Thursday at Pago Bank Colliery , six miles west of Durham . At eight o ' clock tho shaft of tho pit was found on fire , and one of tho overmen was killod by portions of the burning bratt | co . Forty men and" boys wore in tho pit , who could not bo got out . Tho 11 ro has consumed all the brattice , and oxtondod to tho cool in roturn drift . At seven , o'clock in tho evening the fire was eUghtly on ttio increase . Sorlous doubts aro entertained as too the

      probability of rescuing those in the pit . Nicholas Wood , and Foster , of Newcastle , the eminent colliery engineers , were immediately telegraphed for . The adjourned inquest on the bodies of the persons killed in the collision on the Oxford , Worcester , and Wolverhamptoil line , was resumed on Thursday . The Government inspector and two or three engineering witnesses gave at the last hearing an account of experiments tried since the " collision with the same number of carriages , and the result was an opinion on their part that the break had not been applied when the train ran back , or that , if it had , it had been applied too late , when the train had obtained such an impetus as to overpower it . Evidence was offered on the present occasion to prove that the guard had duly applied the break , and it was endeavoured to show that he had done all in his power to prevent the fatal occurrence . The inquiry was again adjourned to Tuesdaj ' next .

      A most remarkable accident occurred to a young lady this week at Cheltenham . She was riding on horseback with some friends , when her horse became restive , and she was thrown over his head ; her habit caught the crutch of the saddle , and she was carried along head downwards for a mile before the horse was stopped . She escaped having her . brains dashed out against the road by the strength of her riding-habit , which sustained her weight ; as it was , she only received some rather severe scalp wounds . She is doing well .

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      NAVAL AND MILITARY . Reinforcements for India . — The Horse Guards having decided oh despatching another body of reinforcements to India , orders have been issued from the war departments for upwards of 2000 troops to be held in readiness to embark early in the ensuing month , for Calcutta , Madras , Bombay , and Kurrachee . The above reinforcements will make the Queen ' s troops , now serving in India nearly 100 , 000 men of all ranks . Coast Defences . — The Government authorities having advertised for tenders for the construction of three forts in connexion with the new line of fortifications now in course of erection between Frater and Gomer , the tender of Messrs . Piper was accepted . Defalcations bv a Pay-Sergeant . —On Wednesday , Sergeant George Hale , pay-sergeant of the 4 th grand division of the Chatham division of Royal Marines , who absconded several days ago from head-quarters , taking with him a considerable sum of public money which had been entrusted to him , returned to barracks and gave himself up . From an examination- of the books which has been instituted , it appears that the defalcations committed bv the accused amount to 42 L ,

      daj's . On Thursday the troops again assembled t < witness a private Sapper , named Merilese , punished witl fifty lashes , for being drunk and assaulting a non-com missioned officer . After punishment , the prisoners wer < removed to the hospital ; they will undergo their imprisonment at Fort Clarence . RiFi-ED' Cannon in the French Skkvice . —Thi rifle cannon > which were tried at . the Polygon of Gavre near I / Orient , have , it appears , been adopted by th < Emperor . for the navy . ; and a good n , uml ? er , of a sjfeijaf ] pattern , are being manufactured at ttie imperial foxmdrj of Rouelle .

      which sum had been , issued to him from the pay-office for the purpose of paying the men . The accused has been about seventeen years in the service , and is an old non-commissioned officer . On a previous occasion he absconded , taking with him some of the public money , for which offence he was reduced to the rank of a private , but ou account of his subsequent good conduct he was again promoted . It is said the defalcations will be made good . The accused now awaits his trial by courtmartial .

      Deaths . — Colonel John Hamilton , of the Coldstream Guards , died at Broomfield , Somersetshire , on Saturday last , aged nighty-two . Colonel Hamilton greatly distinguished himself in the Peninsula . —Vice-Admiral Thomas F . C . Mainwaring has died at Bath . He was an old officer of Nelson ' s , and served at Trafalgar and Copenhagen . Volunteer Corps . —On tho 23 rd ultimo the Essex Yeomanry Artillery and Cavalry , having been encamped upon Nazing Common for eight days , marched down to Mazing Mead , a distance of about three miles , forming there a new encampment . At two o ' clock , r . ii ., they formed lino in the Mead upon the Honourable Artillery Company , who came from London , together with a

      detachment of tho Uxbridgo Yeomanry Cavalry , for the purpose of brigading with them . Colonel Parker , of the 1 st Life Guards , was inspecting field-officer . Tho whole of tho parade manoeuvres were gone through . Tho artillery and cavalry having trotted and gullopod past in good form , tho lance and sword exercise was performed , when an enemy was shown on * tho loft rear by a few skirmishers , and was supposed to bo advancing in great force across Nazingbury-furm , against which tho principal operations were directed . Although this is a very small section of tho volunteer force of tho country , which , independent of tho militia , in 180 G consisted of near 400 , 000 mon , double that number might now bo raised if but slight encouragement and support wore shown to that force .

      Fi , ooaiNas at Chatham . —On Wednesday tho whole of tho troops of Chatham garrison wore inarched to tho Spur Battory , for tho purpose of witnessing tho infliction of corporal punishment on two mon for highly insubordinato conduct . Tho first man fastened to the halborts waa private Thomas Ward , 23 rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers , who had knocked down a sergeant who had reported him for misconduct . His character being very bad , tho colirt adjudged him to reooivo fifty laahen and to bo Imprisoned for ono year . Private Charles Smith , U 2 nd 1 'iglit Infriritry , waa lloggod for having " assaulted two corporate , and uiiton a comrade ; ho received fifty laehoB , and was ordered to bo imprisoned , for fifty-six

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      LAUNCH OF THE FLOATING DERRICK . A novel vessel , with a breadth of beam larger ever than the Great Eastern , was launched on Saturday ai Blackwall . She is the first " Patent Floating Derrick ' which has been constructed in this country for the purpose of carrying out Bishop ' s patent for raising wrecks &c . The hull is of a kind of diamond shape , with j large slice off the side points . She is entirely constructe < of iron , as also her mast or booms , and the last two o : three months or so , as she approached completion , owing to her colossal proportions , she formed a conspicuous object to the travellers up and down the Thames . Sht is flat bottomed , and a bulk-head runs fore and aft through her whole length , so that when she is in

      operation raising a sunken vessel one-half of her will be so gradually filled with water as to counterbalance the weight hanging to her boom on the other side . Hei hull is braced with iron beams of great strength , and her boom is . supported by iron legs . The tonnage of the vessel is 5000 tons , her length over all is 257 feet , breadth 90 feet ( some eight feet more than the Great Eastern ) , depth 14 feet . Height from - deck to boom 80 feet , the radius of boom being 60 feet , and which is capable of depositing its load anywhere within a circle whose diameter is 120 feet . Her hoisting capacity

      above the surface of the water is 1000 tons , her hauling power being obtained by 10 sets of crabs worked by two oscillating engines of 30 nominal horse-power each . Instead of the ordinary paddle-wheels she is fitted with smaller wheels and floats , and what is known as an endless chain , worked by two pair of oscillating engines of 100-horse power each pair . She has a rudder at both ends . Like the Great Eastern , she was launched sideways , her pit culiar form , and the somewhat limited channel ( Bow Creek ) she had to enter before she could reach the Thames , rendering this mode necessary for her safety .

      On the signal being given to liberate her ,, for some five minutes or so there seemed to be a disinclination on her part to enter her future element . At lengthy after a slight inward pressure , the mass began to move , and in the most steady and even manner she glided into the water . Three tugs then took her in tow , the river pilot and her future coinVnander having charge of her . On Monday two powerfurtugs were employed in endeavouring to haul away some portion of the ways upon which she was launched , which had got so jammed in her bottom as to cause her nearly to fall into some serious mishap in drifting down the river . On being launched , the tugs which had hold of the huge vessel put on their united power , to get the Derrick to the buoys opposite the entrance to the East India Docks . Her progress ,

      however , was considerably retarded by the timber of the ways , which had got fixed in some way to her bottom . j A fourth tug came to her aid , and as it was apparent that they could not bring her up , it was arranged that she should be allowed to pursue her course steadily through Woolwich to a point where she would bo beyond tho strong influence of the ebb . Tho tugs kept in attendance upon her , and in tho lower part of tho Reach near tho Galleons she was brought to . On the return of tho flood tide on Sunday morning the tug again got hold of her , ami she was safely brought back to Blackwall and secured to the buoys . ¦ As the vessel was being brought to tho buoy ' s on Saturday afternoon , several men wero hurt by the capstan , and one had to be taken to the Poplar Hospitul .

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      CRIMINAL RECORD . Tiua Exmoou Forest Murder . —The search for the body of the child , Hannah Maria Burgess , ia still being continued , but up to tho present time without effect . There is still a strong opinion entertained that the body will ultimately bo found in tho " Wheal Eliza , " but it will bo a considerable time before this can be ascertained , as tho immense body of water it contains renders a satisfactory search impossible . Tho pumping has already commenced . Tho prisoner still preserves the same indifference and determination not to divulge his secret ; he seems to exult in tho difficulty in which tho authorities aro placod , and tolls thorn they may do what they Can . — Tauuton Gazette . Muudick at Manchbstisr . —Ou Thursday morning early a veiling woman went to her sister ' a house in Little Levcr-atroct . Sho know that her sialor and her husband lim . 1 not bcun living comfortably toguthor , and wna taking her some broad and buitvr . Slio looked through tbo klluliuu whitlow bofuro opoujng , tho door , and saw Her sister lying- with her head on tho Hour and her loot ontho stairs lomlliw up to Hid bcdivom 5 thoro waa a large pool of blood bottle her head , ttlw two an instant

      Untitled Article

      No . 445 , October 2 , 1858-1 Tj j ^ LjADER . 1021

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 2, 1858, page 1021, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2262/page/5/