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    October 18,1856.] THE LEAD1K, 993

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    Misceilaneo Us. The Court.—The Queen Lef...

    A Wicked Trick . —Three boys at Leeds , ¦ " playing at hanging , " caught another , aged twelve , and tied a rope round his body . They then tied the rope to the crane in a neighbouring . mill . " The boy , in relating the story , said : — " The mill was at -work . When the rope was fastened to the crane , some one was drawing a sheet of wool up , and that set the crane going . I was drawn up to the beam , about two yards from the floor . The three boys then ran away to their work . The chain of the crane : caught me and folded round me . The chain squeezed my body , and I could not call out . I was sick ¦ with it , and I think I remained an hour , but cannot tell . I was then insensible . " On examination , it was found that he had sustained a fracture of one arm , and such serious spinal injury as to cause paralysis of the lower limbs . After taMng the deposition , the three boys were remanded till Tuesday next , but admitted to bail .

    Fires . —An extensive fire broke out early on Saturday morning at the house of Mrs . Chabot , Poplar Cottages , Turnham-green , and raged for several hours , so as completely to destroy Mrs . Chabot's dwelling and all its contents , and severely injure four of the adjoining houses . The engines were sent for from the nearest station , but the conflagration made such rapid and destructive progress , that all their exertions proved fruitless , and four of the firemen nearly fell victims to the flames . It was at last found necessary to send all the way to the chief firebrigade station , in Watling-street City . The furniture ,

    and other property belonging to some of the houses adjoining Mrs . Chabot's , were hastily taken away , and were much damaged in the removal . The house of Mrs . Chabot , and its contents , were both insured in the Law and Union Fire-offices , and a similar precaution had been taken with some of the other houses and their contents . The origin of the fire is unknown . —A fire burst out on Tuesday evening in the Grey Coat Hospital , Westminster . The flames were speedily quenched , and no great damage-was done ; but the children were much frightened .

    A Registeatiou Riot at Rochesteb . —A disgraceful scene has occurred on two days at the Guildhall , Rochester , during the registration proceedings , owing to some of the burgesses having been disfranchised by the negligence of the Town Clerk in not publishing the lists in time , and by the want of , a proper description in the rate-book . On the adjournment of the Court on the first day * it Tvas found necessary to escort the Town . Clerk out of the hall under the protection of the police . On the following day the uproar was resumed , and at the close of the proceedings the offending individual was again taken out under escort , and the malcontents then tore up the rate-books , threw the fragments into the street , and upset the inkstands . Sundry blows , moreover , were exchanged between gentlemen whose opinions differed , and whose arguments were mutually ineffective .

    Bishop Blomfield and Sion College . —The Kev . Michael Gibbs , the President of Sion College , waited upon the late Lord Bishop of London at Fulham Palace , last Saturday , and presented the farewell address of that College , of which the Bishop of London is ex officio the visitor . In the course of his reply , Bishop Blomfield said : — "If , on my retirement from the office of your visitor , I maybe allowed to offer an opinion , 1 cannot but think that , under certain regulations , the library might be made useful to the public , and , if this were done , I feel persuaded that the lay members of our Church would readily contribute to its improvement . I think it possible that , with increased means at your command , the College might at some future time be made the centre of a system for promoting education in the east of London , for encouraging missionary efforts , and generally for advancing the Church ' s salutary influence among the people committed to your charge . "

    A Lady with a Bkard . —Sir Hugh Evans , -when he saw Falstaff disguised as the old woman of Brentford , made this declaration : — " I like not a ' oman when I s Py a great peard under her muffler . " So thought a tradesman , of Tarascon , in France , who , according to a rather improbable but very amusing story in the Courrier tie Limoges , overtook lato at night , while driving in his gig , a fashionably-dressed lady , whom he addressed , wondering that she should bo out by herself at that hour . She replied that she had had a quarrel with her husband , who had thrown her out of a postchaise . 'and she was then travelling she knew not where . After

    some modest reluctance , she consented to get into the tradesman ' s chaise . Conversation ensued ; the gentleman became tender , pressed the lady's hand , and looked admiringly into her face ; when ho beheld two fierce eyes and a rough board . The sight struck him with horror ; but his mother-wit came to his assistance . Dropping his handkerchief in the road , he bogged of the stranger to gefc out and pick it up , as his horse wns vicious , and ho dared not leave the reins . The " lady " consented , and jumped out ; the tradesman whipped on his horse , and got clear off ; and a basket left by the stranger in tho gig was' afterwards found to contain a poniard and two pistols .

    This Cape of Gooo Hope . —Some collisions have recently taken place betweon the free stato beyond tho Orange River and a native chief named Wiotze , arising , apparently , out of some vagueness with respect to tho boundaries of their respective territories . —A Mr . Philip van Collcr has been killed by a lion at Kiot Spruit , a noted placo for those animals . Ho was travelling about

    midnight , when he was dragged off his waggon , the oxen drawing which were desperately frightened , and dashed off . The dead and mangled body of Mr . van Coller was afterwards discovered by his brother , who , seeing the lion crouching about twelve yai'ds off , shot him through the head , and killed him on the instant . Natal . —The existence of a sea communication between Port Natal and the Western sugar planters has been discovered by Captain Maxwell , of Durban . The Home Government has refused a request made by some of the inhabitants of JJTatal that a small number of convicts may be sent to that colony , to be employed pa the works at the harbour .

    The Descendants of the : Mutineers of the Bounty . — The family of John Adams and of the mutineers of the Bounty have emigrated from Pitcaim's Island , and have taken up their residence upon Norfolk Island , which had previously been given up as a penal settlement . A Tiuple Murder in Texas . —A Mr . and Mrs . Moore , and an orphan girl , twelve years old , who lived with them , have been shot dead at their resideuce in Marion , Texas , while they were sitting at supper in the entry of their house . The assassin took deliberate aim at them , and brought them down one after another in instantaneous succession . The motive does not appear .

    Suicides . — -An exciseman of Northampton , named Thomas Copeland , has recently committed suicide in that town ; Mr . Newman , supervisor of excise for the county of Northampton , on going to his business one morning , missed Copeland from the office . He pro - ceeded to the house of the latter ; and was told by his wife that he had left home two or three hours since . As , however , Copeland still did not appear at the office , Newman performed part of his business for him , and about one o ' clock he again called at his house . Copeland had not returned , but , on making further inquiries , Newman learned that he had been last seen at a publichouse in the town at eight o'clock that morning , where he had had a glass of brandy-and-water . Knowing that

    Copeland had important documents in his possession , Newman continued to search for him , and went one morning to an empty malting-house which it was the duty of Copeland to visit once a week . He passed through the working floor of the building to the yard beyond , which led to one of the entrances of the kiln , the door being raised six or seven feet above the ground . Finding that the ladder by which the kiln was entered on that side had been removed , Newman went round to the feeding door of the building , which was not elevated , and pushed against it , but found that it was locked on the inside . He then looked through the keyhole , and saw the feet of some person within , which by the shoes he knew were those of Copeland . The door of the kiln

    was afterwards forced , and Newman , on entering , perceived Copeland hanging by a rope to abeam supportingthe roof . His feet almost touched the ground . lie was quite dead . The police were sent for , and they cut the body down . Three or four books relatiug to his business were found in one of his pockets , and a paper stamp in another . He had recently been greatly behiiuihaud in the settlement of his accounts , and to enable him to get a little forward in this respect , Newman one day undertook his ordinary office duties , while Copeland went home to attend to his accounts . This was the last day on which he saw him alive . There had lately been an alteration iu tho excise duties , which much increased Copeland's work . He had had some country workadded .

    He had said his work was heavy , but had made no complaint about it . It was hard work from morning till night , but Newman thought that his duties wero not heavier than he could perform if he kept correct . An inquest having been held on the body , the jury returned a verdict of Temporary Insanity . —Mr ; "William Harvey , a pantomime actor and ballet master , has committed suicide by throwing himself overboard from tho Helen M'Gregor steamer during her last voyngefrom Hamburg to Hull . lie had been performing at Copenhagen , where , inconsequence of a disagreement having arisen between himself and another man , tho latter was taken before the police and reprimanded . It seems that Mr . Harvey laboured under the belief that the man would

    be revenged on him . This U supposed to have been the cause of his self-destruction . He quitted the Danish capital at the close of last month , and embarked on board the Helen M'Gregor at Hamburg-, intending to proceed via Hull to Dublin , to fulfil nn engagement at that place . While on deck , ho wrote several letters iu pencil , mid one day , towards the evening , he asked the stoward for a basin of water . He was seen no more after this . At daybreak his coat and hat were found on the forecastle , and at the time it was suspected that lie had fallen overboard in a squall which took place on the previo \ is evening seventy-two miles west of Heligoland .

    The letters which ho lind been seen writing , however , clearly show that ho had determined on committing suicide . One of them was addressed to the cap-tain of the vessel , and contained a kind of will , requesting that ho ( tho captain ) would deliver all tho property that Mr . I hirvey had about him to liU wife and two children , who reside in London . The other letters nil exhibit a very disturbed state of niiiul , ami are expressed in terms of acute anguish . Mr . Harvey was nboul forty-llvo yoara old . —A Mrs . Elizabeth In ^ hain , tho wifo of a labouring man at Bowling , has committed suicide by cutting her throat . Oil tho 25 th ult ., slie wns confined of her iirat

    child , and she appears to have suffered greatly since . A verdict of Temporary Insanity was returned . —Mr . Albert Tanner Howell , a young commercial traveller , has killed himself by jumping from the fourth story window of the warehouse in Cannon-street West , City , where he was employed . He was engaged to be married , but a difference had arisen between him and * the young lady , which resulted in the breaking off of the engagement . This appears to have preyed on his . mind . He Avas seen to throw himself out by one of the domestics of the house . In his fall , he struck a passer-by , and

    somewhat injured him . He-was killed on the spot . — Mary Smith , a newly-married woman , has drowned herself in the canal at Wombwell . She had been accustomed to live in the country , but on her marriage had removed to Barnsley , where she said the sun never shone , and she wished to get back to the country . This seems to have been the only cause for the act . —Sarah Ann Watts , a nurse in St . Bartholomew ' s Hospital , has cut hex * throat , while in an advanced state of pregnancy , owing to her situation having been discovered , in consequence of which she found it necessary to resign ;

    Tuis Lands Improvement -Companv .. —Amongst the applications for loans from tlie Lands Improvement Company is one from his Grace ' ¦ ¦ th e Duke of Marlborough , for 50007 . for improvements on his estates in . Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire . The Estate of Strauak , Paul , and Bates . —The interest possessed by Strahan , Paul , and Bates , in the Mostyn Collieries , Flintshire , was put up for sale at the Auction-rooms , Liverpool , on Tuesday . There was a Crowded attendance , but there-were no offers , owing to

    the questions put to the auctioneer , with respect to charges and mortgages , not bejng satisfactorily answered . It was then announced that applications would be received for the purchase of the property by private treaty . Djr . David Livxxgstox , the celebrated African traveller , arrived at Mauritius on the 13 th of last August in her Majesty ' s ship Frolic . The doctor has succeeded in traversing Africa from ocean to ocean , having actually penetrated , at his own expense , from the Cape north and west to Angola , whence he returned as far as Seshike , and thence -finally-. ' eastwards to Tete and Q . uilimane on the east coast .

    The European axd AusTnALiAjr Steasi Navigation Company . —With a view of celebrating the commencement of ., the . newly '' arranged mail service between Great Britain and our important colonies in the South Pacific , which is to be carried out in virtue of the postal contract , conceded not long sinca by the Lords of tlie Treasury to the European and Australian Steam Navigation Company , the directors of that association gave on Tuesday afternoon a sort of impromptu entertainment . on board their steaui-ship Oneida , now being fitted out in the Southampton Docks for her first voyage to Melbourne and Sydney , for which ports she is to sail on Sunday with the regular maild and a lax-ge number oi passengers , among whom are Sir Henry Barkly an 1 suite .

    Cardinal Wiskman . —Iu the course of the revision of the list of voters for the borough of Marylebone , on Monday , the name of Cardinal Wiseman was objecte I to , on uccount of its being illegal for him to assume tho title of Cardinal . The Iievising Barrister said he found before him in the printed list , which had not been objected to , the name of Cardinal Nkliolaa Wiseman . It was not for him to say that ' Cardinal' was not one of the Christian names of the . claimant . He would not , therefore , touch the Cardinal , but allow the name tu stand .

    Mis'rnoronTAJf Improv . em . bsts . —Considerable discussion as to the proposed new lines of streets in SoutUwark and the neighbourhood of Covent Garden was entered into on Monday at a meeting of the Board of Works . With respect to tho former project , a motion by Mr . Doulton— " That that part of the report of the committee which relates to street improvements in Soulkvark be adjourned , and that the committee be instructed to prepare -plans and estimates of a new line of street , commencing , as nearly as practicable , opposite tho entrance of the South-Eastern Kail way , and terminating iu Black friars-road on a line with Stamford-street "—was carried by 10 to C . An amendment by Mr . Wright , empowering the committee u to instruct tho architect to

    prepare a plan and estimate of a street from Stamfordstreet to London-bridge , and also a i > lan and estimate of u street from tho New-cut to High-street , by widening Union-street , " wns negatived by 12 to 11 . Tho line suggested by the committee was from the Town Hall , Southwark , to the intersection of Vino-street with the York-road . —With respect to tho Covent Garden alterations , flic following resolution was carried by 11 to I ) : — " That tho plan reported by tho committee' of works and improvements for tlio formation of a new street between CranbouriiK-strvet and Loieeotor-simaro and King-street , Covent-garden , bo approved by this board . " A further resolution , directing that the preliminaries should be at once entered into , wns then passed .

    Govkknmkist GitAKTC .- —To Mrs . A 'Beckett , widow of the late gifted magistrate nnd author , has been granted by tho Premier a pension of 100 ? . per annum . Lord l'ulniorston has also be » to \ vcd 100 / . towards the maintenance of Mr . Angus B . licncli . DiN'jiF . ii xo Mn . Mischi at WoouuniDoic . —A ro ( iuc 9 t

    October 18,1856.] The Lead1k, 993

    October 18 , 1856 . ] THE LEAD 1 K , 993

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 18, 1856, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_18101856/page/9/