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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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EMIGRATION . "ST 3 EBE TO , AKD HOW TO PROCEED . £ BOXES OT X 1 OXT 3 . THKOTTG 3 A POBTIOS OF CANADA . i 5 D SETJSBil OP THB ST 3 TFS OF J 5 OBTH AMERICA , PARTICULAR ! - * THE STATES OF MASSACHUSETTS , BUODB ISLA 5 D , SE"W 1 OBK .. VEsysivrxsii .. osw , Michigan , iixisois W 1 SC 0 SS 13 , A 3 D HEW JKRSET . TNDERIAKES "WITH A THrW OP ASCEKTAlSTSG THB DESIRABEUTT . OS OTHERWISE OP EMIGRATION ; ASD TO JUDGE OF THS BEST LOCATION , FOB ENGLISH E 3 U 6 BAXTS , FROil ACTCAi
OBSEBTATI 03 . BY i ^ WBEKCE PITKETH 1 Y , of Hnddersfield . ( Continued from our last week's paper . J JOUBJfAL . JIosdat , iib . — . Dick Gordon , one of tie sailors , was at the Tried , -where the captnin and lie had a quszreL Dick had frequently said he Bhonld be delighted at the opportunity of giving ^ him a sound beating . The sailors complained of ihe beef , and aflei Kjme-alrercation . better was given them . What a bumble man this captain must be ! This morning hs condescended to epeak to me , observing that had I been in America , to-day , I should have had b fns holiday , it being the anniversary of the Declaration of Atticti ^ it » Independence . 2 told hiai I should have been right glad to have been there , for more reasons than one .
The eight has been propitious , and -we have kept in enr course at the rate of from seven to ten inoU , with & moderate sea . I learn that we are about six degrees from tie Banks < d Xtwfcnndland . The Bauks are afcon * a degree across ; and from tbence Jto Boston it is osij fbnr days rail for a fishing boat ; so tkat with favourable weather we may expect to be in Bo ton in eight days . This account tended much to draw cflfthe ^ oom -whic h for some days had pervaded the minds of the passengers , created by a statement to the tSed that we ¦ Were vary likely to have a sixty day's passage .
Tdesdat , 5 th . —Hot a sail to be seen this moming . Uariug the greater part of the night it has been a dead j calm . Towards mornings breeze sprung np from the Ifcrtii , " -which sent ns fbrwsxd for a sb ^ orfc time , at the ; i&te of nins knots . It veered about in the afternoon i snd forced us to tact The Captain ' s curiosity seemed to have been excited from some circumstance or other . He came and asked j me if I intended to stay in Boston or- Jf ew Tori . I ^ described my intended rente and xetnrn to England , and left r » " > without an opportunity to make , any re- 1 nark . I TFsoyESDAT 6 ih- —This morning Talbot , the second ' ma t * , gent John Hargrove , a young sailor of Email ¦ s ' -ze ,. aloft tc do some < inty . the doing of which £ i < l not please i lym He therefore abused Harcrovfi in very
roncb-laDgnage , and called him down to give him a rougher hand-, lie * . As soon as he reached deck . Talbot commenc ! .-d kictii-r him , and having pushed him down , he dashed ' hia head for some time against the deck . This might have ended in a tragedy , for the fellaw , who was a , native of Malta , and of a ferocious breed , was in a per-: feet fury— -had not a sailor , named Tom , have rnn from j tbs forecastle to the release of Hargrove , and succeeded ' in separating the combatants . Talbot asked "If ho : intended to interfere . ** Tom replied "No ; but he thought he had done enough . " Some further altercation j « n 3 ned , when Talbot collared Tom ; but Tom told him \ to " leave ^ o , er he would very soon s « rve him out" j Talbot was wise encash to do so ; bnt when Ton was j returning down the f oreastle steps , Talbot aimed a blow at Mmwitfc a handspike , which fortunat # 3 y missed him i or he wouI 3 no doubt lave been killed . Tom returned i and asked him " if he intendtd to strike him wich that
deadly weapon ?" asd said "he would not do it with impunity . " Tom and Hargrove were ordsred over the side , to scraps ike outside of the ship , and , as punishment , i were kept there during their watch- They both I 8 *> oze that Talbot should not go without his reward . : . THrssDAT , " ih . —Tbe night has again been calHi , j snd no progress sade . About noon , a breezs goi up , j bnt nearly a-head , accompanied by a thick fog , which caused tie wet to fall like rain from the ringing , making it very nncomforlaKe . Ho sail to me seen . J saw a barrel of far-west pork opened for the first time . It "Weighed 2 cwt , and cost 25 s . at New Orleans . "The hams were mixed with the other parts . It was large ,:
and appeared to be in good condition . It was to me a > proof of the procucSveness of the country to which we Were bound . , F . RIDAS , Sib . —The breeze has kept np a little dur- ; ing the night , bnt our progress has been slow—the same all day . The captain said , that rinlfra we had some favourable ¦ wertLei , we should not reach Boston for three weeks . We have been on the rack sO the way , ; sot being able to ascertain latitude on longitude ; one joying it was * o and bo , and another contradicting . Now . it was said we were f orty-f ott north , and between "forty- > ioui and forty-six west ; scarcely h * lf . ~ ay . I now re- ; fretted much that I had not gone by the Siddons , at all hazards . '
Sa 3 x : sdat , 9 th , —Wind still a-h&ad . The mates fiiff = r » d in opinion as to best xxmrse ; one thought it best to run north ; another thought south would answer better . The captain inquired how the provisions Were . Ee had not , sb lie onght , had the provision a of tk . » T * nMgT 1 gp' "' examined before leaving f htt port ; however , they stood very well . We -could still hold out for three weeks . This morning the sailors were put on short allowance of water . They had given a deal to the liish girls a ? sights , and -ao-w beg&n to txperience the hardttips their conduct >> R-- ^ ixlicted on the main portion of tte psw-Eencers .
Stisdat , lD : h , —^ Doling night a strong « got up , but right a-head , and conSiiiued till morning when ft veered round to the north , and carried us forward for a few hour ?; it however veered to the west , and was very weak towards eveniEg , as was the use on ths two previous qbjs . It was a strange sight to see Pap > 8 ts , Methodists , and every kind of religionist washicg and drying their clothes to-iay , Sunday though it be , ilosDAT , llth . —The night has been a perlect calm and the day by far the hottest we have had—not a breath of , wind , and the sea guite smooth . I never Baw the Mersey at Liverpool so smooth as is this wide ocean ; of course -we made no visible progress . -A . fear tras now generally expressed fh * t we tEonld run short of provisions . No safl seen to-day . Thejporpeises rolling , around us in vast numbers .
As Martin Flinn was carrying coals from below to the cooking place along the deck , one of tbs sailors , who was aloft , let a marlisgspike fall from tba rigging , which touched some part of Flynns clothes and sunk above an inch into the deck ! Flynn had an hairbreadth escape . The poor fellow wept at the very thought of it . Weiad now been four weela at sea ? I had calculated upon being in Boston , and htre -sr « Y-tre Bttte mere ihan naif-way . The day was concluded with singing and dancing , a person playing thb fiute—sailors and-passengers all joining . Margaret Nolan , a young Irishwoman , having finished her provisiona , applied to the Captain ; ~ hs Baid he was glad that her provisiens were done , as he should not be troubled with so much , cooking in future . Tcesda-s , 12 th , —The night has been calm , but towards morning we had a fair wind , and curing the early part of &b day we got on veiy welL
-TyEDSXSDAT , 13 th . —We have "been Mghly favoured during the -ni «; Dt , snd went on well till two p-aLj when it kept falling and veering round until evening , when it got right a-hesd . Clouds , black and dismal , collected a-head . The Captain was evidently alarmed ; I thought lie apprehended the bursting , of a waterspout upon us , or that we should have some severe squalls ; the el ends , however , disappeared , but left the wind a-head . We saw & ship in full sail a head of us this morning , wi'h studding sails ; set , and Very soon a second , in the same style , fcoand for Burope , and soon after thi » , a third one . They passed us most gallantly . How enviable ! We soon saw two more vessels , but at a rreat distance .
XffuxsDAT , 14 th . —The night has been very boisterous , with the wind a head thB whole time , and we were told -we had been drawn back a very long way . It was not so , however , bnt ! we had made -rery little Way- The day was fair ; and the evening brought a favourable bretza ; every sail was hoisted , the aide sails set , and all prepared-to proceed to Boston . Alas ! we Jost oar movimj power almost immediately , and again lay motionless on the su&ce . PfciDAT , 15 th , —After a still night , we have bad a perfectly calm dsy ; we did feel the air at intervals , but it was quite against us . One . sail passed ** " « niornirg about six . Satdxdav , 16 th . —WiEi south west , nearly against ¦ o * . " » ery -speak , by tackiDg we sained a very fctUa -way . Tue Captain Md out some waste potatoes , noi fit for hogs , and told the ^ pissengers they might have them . Ha also gave a-way a portion of sail beef which the Killers had ief ased to eit
au > 'DAT , ITth , —Favourable but a very slight bre » z =, 5 t iTifTmsed auiing the day and at night at it was very BtroEj . Some of the passengers were nmcfl alarmed snd some were sick . J 50 KDAT , 13 th . —Dark , and much rain falling . The poor sailor * have had to be exposed to a most dreadful Bight , but were gratified "by the progress we had made , for they seemed as snxions as the passengers to get on shore . They did not sing " The more days the more dollars . " At niae a . m , the rain cea ? ed , and the wind abated and soon got near a-head , and remained so till noon . An island of ice , or an iceberg , was quite visible , but a great distance , to U » north . I thought it was V ship , bat it Beemsd whiter and lower . ' The Captain oo seeing it sent the second mate aloft to look for more a-head , bat lie saw none .
TniB morning , the paa » enfea bad their aUomate in rain waiex . ^ Bdi wm -very : wrong . It nad washed % food >« it of lha ihip . It-iilghtljave teeD pntinto casks to be « sed in case of scarcity , or have been used for washing parpens . The sailors bad -waded through ft , sod the dirty Captain bid been spitting about on all sides , Thspassengen , however , are no more car » d Zor than pigB . Tas sir is Tery xold . and we m » ke but little way . Nomeroos porpoises are rolling around ns . TdbsdaT , 19 li , ^ An immense iceberg was the first foing » een , about five miles to leeward . It bora the
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appeal an tc of an immense building | raised to the height * f the window bottoms , the corners in Bight being square and perpendicular , the height apparently twelve feet , but in reality it was not less than one hundred feet bish ; the two sides in view seemed nearly equal in length ; the top was square and flat The Captain called me to "see the like of what 1 had never seen in my life , " and said " that I must pot it in my journaL * i He did not seem to like the " journal . " ) Ha went for the glass to ascertain it there were say people span it , and evidently wanted to make me believe there was smoke arising from it For « nce , he was ao civil as te offer me his glass to look through . This I did . It was to me a great natural curiosity . I had always thought these bergs ware formed of shelves of ice ; but neither wUh the glass nor naked eye could I perceive any joints or nssuT&B . It appeared a solid mass of ice .
The night has been still and calm ; the samB during the day ; and now , at eight p . m ., not sufficient wind to stretch a sail . In the forenoon we discovered another iceberg in the opposite direction . It had a most curious towering appearance . Now , at eight p . m ., it has assumed the appearance of a cottage between us and the moon ; and it being too dark to show the absence of windows , it makes the illusion more complete . The flat part consists of three small pieces of snow , on a row , upon the surface of the water . A small piece of ice alss rested upon the water , about a mile from the ' cottage , " A fishing schooner was said to have been seen to-day . It now turns oat to be a piece of ice .
Wedsesdat , 20 th—At ten last night , a fine favonrable bretza overtook us , and every sail was set with all possible expedition . We went at a fine rate all night . Now , at ten a-m ., we are going at eight knots . I am just disturbed in my minutes by the cry or The carca&s of a whale a-head . " I ran to the side , and saw a lsjrge floating mass , which sent forth a most herrible stench . There was no doubt of its being a dead whale ; its colour was & yellowish one , with spots , and its form indiscribaWe . It lay fl * t upon the water , and appeired to have bean partly devoured by birdB . Il was not one hundred yarda from the ship , bo that it could be very distinctly seen . The colour was as near that of the leopard as anything I could imagine . We next saw the spar of a ship , and then a v « ry large dead cod-fish , all vary near us .
At six tkiB morning , the first object which struck my eye was another roa&s of ice of an oblong shape or nearly square , in s > as & hundred and fifty by three hundred yards , and / erty feet abwve the aurlaee of the ¦ water , -with an inclined plonfr from twelve to sixteen feet It appeared about two miles distant A number more were in sight , and one closely resembling a cottage in ahape and size , but in reality -vastly larger ; while my eyeB , and those of several who stood by me , were fixed upon it , it disappeared and a cloud of smoke seemed to rise from the water , and a noi » e , as
of faiut thunder waB heard . From the beat of the sun and other causes it tumbled to pieces , and seemed to torm three large and many very small lumps , forming a bind of floating island . The captain came to me and said he had crossed m&ny t \ mes and » t all Beasons , but had uever sees the quantity of ic « as at present . He was lost what to do sbonld it become fosgy . I said , I thought when we got off the Banks we should be clear of the ice . Tts , he said , kut we are ju&tnow entering the Banks . I had concluded we were just about to lea-re them .
"Hope told aflaUeriDgtale . " Many bergs , or islands of ice were seen during last night and many during the day . The man on watch at the mast-bead hn « just reported more in view , bo that we are not out of danger . The evening brought a dense fog , and one sail and then another was reefed . A man was constantly kept on the watch , and tbe ship moved at a very slow rate , although the wind was fair . The danger we were in of mining foul of the ice kept us back . TarBSDAV , 21 st—We are favoured with & good and fair brerZr : this moming . Tbe fog has almost disappeared and lo ice has been seen during toe night , nor is thbre any in sight this moming .
Sevtn p-m . —The breesw ha * favoured us all the day , but the sea being rough we have not progressed so well as yesreruay . We have just had a little rain and the fcra ^ za has left us with it . The mate cheers me by suiting that we shall very soon have it from a better quarter . Friday , 22 cd- —We were surprised this morning by tfcs appearance of another island of ice ; it passed on the Tight at a short distance . We soon espied another auvi a larger one , a-head ; it passed ub on the left at not more than a mile distant We soon after perceived a
third . The morning was very fine indeed . It lias bees calm all the night , and has i *> pt the same daring the day . The second mate keepa cheering us by saying that a more favonrabie breeze wai shortly overtake us . What handy fellows the Yankee sailors are . Not one of them has been put to learn carpentry ; yet they all woik wonderfully well at it They are now preparing all things for going Into port , so that they may look clean and in order . How surprising it is that the sailors cannot be spoken to by their " snpwriors , " bnt as a West India planter would speak to Mb slsvts , before be commands his whipper-in to cut them with the lash . If ot a -word has been spoken to tbese fine ulJows by Use Capfciin , so far as 1 have heard , during the whole voyage , except in tno way of " orders , " and I really sbonid not have been surprised had they thiown him overboard . They certainly expressed their feeling in strong terms .
Satitbdat , 23 rd . —About seven this morniDg , a sail hove in sight behind us ., which made upon us very regularly until she passed us in fine style . She was from Malaga and bound for Boston , laden with wine and fruit At dusk shB was considered twelve or fourteen miles a-head . We could not learn her name . It was calculated she had travelled thirty miles more than ns dnriEg the day . The Captain Baid I had better get my luggage ready and go on board the brig ( for such she was ) as ihe was making upon us . I said I had jngt been thinking of doing so . Immediately after , the Captain aBked ChBrles Earash&w bow the provisions stood ; he was answered that tbey would hold out till we reached Boston if we got along at all .
After ads conversation with myself and Charles , we expected a signal would have been givtn for the brig to lay to , but no such signal was given , and she paved close astern , and being spoken with by the Captain , cut through the water rapidly , and was speedily out of heaiing . We had calculated on having an opportunity to purchase such things as they had and which we required ; but this was denied us . The reason given for our slow safllBg was , that the vessel which had passed waB light , and the wina just suited her , it being light also . She had left Malaga on the 28 th , while we left Liverpool on the 14 th , the two places being about equi-distant ; so she bad g ained fourteen days upon us , while the weather had been more unfavourable for them than us . Our ship lay like a log upon the water all the flay . I had porridge and raisins to my breakfast , both this moming and yesterday , for want of other sweetening . I could eat nothing bnt oatmeal—no tea , no coffee , nor biscuits . To dinner I had a little salt fish , with oatcake .
Susdat , 24 TH . —No progress during the night ; all was as still as death At four a . m ., a slight breeza got up , which increased tin six , when we got on at the rale of seven-and-a-half knots ; but , alack-aday , all at once it became calm , and continued bo during tbe whole day . Two ships , apparently for Europe , nare gone on th « lr way to the left Hi . Bywater , in speaking of the ladder by which we ascend and descend , which is both dangerous and indecent for females , toll me that a few days after we came on board , the captain wished he ( Mr . B . ) might be the first who fell , and that be might break his neck .
SIosdat , 23 rd . —A calm night again . Two veBBels crossed us on their outward conrse . The first , a fishing smack , crossed us about two ; at tbe same time , -tee observed & ship not twelve miles distant , in the haza ; she kept making upon and passed us at eight It was too dark to ascertain what she was . The crew said she was the Sea . I told them I was certain that although the Sea left Liverpool after us , she was in New York a week ago . The captain exchanged signals with toiB ship , but he would as soon have given us his teeth as have told us anything that would afford us a ray of pleasure . The Sea left Liverpool after us . This ship appeared bound for Boston .
The passengers consulted together this morning upon the propriety of making a formal application to the captain for a supply of provisions , as many were now entirely ont , A person , named William Cummings , went by himself . The captain told him "he must apply to that power which rules alL" He also said , " he did not know in what latitude or longitude we were in , " although he and his brother captain ( Marshall ) had just been ascertaining the position , with the quadrants . Cummings teld him his provisions were done , as also were those of some others ; indeed , all were nearly withont ; and that those who had any were willing to divide with the rest , could they obtain any idea af the time we should be likely to land ; bnt nothing conld be elicited from the fellow , only that "he had nothing to do with the provisions * Roche , at Liverpool , being tbe only person to apply to . "
This afternoon , about three , the best and fairest breeze sprung up ; the ship was put in order , and we were going along-vat the rate of from to nine ten knots an hour . A snail whale was seen astern , but few passengers had an opportunity of seeing It Ttjesdat , 26 th . —The wind kept favourable till two or three o ' clock this morning , when it veered and we were driven out of our course several points . A ship which passed last night , is from fifteen to twenty miles a-head this morning . The -wind ii now right against us . We observed the other « Mp taeking till svening ; her raarts are only visible . Wxduesdav , 27 th . — -Wind vhe * d during tfaoTrhole night j the Bhip rode hwdmpon a biga sea , tacking all the tuns , "which is rather daBgerona . la <*** ng i-ng our course we had much tpM , y breaking over the bows , which continued till night&ll .
The captain gave away some salt beef to-day ; &e passengers wanted rice , potatoes , and fresh food of any kmd -, salt provisiona not agreeing with then . The sailors charged the steward with giving th « n short allowance of beef and vinegar ; they had It increftBsd . The second and last pig was slaughtered to-day .
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Only one Bbip seen to-day . The weather has been very dull and hszy . Thursday , 28 th . —We have had a very uneasy night , with a strong wind right a-head ; the vessel has heaved very mnch , and we nave had little Bleep . A shark has been seen to-day , and a strong line and hook has been baited and put out to try if it would bite . The captain has given away some more salt beef to * day , and . be baa given Churiea some loat-aagar . . This was attributed to my " journal , " of which we had proof he was greatly afraid . - H £ g&l A British brig was very near ; the passengers applied to the captain to hail her , and seeif they would sell us any provisions , his answeewas that "he would rather jump overboard than ask an English ship ; " and assured us that we should meet with plenty of American vessels before night when we could be supplied ; and that we should reach the port in three days .
A regular fight to-night , between Dick Gordon and Jack the Stowaway . who , being Irish , some of his countrymen struck Dick in the fight , which caused some threats of vengeance on shore . Tbe captain separated the combatants and threatened Jack with the rope's end . FBJDAr . 29 th . —No sight of land , and very faint hope of a favourable wind . A brig was in sight behind us this morning , making rapidly towards us ; when she came near , she turned off to tbe S . S . West in the direction of New York . The passengers again appealed to the captain to get her to lay to for provisions . He told them that . tbe ship left Liverpool on the Sunday we did , and , of course , was as badly off for provisions as we were . This vessel had gained upon ub , at leaat , eight miles in a few hours , which proved tbe statement to be false and a mere subffid .
We have had a quantity of birds about the ship all the way ; they are called Mother Carey ' s chickens . To-day we have had an extra quantity . Last night , at the conclusion of the battle between Stowaway and Gordon , the Captain called up the passengers , and told them that if he found any of them beyond the long boat after nine at night , he would put them in irona . If this was a law , it ought to have been enforced from the time of oar coming on board , and not now , because some one or two Irishmen interposed in the fight Satwhdat , 30 th . —The night has been entirely to my wish ; going at the rate of eight to nine knots on the average , bretze from the south , which has kept up till bed-time , but veered , and took us two points out of out coarse .
Some pork was given away to-day ; It was very strong , and had been bought at about a penny a pound at New Orl eans , where an immense quantity is sold . It comes down the Mississippi in boat * , after being shot like game and cured ; it costs nothing but ihe trouble . Others , of course , are taken , which are kept and killed in the usnal way ; but that is generally fed in the woods upon hickory buBh , haiel , and other roots , with fruit which falls from the trets , or that grows on the giouud , or near enough for them to reach . Yesterday we were informed that eighteen hours ' sailing would take us into poit ; now we are sold that when tbe brti& 9 got up last night , we were 400 miles from Boston . Thus we are kept in continual suspense
Sunday , 3 iat . —In the night we had a squall one moment and a calm the next ; on the average , however , we have done middling , say six to seven knots ; from six to eight thii morning she was at the rate of seven knots ; and what is the reverse of what we have seen during the whole passage , we have actually passed two brigs this morning since day-light Two ships in sight this afternoon , but not near enough to know what they are . A fishing snack has gone close past us . We are now convinced that we are about one hundred miles from Boston .
Mojjdat , Abgcst 1 st—After breakfast we discovered land . It was that famous spot , " Cape Cod . " This head , or cape , is the point of a very long neck of load , which forms a large bay from Gape Ann , on the north , and named Massachuaaet ' s Bij ; an I on the left is Plymouth Bay , Boston Bay , and other small bays . On Cape Cod the first pilgrims from Europe landed and settled at Plymouth , enduring great hardships . Sjou after w « saw the Cape , we discovered a numerous fleet of fishing boats within the head , occupied in their vocation I have just counted eightyfour , but there must be near double that number in the bay . We have had an unfavourable wind—afterwards a calm .
The passengers are busy scrubbing and washing in preparation for landing . One of them took the liberty to loosen a rope to which was affixed one of the sailor ' s red shirts , which bad been let down into the sea at the head of the ship , as is tbe common practice , to soften the dirt before washing— -they often have them tb . ua dragged through the water for several days . This man thought of following tbe example , and tied a shirt of his owu along with the sailor ' s , and let them bota down again ; but not fastening tbe rope properly , both were passing away . Dick Gordon was engaged at the stem , and teeing bis comrade ' s shirt in danger of being lost , without hesitation jumped overbrard , having his
trousers on at the time . I did not know of the circumstance till the alarm was given , when I ran to the stem and saw poor Gordon at the distance of four hundred yaids ; tbe ship was put about and a barrel cast overboard , also a rope tied to a billet of wold , which , after a struggle , and all but going to the bottom , Gordon succeeded in laying hold of , and wus dragged towards the ship ; in the mean time the boat was let down and sent off to meet him , into which be was got , and thereby saved . A life had neatly betn lost for an old red shirt . The Bay appeared bounded by fl it and samly nbores —no rocks , nor mountains , or anything to give shelter from the storm .
The evening brought a calm , and we had not entered Boston Bay when we retired to bed . Tuesday 2 nd . —Now we had got into Boston Bay , with its many islands , formed by the encroachments of the sea , aa at Horn&ta , in Yorkshire , and several other parts of tbe English coast . Those islands are so situated , so numerous and so surrounded on all sides with vessels passing to and fro , as greatly to aurprise me . We had Boston before us , which in a moment was lost of , but very soon fonnd it in another direction . We were apparently near the city , when turning a few rounds we seemed to be more distant from it . We confidently expected being in Boston during the night , bnt the wind headed us and we despaired . Last night , at dusk , a pilot came on board ; he informed us that the Onerka and William Goddard were both in port One of them left Liverpool a week after us .
At four o ' clock we run aground at tbe entrance to one of the wharfs , and had to wait for tbe rising of the water to carry us in . The Custom House officers have been on board and have taken the papers on shore . They counted the number of passengers . The inspectors , or searchers , or the surgeon have not yet been , and until they come we must remain prisoners . We have seen the Bay of Isl&nda , for such it may with propriety be termed . It is beautifully picturesque , and from tbence the city appears to very great advantage . The State Bouse is tbe most prominent of
its public buildings ; it has a meat magnificent dome , and is erected on tbe highest of the three mounds of the island upon which the city is built To the right , and at no great distance , stands the noble monument , which is just complete * , in commemoration of the memorable battle of Bunker's HilL It is 220 feet high . To the left of the bay , and close to the city , stands the Houbb of Refuge , the Poor House , the Asylum for the Blind—formerly an hotel , the Lunatic Asylum , and the House of Correction , all of which appear very clean , with the exception of one , a brick building .
I am informed that persons found drunk in the streets are taken to the workhouse and then before the magistrates , and if they cannot pay a fine of ten dollars and expences , they are sent to the House of Correction for various periods ; the terms of their imprisonment b « ing in accordance with their habits and reputation . The ground on which these institutions stands'is the spot where Washington raised bis defences in the n ' ght , which drove General Gage and tbe British army ont of Boston . Tbey stand upon a sloping bank , rising to a ridge from the water ' s edge . Upon an island lower down the bay stands the school where indigent and vicious boys are taught a common education and are trained to habits of industry in agricultural pursuits .
Adjacent to these institutions and a little more distant from the city is the Castle Island , upon which stands a lofty , strong-built fortification or fortress . On an opposite island is a lott and bastion , and still lower 1 b Port William , upon which large additions are being made to the strong works , which , with the scaffolding and tackle , hava very mueh the appearance of a powerloom factory . . The Ohio , which is called a 74 , bnt I am told carries 120 guns , is here , and is used as a school ship , for drilling and training seamen . Sho is a splendid ship , with a covering over her whole upper dsck . Here I saw the first States soldier and uniform ; the man was on sentry outside the ship , upon a sort of platform , to which the descent was made by 3 kind of temporary stairs . At the entrance of the bay lay a war frigate . A large ship of war also lay at the entrance of the dock , which is one of the principal in tbe United States . A ship was on tbe stacks , which I was told was to carry 180 cans .
The Assembly of the States is not at present sitting . I was surprised to find that the county of Suffolk , which contains only Boston and Chelsea , —a small township , thinly inhabited—formerly sent fifty six and now sends thirty-seven representatives to the legislative assembly—thirty-six for Boeton and one for Chelsea quite sufficient to make laws for the whole of the TTnitea States . In addition to which , this county sends four or six senators for tbe State of Massachusetts . Then are above 200 representatives and fifty or sixty senators . ; Thiila one of the worst watered cities in the Union . Some tolerably bard waiter is procured from the pump * , and the soft is brought ih pip « a a distance of foot miles Suffolk county contains a population of 85 , 161 . ( To be continued J
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0 a Monday week , 100 conviet 9 from the Leviathan , and 100 from the York hulks at Portsmouth , were shipped for Van Dieman ' s Land , in the Cressey . The Managers of the aerial steam ship concern are building their wings at Montpellier gardens , Walworth .
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for its being founded even in probability , but we lay it before the public with the view of eliciting remarks from such as are competent to form , a correct judgment on such matters , and not for casting a slur upon the memory of Sidd , or of hurting , even momentarily , the feelings of his surviving relatives ao ^ friends . We are bound , however , to place in juxta-posiiion with this the fact that the principal officers of Ordnance are themselves at a loss ! for any cause for this sad catastrophe , i
COROMEBS INQUEST . It having been announced that the inquest ov the bodies of tbe deceased would take place at ten o ' ct ' ock on Saturday ^ morning , ] a large concourse of persona hi ^ d assembled at the station-house , the place fixed en fo r the purpose , long hefore the hour appointed for commencing the proceedings ; and when tbe coroner < Mr . Lewis ) and jury made their appearance , the place vraa crowded to excess . ( Mr . Jessop , of Waltham Abbey , deputy solicitor to the Crewn , was in attendance to watch the proceedings on behalf of government . The first witness called by the coroner
was—Henry Castell , & labourer , employed in the mixinghouse . Knew all the deceased . The bodies which the jury had Been he believed to be their bodies . He could give no information as to their death , but heard an explosion somewhere about three o ' clock on Thursday last , when he was at Paln | s Island , a quarter of a mile from the building that was blown ( up- All the deceased uu-Bwered the call at one o ' clock , after which tbey went in the direction of the coming-house . Robert Walker , carpenter in the storekeeper's office—Saw all the deceased ) alive on Thursday at one o ' clock , with the exception of Mr . Sadd . It was usual for witness to call the names over at one o'clock , and he did so himself that day . The reason why Mr . Sadd did not he
answer to his name vr ^ s was a master workman . The whele of the men who answered to their names ha saw going up the walk to the coming-house , but , no further . Tbe six men who were killed were working in No . 2 coming-house . Heard the explosion about a quarter to three . Went to the spot , and saw the ruins . Surah Adams—Lives in a cottage about 158 yards from the corning house . About ten minutes past three o'clock , saw Mr . Sadd going across the meadows to tbe corning-house , and saw him enter . Believes that was tbe hour , but she had no clock . He had scarcely got in when she htard the first report The second blew out the window , and split the door . She looked out and saw No . 1 , coming-house in a bl » z ? , and directly after Mr . Finlay came down and rang the belL That is all
she knaw about the occurrence . Benjamin Stroud , labourer in the powder-mills—Saw all the deceased , with the exception of Mr . Sa < ld , alive about ten minutes after one on Thursday . Saw them at the one o ' clock call , when they went oa their way to corning-house . No . 2 , where they were employed . About three o ' cloek he beard an explosion He ran out asd saw nothing but a cloud of sm » ke ; but when it cleared away he saw that the building was gone , and fenew the consequences . Wont to the ruins , and baw part of the body supposed to be that of James Luck . ; By a Juror—WaB at P * in ' s Island at the time of tbe explosion , and was painting barrels .
William Adams , | workman in No . 1 coming-house , deposed that the deceased Sadd was master workman . Esjsi x was frame-house or calling-house man , Luck was pressman , Cole was corn-house man , Newland was superintending as foreman in the reel-house in the place of Thomas Baldock , Dudley and Brown w « re corn-house men , the latter doing Bratsman ' s duty at the corning-konse . ! Did not recollect seeing the deceased alive that day , bnt tbey were generally employed in No . 2 cornlng-houee . Witness was himself in No . 1 corning-house on Thursday afternoon , with Mr . Austin and Robert Dickson , when the first explosion took place , which shook tbe building ha was in . Immediately he said , " That is an explosion ; let ns
make our escape . " I He ran out , followed by Mr . Austin and Robert Dickson ; He looked back over bis shoulder , and saw the fire coming in torrents from the housa he had left , which blew up in about a third of a minute afterwards , ; md he saw Mr . Austin . When about fifteen yards from the house , he turned about and saw a board knock Mr . Austin down . la a few minutes afterwards , he went to tbe ruins , and saw the shoulders and arms of a man whom he thought to be Lutk . He . saw another man , whom he took to be Newland , in the rueling-house . The other five men were thrown over the river , and be did not Bee them . Saw Sadd about eight minutes before the explosion , when he left him going towards the corning-house .
Cross-examined by Mr . Jess op—Believed Sadd said he was going to' meet Captain Tulloh at the corninghomse . During the whole period that he had been employed there bad never known but one explosion attended with loss of life . This took place in 1811 , when eight lives wete lost . There was nothing unusual in the rapidity of the works . Had often worked at No . 2 coroing-boase himself , and knew it to be an oldfashioned house , with nothing about it . Every precaution was taken to prevent accidents . Visitors going to see the machinery had goloshes put on their feet . Sadd generally went to that place once a-day , ao did Captain Tulloh and Mr . AustiD . The machinery was examined once or ] twice a-week , and the cog-wheel soaped to prevent friction . Was engaged in a
building where machinery bad been lately erected for gianulathig powder en a new system . This machine was introduced at the expense of Government , and for the purpose of saying human life . It was being conducted under tbe superintendence of Captain Tulloh . The works were always carried on , while he bad been in the Ordnance employment , in the same way that tbey were when the deceased met their deaths . They could not , have worked hurriedly , for tbey were making rifle powder , which required a slower process than the common description of powder . Every precaution was used to prevent accidents . V isitors coming to inspect the gunpowder mills were always supplied with
goloshes , which they put en their feet when tbey entered the building , to prevent the possibility of the introduction of grit or sand . Indeed , ever since dipt Tullab had had the superintendence , nothing could exceed the care or attention that was paid to prevent accidents . So satisfied was be with the precautions , that he ( witness ; should not have the slightest objection to work in the same mill under the same management were the works rebuilt . He was persuaded that there were fewerj accidents at the Waltham Abbey powder mills than at any mills in the country . There might have been about 1 50 » lbs . of powder in the reelhouse , 500 lbs . in the corning-house , and 2 , 0001 bs . in the press-bouse .
Mr . Thomas Austin deposed that he was superintendent of the machinery at the mills . He inspected the machinery once a month , under tbe direction of the commanding engineer . The last time he inspected it was on the Monday week previous to the explosion , when it was found to be in its usual working state . He heard no complaints from the men at the time , although it was their duty to shut off the machine whenever anything defective appeared in it , and to report tbe fact to the proper authorities . On the day of explosion witness had gone up to the granulating mills ,
by the direction of . Captain Tulloh , to take the dimensions for a sliding clutch , a technical term for an instrument to throw the gear out of work when it was found to be out of j order . In bis opinion there was no possibility of increasing the speed of the machinery in No . 2 house , where this unfortunate occurrence took place . He ( witness ) bad been in the service since 1807 . and never knew bo mnch care taken as while it had been under Captain Tulloh . It was impossible for the machinery to go too fast without the men immediately knowing it {
Captain George St . Vincent Whitmore , commanding the Royal Engineers , deposed to the fact that a formal report was made toj his office monthly of the state of tbe machinery , and the report he received on the 3 rd inst . was perfectly satisfactory . This witness corroborated the evidence of Mr . Austin . Captain Alexander Thomas Tulloh , Royal Artillery , and inspector of the Royal Gunpowder Establishment at Walthnm Abbey , deposed that he was in tbe corninghouse No . 2 almost the whole of the day previous to the explosion , when everything appeared to be in working order , and the men bad no complaints to make to him ,
although be repeatedly enquired if tbey had any . Had made an appointment with Mr . Sadd to meet him on the very day the explosion took place , and was only prevented doing s * by ] his being obliged to remain at home to write an official letter . Had never heard any complaint from Mr . Sadd of the men not doing enough of work , and there was no reason in a Government concern to do anything in a hurry , as might be the case in a merchant ' s concern , where an order might require to be made np within a j given time- He considered that an electric shock in passing through might have ignited the powder . !
Col . James Cockburn , director of the Royal Laboratory , Woolwich , corroborated the evidence of Captain Tulloh and Captain Whitmore as to the satisfaetory state of the machinery , and the precautionary measures taken to prevent accident . It was his duty to inspect the machinery and ; premises periodically . The KdV . John LWia Capper , resident clergyman of Waltham , had frequently visited the powder mills , and deposed to the precautions which were taken to prevent accidents . These precautions were so excellent that he never felt the slightest timidity in passing through the works . This closed the evidence .
The Coroner then briefly addressed the Jury , who retired for a few minutta , and then returned with a verdict of " Accidental death , " accompanied by an expression of their unanimous and decided opinion that the manufactory appears to have been conducted by Captain Tulloh , the inspector , with every possible precaution for the safety of the men employed under his superintendence , j The deceased were all married men . Mr . Sadd had left a widow and , one child ; John Newland a widow and eight children ! most of them , however , are grown up ; Edward Essex a widow and two grown-up children ; James [ Cole a widow snd four children ; James Luck a widow and one child j John Budley a widow and one child ; and Samuel Brown a widow and two children . 1
The interment of tbe bodies , with the exception of that of Mr . Sadd , Which was removed to a family burial ground at some distance , took place yesterday afternoon at five o ' clock in the parish churchyard . An immense number of persons assembled to witness tbe solemn scene , and a feeling of the deepest sorrow for the fate of the unfortunate men filled the minds of
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all present . Tbe tragical oceumnce has made an impression on the people in the place and neighbourhood which will never bo effaced daring life . The quantity ef gunpowder in the place at the time is supposed to have exceeded 4 , 000 Ibs . in weight , and the amount of property destroyed Is estimated at nearly £ 12 , 000 . The mills are literally a heap of ruins ; even the form of tbe building conld not be ascertained by a person who inspected the ruins . Fragments of the building were blown by the force of the explosion a distance of several hundred yards , the inhabitants in the neighbourhood think they heard three , if not four , separate explosions , though only a few seconds of interval elapsed between them . The death of one of the anf oxtanate men l ? iSr . Sadrt , the foreman ) was particularly affecting , he having entered the works but a few seconds before the catastrophe took place .
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The conveyance of the Order of the Garter to the - King of Saxony cost this ooantry £ 1055 . An explosion took place at the gunpowder works of Messrs . Wakefield and Bainbridge , near Kendal , last week , which did considerable damage , and two of the workmen wore seriously hurt . An explosion took place on board the steam packet " Cutter , " plying between Pittsburg and Cincinnati on tbe 17 th ult . by which three men were killed and ten very much injured .
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Frow the London Gazette of Friday , April 14 . BANKRUPTS . Jamea Wilson , of Liudfleld , Sussex , cowkeeper , April 21 , at half-past twelve , and May 26 , at twelve , at the Court of Bankruptcy , London . Mr . T . M . Alsager , official assignee , 12 , Birchin-lane , London ; Messrs . Kickards and Walker , solicitors , 29 , Lincoln ' -inn-fields ; and Mr . S . W . Bennett , solicitor , Brighton . James Wfeitfield , of 67 , Teoley-streefc , Southward grocer , April 26 , and May 25 , at one , at the Court of Bankruptcy , London . Mr . G « orge Gibson , official assignee , 72 . Basingball-street ; and Mr . George Stephen , solicitor , Skinners-place , Sise-lane . William Hitch , of Kingsland , Middlesex , grocer , April 24 , and May 25 , at ' eleven , at tbe Court of Bank * ruptcy , London . Mr . George Green , official assignee , 18 , Aidermandbury ; and Mr . Rutherford , solicitor , Lombard-street .
Thomas Pottlnger , Henry Howell , and Alexander Oswald , late of 27 , Austin-friars , City , merchants , April 20 , and May 17 , at eleven , at the Court of Bankruptcy , London . Mr . Lackington , official assignee , 3 , CoJemaa-atreet-bnildiags ; and Mr . Beatall , solicitor , Coleman-street , London . Elizabeth White and Elizabeth Leith , of Worksop , Nottingham , machine makers , April 26 , and May 10 , at twelve , at the Court of Bankruptcy , Leeds . Mr . George Young , official assignee , Leeds ; Messrs . Walter and Pemberton , solicitors , 4 , Symond ' s-lnn , Chancerylane , London ; Messrs . Payne and Co ., solicitors , Leeds ; and Mr . Henry Stephen Wake , solicitor , Worksop . Edmund Smith , of Sheffield , innkeeper , May 3 , at ten , and May 17 , at twelve , at the Court of Bankruptcy , Leeds . Mr . George William Freeman , official assignee , Leeds ; Mr . Bromhead , solicitor , Sheffield ; and Mr . W . Sykes , Solicitor , Leeds .
George Ratcliffe , of Sheffield , fender manufacturer , April 18 . and May 9 . at twelve , at the Court of Bankruptcy , Leeds . Mr . Henry Philip Hope , official assignee , Leeds ; Mr . Albert Smith , and Messrs- Haywood and Bramley , solicitors , Sheffield . William Gregson Pitt , of Cheltenham , Gloucestershire , banker , May 3 and 25 , at eleven , at the Court of Bankruptcy , Bristol ; Mr . Stradferd , solicitor , Cheltenham ; and Messrs . King and Son , solicitors , Serjeants ' - inn , London . Robert Biggs , of Bath , chemist , April 28 at one , and May 26 , at twelve , at tbe Court , of Bankruptcy , Bristol . Mr . £ . Milter , official assignee , Bristol ; and Mr . G . Stalland , solicitor , Bath .
Charles John GBusbsd , and James Gbussen , of Liverpool , corn factors , April 26 , at half-past twelve , and May 26 , at twelve , at the Court of Bankruptcy , Liverpool . Mr . William Bird , official assignee , Liverpool ; Messrs-. Stockley and Thompson , solicitors , Liverpool ; and Mr . Henry Weeks , solicitor , 12 , Cook ' s-court , Lincoln ' s-inn-fields , London . Joseph Ednmnd Robinson , of Liverpool , wine merchant , April 28 , at twelve , and May 26 , at cne , at the Court of Bankruptcy , Liverpool . Mr . Charles Turner , official aisignee , Liverpool ; Mr . Hostage , solicitor , Liverpool ; and Messrs . Chester and Toolxuin , solicitors . Staple-inn , London . Anthony Merga , of Nantwieh , Cheshire , watch maker , May 5 , at twelve , and May 26 , at half-past one , at the Court of Bankruptcy , Liverpool . Mr . Wm . Bird , official assignee , Liverpool ; Mr . Henry Field , solicitor , Liverpool ; and Messrs . Sharpe , Field and Co ., solicitors , Badford-row , London .
William Jones , of Wolverhampton , mercer , April 21 , and May 18 , at twelve , at the Court of Bankruptcy , Birmingham ; and Mr . George Robinson , solicitor , Wolverhampton . John Johnston , of Manchester , banker , April 25 , and May 16 , at one , at the Court of Bankruptcy , Manchester . . Mr . James Stansall Pott , official assignee , Manchester ; Mr . S . Appleby , solicitor , Harpur-street , Red Lion-equare , London ; and Mr . Alexander Oliver , solicitor , Manchester . Kenneth M'Leod and John Boyle Wood , of Liverpool , ship chandlers , May 4 , at eleven , and May 26 , at twelve , at tbe Court of Bankruptcy , Liverpool ; Mr . John Follett , official assignee , Liverpool ; Duncan , solicitor , Liverpool ; and Messrs . Gregory , Peters , and Abbot , solicitors . Bristol .
Charles James Money , ef Liverpool , flour dealer . May 2 , at one , and May 24 , at ejeven at the Court of Bankruptcy , Liverpool . Mr . James Cazmove , official assignee , Liverpool ; Mr . John Cornthwaite , solicitor , Liverpool ; and Messrs . Corethwaite and Adams , solicitors , Dean ' s-court , Doctors' -commons , London . Jamea Green , of Oldbury , Shropshire , licensed victualler , April 24 , at eleven , and May 20 , at twelve , at the Court of Bankruptcy , Birmingham ; and Mr . Benton , solicitor , Birmingham .
partnerships dissolved . T . Ogilvy , G . Arbuthnot , G . C Gillandeia , and Adam S . Gladstone , of Liverpool and Calcutta ( so far as regards Thomas Ogilvy } . John Seymour Smith and Leonard Simpson , late of Liverpool , merchants . Edward Blane , Sarah Raleigh , and Rachel Raleigh , of Manchester drapers . William Woodhead and Ezra Woodhead , of Idle Colliery . Calverley , Yorkshire , coal owners .
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From ( he Gazette of Tuesday , April 17 . BANKRUPTS . David Ellis , Jun ., draper , Haverbill , Snffjli , to surrender April 27 , at two , and May 26 , at one at the Court of Bankruptcy . Mr . Pennell , official assignee f Mr . Ware , solicitor , Blackman-street , Southward . Henry Walton , Jan ., wheelwright , Crowland , Lin ' colnshire , April 28 . at half-past two , and May 26 , ftt twelve , at the Court of Bankruptcy . Mr . Belcher , official assignee ; Messn . Watson and Broughton , solicitors , Falcon-square , City . William Ponn , cabinet-maker , Canterbury , April 25 ^ and June 2 , at one , at the Court of Bankruptcy . Mb Whitmore , official assignee ; Mr . Fiddey , solicitor . Paper-buildings , Temple . Richard Watkins , carpenter , Holloway , April 25 , at two , and June 2 , at half-past one , at the Court ¦ jtf Bankruptcy . Mr . Alsager , official assignee , Birch ' uv lane ; Mr . Wright solicitorLondon-streetCity .
, , William Fuller , currier , Cliffe , 'Sussex , May 4 , »* one , and 29 , at twelve , at the Court of Bankrutcf . Mr . Graham , official assignee . Baainghali-street ; Messrs . Sowton and ^ Co ., solicitors , Great James-street Nathaniel Wegg , victualler , E ist Greenwich , May h at two , and 29 , at eleven , at the Court of Bankruptcy ' Mr . Turquand , oflSeial assignees , Copthall-buildiDgs ; Messrs . Parnell and Co ., solicitors , New Broad-street George Harris , tailor , Dorking , Surrey , April 27 , » two , and May 22 , at half-past twelve , at the Court « Bankruptcy . Mr . Graham , official assignee , BisiDgball ' street ; Mr . Farry , solicitor , George-street , Mansionhouse . . John Prat , surgeon , Adelaide-street , Strand , Apnl 28 , at two , and May 19 , at one , at the Court of Ban ** ruptcy . Mr . Johnson , official assignee , Boaingow * streetMr . PillsolicitorHatton-garden w # w j « -M » w khv mmr 44 WVVVU AlliUwUV t
; , , . . ^^^ ^ . »*« y ^• » w * m * Jabez Vines , milter , Reading , April 28 , at three , aofl May 24 , at eleven , at the Court of Bankruptcy . Mr . La * ington , official assignee , Coleman-street-buildings ! Messrs . Pain and Hatherley , solicitors , Great Mar ** borough-street . Jphn Philippa Davies , apothecary , Davies-stieefe Berkeley-square , April 29 , at two , and May S& > J 7 eleven , at tbe-Court of Bankruptcy . Mr . Gcoom , o »" cial assignee , Abchurch-lane . Louibard-street ; Mr . Co ** solicitor , Pinner ' s-ball , Old Broad-street . ¦ Johu Morgan * merchant , TVoodaide , Cheshire , BW 5 , at one , and May 3 d , at twelve , at the Xiverp «» District Court . Mr . Turner , official assignee . SoU »«*» ftlcwrs . Lowndes , Robinson , and Biteaon , Liverpool ! Messrs . Sharpe , Field , and Jackson , Bedf « a-roff > London . Aav ^« V 4 * 7 * A # M
' Jobsph Edmund , Robinson , wine merchant , Livap 00 ' 1 April 28 , at twelve , and May 26 , at one , at the i 1 *** * pool District Court . Mr . Turner , official assigns * Solicitors , Mr . Jenkins , Liverpool ; Messrs . Sha ^ F Field , and Co ., Bedford-row , London . Anthony Merga , watchmaker , Nantwieh , ches rfa May 6 , at twelve , and May 26 , at half-past one , at tw » Liverpool District Court . Mr . Bird * official assign ** Liverpool . Solicitors , Mr . Hostage , Liverpool ; Messrs Chester and Toulmin , Staple Inn , London . _ . ' . Charles Webb , timber merchant , Kingston-upon-BO * May 1 and 26 , at eleven , at the Leeds District Conrj Mr . Freeman , [ official assignee , Leeds . Mr . Ptf **' Solicitor , St . Paul ' a Churchyard , London . ., William Peate , grocer , Shrewabury , April *«» « ?* £ past eleven , and June 2 , at eleven , at the Binn ^?^ District Court . Mr . Christie , official assignee , But ^« ham . Solicitors , Mr . Teece , Shrewsbury ; Mr-Re * * Birmingham . . .
, John Parker , cotton-waste-spinuer , Bolton-le-Moor Lancashire , April 29 , at one , and May 16 , at t * P , » the Manchester District Court . Mr . Hobson , oW »* assignee , Manchester . Solicitors , Mesars . Nonis , Alw »» and Simpson , Bartletfs-buildinga , Hoiborn ; and »*» Glover , Boltou-le-Moors .
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THE POWDER MILLS AT WALTHAM ABBEY . DREADFUL EXPLOSION . On Thursday ,. one of those mournful accidents occurred which have from time to time been deplored at every gunpowder manufactory , and Which unhappily hurried seven unfortunates iuto eternity . The gunpowder mills at Waltham Abbey stand at some distance out of the town , on the side of a broad running stream , which branches out of the river Lea , Is the property of Government , and is called "Powder Mill River . " Here a series of erections connected with the public service are found . They are built of wood , with slated roefs , and are termed "Coming-bouses , " " PreasrhouaeB , " " Washing-kouaea , " and " Glazing
Mills- " Four of these edifices , about eighty feet in length , and twenty-nine or thirty feet in depth , have been destroyed—so completely demolished , that nothing like tbe form of any one of them remains ; each is a black shapeless ruin . It is proper to state , that they had been constructed on a plan which promised , in the event of an accident , to prevent the « vil from extending beyond the place in which it originated . Between the corning-h . use and the pressing and washing houses , a strong brick buttress , twenty feet high , fifteen feet thick , and thirty feet deep , had been built , which it was supposed would have proved an effectual barrier to the progress of fire . The hope , however , has proved
vain . Oa Thursday afternoon , the business being carried on in tbe usual way , about five minutes after three o ' clock * from aome cause at present unknown , an explosion took place in the more northern corning-house . A few seconds afterwards , the press-house and washinghouse , separated , as already explained , from tbe coruing-bonse by tbe buttress , also blew up . In a minute or two from that time , the next coming-bouse , distant from the former about 200 yards , shared the same fate , and that in n few seconds was followed by a fourth explosion and a second press-house and washing-house , separated , aa in the other case , from the coming-house , were in an instont destroyed .
It would be we'l if the ruin of tbe buildings , and the destruction of the stor « a , were all ; but , unfortunately , in the works which first blew up a number of unfortunate persons were employed , not one of whom survives . : Seven men Were in an instant dismissed from life ; five of them were carried over the river to a very considerable distance , and fell lifeless fragments in the marshes . One corse was recovered from the ruins , and one dead body was found out of the building , but on the same Bide of tbe river . It was difficult to recognise tbe deceased , they were so blackened , shattered , and disfigured . The names of the unfortunate men who have perished are as follow : —Thomas Sadd , Edward Essex , John Newland , John Dudley , James Luck , Samuel Brown , and James Cole . Mr . Sadd was the master
worker . Oa Thursday he had been In the building but about ten minutes when the event occurred . Tbe victims were all corning-bouse men and persons of respectable character . Eastx had worked on the establishment for more than half a century . Sadd's remains were soon identified by the blue coat which be wore , and by tbe loss of one tooth . He was said to have been carried hot less than 130 yards from the carning-house , and to have lost one foot when he reached the ground . At a considerable distance from the ruins the impression made by tbe fall of one of the sufferers remains very distinct . The marks of the head , the shoulder , the hip , and tbe leg , were yesterday most distinctly traced ; and tbe indentation made by the body was in some parts nearly six inches deep .
Immediately after the accident many hundreds of persons repaired to the marahes . Tbe bodies were cell- > ct « d , wrapped in sheets , and deposited in one of the buildings belonging to Government , at some distance from tbe ruins , ibere to await the orders which may be given for holding a Coroner's inquest Those who lost their livea were all in tbe corninghouses , and press , and washing-houses that wore fhst destroyed . The others 'were under repair , and contained but little gunpowder , enough , however , to have c . iused a melancholy additional loss of life had tbe inmates not fled from the danger when the first explosion was heard . Mr . Austin , tbe superintendent of tbe machinery , with two other persons was there . The escape ef that gentleman was almost miraculous .
He waa engaged in ascertaining the dimensions of some of the machinery , wheu the report of the blowing up of the first corning-beuBe was heard . Tbe character of the explosion was not to be mistaken by him or by thoBe who were with him , and they thoroughly understood that the question » f life or death was in that moment to be decided . One of his companions exclaimed they must run for it , and Mr . Austin found himself left alone . He rushed out of the second corning-house , in which he had heard the crash of the first , and reached the front of the buttress adjoining , wben the second explosion took place Though bewildered , be felt that bis danger was imminent , and attempted to continue his retreat He
passed from the buttress , went through the wash-house attached to it , and bad just reached the outside when the second corning house , In which he had been so recently engaged , and which joined the buttress he had that moment left , became a mass of smoking ruins . He 8 aw the glare , and could expect nothing less than tba destruction of the building by which be now stood . In this distressing situation . . wben a moment ' s pause would have cost him his life , he happily moved from tbe spot , and bad taken but a few steps when the fourth explosion occurred . A pieco of wood , as he supposes , struck him when the houses blew up . At all events he received a severe blow from some fragment of the building , from which he suffered much pu . in , but no dangerous consequences are apprehended .
The alarm ciused by this accident it is not easy to describe . A thivd and fourth building having been fired , ; from others that had exploded , distant from them some 600 feet , it was not immediately clear that thoBe which were still further off were safe . Not only Were many windows in the town , and especially in the church , broken , but the effects of tbe shock were felt at a much greater distance * A considerable number of persons yesterday repaired to Walthmi Abbey to view the ruins . On approaching the remains of the works last destroyed , a man ' s jacket and some other fragment of male attire were seen lodged in a lofty ash tree , the trunk of which had been blackened nearly up to the branches by tbe blast . A willow tree , which had stood close to the building , was almost shattered , and rafters , joists , block ? , and pieces of machinery , ard innumerable slates , had been carried across the river , and scattered to au imme se distance in the marshes . fhe last explosion here at all comparable to this occurred in 1811 . ( From the Hertford County Press . ) Position of the Buildings . —The Corning-house was built about forty-two years ago , on the banks of a stream which runs through tbe meadows north of Waltbam Abbey , its gables pointing due north and south , it is composed of two parts , separated by a traverse or buttress of solid material , 20 feet thick . In tbe first of these were , as near as cau be ascertained , about 2 300 lbs . of gunpowder , and in the second about 2 , 0001 bs . ; the explosion in the two chambers f took place almost simultaneously . It is remarkable tbe buttress was shattered but was not blown away , and it is very feasibly indeed supposed that the wind , which at the time was blowing strongly from the north , had , in whiffling round the angles carried
he gas or flitue to the second apartment . The men who lost their lives were all at work in or near these two buildings . At a distance of about one hundred and seventy yards from the southernmost of these stood the granulating house , similar to the one just spoken of , with two parts , separated by a buttress . In these several men were at work ; they hod barely sufficient time , after hearing the explosion o ! the coming-house , to escape from the building into the open air , when flakes of fire ( it was supposed ) fell upon the very roof they had just quitted , and coming in contact with the powder , of course exploded . Fortunately , those who just ran out bad got a sufficient distance , before this explosion took place , to be out of danger , with the single exception of Mr . Austin , the superintendent of
the machinery , Who was somewhat injured by a piece of solid material ( supposed to be timber ) in its deseent , which struck him on the back ; but we are happy to say tbe injury was not great , considering the risk . At a distance of seventy yards from this last building is the glazing-house , containing front twenty to thirty barrels of powder , and , strange to say , it fortunately escaped the dangerous element that had been set in motion by tbe combustibles of tbe other buildings . The buildings that have been blown up were built of the slightest materials , as all places of tbe kind are , or tbe injury would probably have been felt at a greater distance , had any considerable force been opposed to the exploding matter . Of course we cannot vouch for the accuracy of the rumours , but
there may be aoma truth in them , and , in caBes like tbo present , involving considerations for the safety of human life , independent of the preservation of property , it would be criminal in the highest degree in a public journalist to suppress for a moment any of tbe ioating opinions that may be gathered and promulgated for tbe information of the public Some attribute the explosion to a very small portion of stone or grit that : might by some means have been introduced into some parts of the machinery . Others attribute it to the friction of the machinery , supposed to arise from the too rapid revolutions of the wheels ; some again lay some blame to the master worker , the unfortunate
Mr . Sadd , who , in his lifetime , was known in waltham and among the workmen , as a very severe overlooker , or , as the principal officers under whom he served probably thought , a zealous and efficient servant Be this as it may , in the absence of any real proof as to the causes of the explosion , rumours are set afloat of the probability that the unfortunate men whose lives were lost , acting under the dread entertained of Sadd'a supervision , that they should be found loitering , had honied their work when they saw him approaching tbe building * and , in so doing , bad accelerated the revolutions of the wheels , and brought on the friction . Again we « ay , we give this as mere rumour . We cannot vouch
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* Almost incredible as it may appear , the report of the two explosions was distictly audible in tbe metropolis . In Hyde Park , about ten minutes past three o ' clock , they were heard , and amidst the prevailing stillness appeared so loud that several persons imagined them to proceed from the guns fired in celebration of her Majesty ' s accouchment .
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a THE NORTHERN STAR „ .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 22, 1843, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct930/page/6/
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