The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

MR. RICHARD BETHELL AGAIN. The Leeds Scandal. Ex officio informations arising out of this matter were filed in the Crown-office at the instance of Sir Roundell Palmer, her Majesty's Attorney-General. They are laid against the Hon. Richard Augustus Bethell and Patrick Thomas Welch, and the offences charged are set out with great particularity. The information against Mr. Bethell contains thirteen counts, the first of which charges him with having, on the 6th of May, 1864, received and taken from one Patrick Thomas Welch a certain sum of money, to wit, < £ 1,000, as a reward for hia interest and recom- mendation in and about a certain office touching concerning the administration of justice, to wi, the RegistrarBhip of the Leeds District Court of an. ruptcy, contrary to the statute in that case_ made and provided. The second and third counts oharge sub. stantially the same offence; but each aJlegea that the reward taken was a certain bill of exoha.ngefor £500; and the fourth count again Istat- that the reward was a certain sum of money- The next four counts vary the allegation of the offenoe, and say that the said Richard Augustus oethell corruptly and un. lawfully contracted and agreed. wIth the said Patrick Thomas Welch to the aots specified for the considera. tions already mentioned- ^abssqaent counts again state the reward as cop^sting in the cancellation or destruction of certain bills of exchange or promissory notes for £500 each of which forms the subject of a separate count; and the 13th count describes the of- fence as receiving from Patrick Thomas Welch a cer- tain sum of money for influence, &o., by him pretended to be used. The information against Mr. Welch con- tains fourteen counts, and alleges he received, or con- trasted to receive, the money and bills which Mr. Bethell is charged with giving or contracting to give, nd that he paid or engaged to pay for the influence, interest, and recommendation which Mr. Bethell was to use oil his behalf. The informations were lodged bo Song1 ago as November last, but when any farther steps will be taken in the matter we are unable to say.

FOUNDERING OF THE STEAMSHIP LONDON. Loss of 270 Lives. PLYMOUTH, JANUARY 16 (EVENING). Messrs. Money, Wigram, and Sons' steamship London, Captaia Martin, from London for Melbourne, has foundered at sea with about 270 souls on board. The survivors—sixteen of the crew and three passen- gers--were landed at Falmouth to-day by the Italian barque Marianople. The chief officer among them, Mr. John Greenhill, the engineer, reports as fol- lows We left Plymouth on Jan. 6. On the 7th we ex- perienced heavy weather, with rain. 8th. The same. 9th. Lost jibboom and foretopmast, topgallant mast, and royal mast. About nine a.m. we lost the port lifeboat, a heavy gale prevailing at the time. On the lQfcfe, at three a.m., the ship put about, intending to run back to Plymouth. About the same time the starboard lifeboat was washed overboard by a heavy sea, which also stove the starboard cutter. At noon, lat. 46.8 N.,long. 0.87 W., we were shipping heavy saaa, which carried away the engine-room hatch, the water going down and putting the fires out. The passengers were bailing the water out of the ship with backets. JAN. 11. -The gale was still increasing, with heavy cross seas, nearly all coming over the ship. During the morning all that could were trying to stop the leak in the engine-room hatch, but to no purpose. About foora.m. four of the stern-ports were stove in. Efforts wejre made to stap them, but it was found to be im. possible. At ten a.m. lowered the starboard pinnace, which foundered. At one p.m. we could see the ship gradually sinking, it being then as low in the water as the main chain. At two p.m. the following persons left in the port cutterD. G. Wain, John Munro, and J. E. Wilson, passengers; John Greenhill, engineer; John Jones, second engineer; John Armour, third engineer; Thomas Browa, fireman W. M. Edwards, tnidshieman; D- T. Smith, boatswain s mate; William Daniels quartermaster; John King, Benjamin Shield, Richard Lewis, James Gough, Edward Quin, able sea- men William Crimes, ordinary seaman; A. G. White, boatswain's boy; William Hart, carpenter's mate; aqd Edward Gardner, second-class steward. About five minutea after leaving the vessel we saw her go down stern foremost, with about 270 patrons on board, all of whom are supposed to have perished. There were two other boats getting ready when we left, but they were too late. n ."The above-named persons who were saved were Picked up by the Marianople, and treated with the greatest kindness by her captain, Curasa. (Signed) "JOHN GREENHILL, Engineer." The survivors were driven before the gale in the matter for twenty hours before they were picked up, and had one very narrow escape of being swamped, the boat being half filled with water. The London's pumps were kept working by a donkey engine up to the last moment. The following persons are known at Plymouth to have been among the London's cabin passengers:— Mr. and Mrs. Kuen, Mrs. Hybert, Miss Cotting, Mr. and Mrs. Debenham, Dr. Woolley, Mrs. Owen and child, Mr. and Mrs. Bevan, Mr. and Mrs. Clark, Mr., Mrs., Miss, and Master Thomas, Miss Maunder, Mrs. and Miss King, Miss Yaughan, Miss McLaehlan, Mr. and Mrs. Amos, Mrs. Trail and child, Mr. and Mrs. Draper, Mr. and Mrs. Fenton and family, Mr., Mrs., Miss, and Master Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. Urquhart, Masara. De Pass, Palma, H. J. Dennis, Marks, Brown, McMillan, Sanditands, Clark, Alderson, Lewin, ^-itciak, Borrell, Robertson, Benson, Smith, Vaughan, Yoangman, J. Richardson, Tennant, and Brooks.

A NIGHT IN A WORKHOUSE. At about nine o'clock on the evening of Monday, th 8bh inst., a neat but unpretentious carriage might have been seen turning cautiously from the Kenning- ton-road into Princes-road, Lambeth. The curtains were closely drawn, and the coachman wore an unusually responsible air. Approaching a public- house, which retreated a little from the street, he pulled np; but not so close that the lights should fall upon the carriage door, not so distant as to unsettle the mind of any one who chose to imagine that he had halted to drink beer before proceeding to call for the children at a juvenile party. He did not dismount, nor did any one alight in the usual way; but any keen observer who happened to watch his intelligent countenance might have seen a fur- tive glance directed to the wrong door— that is to say, to the door of the carriage which opened into the dark and muddy road. From that door emerged a sly and ruffianly figure, marked with every sign of squalor. He was dressed in what had once been a snuff-brown coat, but which had faded to the hue of bricks imperfectly baked. It was not strictly a ragged coat, though it had lost its cuffs-a bereavement which obliged the wearer's arms to pro- ject through the sleeves two long inelegant inches. The coat altogether was too small, and was only made to meet over the chest by means of a bit of twine. This wretched garment was surmounted by a birds- eye" pocket-handkerchief of cotton, wisped about the throat hangman fashion; above all was a battered billy-cockhat, with a dissolutedrooping brim. Between the neckerchief and the lowering brim of the hat appeared part of a face, unshaven, and not scrupu- lously clean. The man's hands were plunged into his pockets, and he shuffled hastily along in boots, which were the boots of a tramp indifferent to miry ways. In a moment he was out of sight, and the brougham, after waiting a little while, turned about and somfort- ably departed. This mysterious figure was that of the present writer. He was bound for Lambeth Workhouse, there to learn by actual experience how casual paupers are lodged and fed, and- what the casual" is like, and what the porter who admits him, and the master who rules over him; and how the night passes with the outcasts whom we have all seen crowding about work- house doors on cold and rainy nights. Much has been said on the subject—on behalf of the paupers-on behalf of the officials; but nothing by any one who, with no motive but to learn and make known the truth, had ventured the experiment of passing a night in a workhouse and trying what it actually is to be a The'day had been wm3y ana chilly—the night was cold; and therefore I fully expected to begin my ex- periences among a dozen of ragged wretches squatting about the steps and waiting for admission. But my only companion at the door waa a decently dressed woman, whom, as I afterwards learnt, they declined to admit until she had recovered from a fit of intoxi- cation from which she had the misfortune to be still suffering. I lifted the big knocker, and knocked; the door was promptly opened and I entered. Just within, a comfortable-looking clerk sat at a comfortable desk, ledger before him. Indeed, the spacious hall in every way was as comfortable as cleanliness and great mats: and plenty of gaslight could make it. What do you want? asked the man who opened the door. I want a lodging." "Go and stand before the desk," aaid the porter, and I obeyed. "Yon are latev" said the clerk. Am I, sir P yes. If you come in you'll have a bath, andyouUl have to sleep in the shed." Very well, sir." "■ What's your name ? "Joshua Mason, sin," What are you ? "An engraver." (This taradiddle I invented to account for the look of my hands.) "Where did you sleep last night ?" "Hammersmith," I answered-as I hope to be for- given. How many times have you been here-? Never before, sir." "Where do you mean to go to when you are turned out in the morning? Back to Hammersmith, air." These humble answers being entered in a book, the clerk called to the porter, saying, Take him through. You may as well take his bread with you." Near the clerk stood a basket containing some pieces of bread of equal size. Taking one of these, and unhitching a bunch of keys from the wall, the porter led me through some passages all so scru- pulously (dean that my most serious misgivings were laid to rest. Then we passed into a dismal yard. Crossing this, my guide led me to a door, calling out, Hillo! Daddy, I've brought you another!" Where- upon Daddy opened unto us, and let a little of his gas- light stream into the dark where we stood. Come in," said Daddy, very hospitably. There's enough of you to-night, anyhow! What made you so late p I didn't like to come in earlier." "Ah! That's a pity, now, because you've missed your skilliay (gruel). It's the first night of skilley, doa't you know, under the new Act ?" Just like my luck!" I muttered dolefully. The porter went his way, and I followed Daddy into another apartment, where were ranged three great baths, each one containing a liquid so disgust? ingly like weak mutton broth that my worst appre- hensions crowded back. Come on, there's a dry plaob to stand on up at this end," said Daddy, kindly. "Take off your clothes, tie 'em up in your hank'sher, and I'll look 'em up till morning." Accordingly I took off my coat and waistcoat, and was about te tie them together, when Daddy cried; "That ain't enough; I mean everthing." "Not my shirt, sir, I suppose P "Yes, shirt and all; but there, I'll lend you a shirt," said Daddy. "Whatever you take in of your own will be nailed, you know. You might take in your boots, though-they'd. be handy if you happened to want to leave the shed for anything; but don't blame me if you lose'em." With a fortitude for which I hope some day to ba rewarded, I made up my bundle (boots and all), and the moment Daddy's face was turned away shut my eyes and plunged desperately into the mutton broth. I wish from the bottom of my heart my courage nau been less hasty, for hearing the splash, Daddy looked *ound and said, "Lor, now! there was no occasion. that; you look a clean and decent sort of man. srlf them filthy beggars (only he used a word more uae°fcKC t^an filthy") that want washing. Don't and towel—here's a clean one! That's the sort! your shirt" (handing me a blue striped 0 a heap), and here's your ticket. No. 34, y?.u i a ticket to match is tied to your bundle* Ji ii ?'t lose it. They'll nail it from you if they fata^Qe* Pat it under your head. This is your U wjt^ you.» « Show yo^?. ale6l>' P!ea39' sir ?" And so he did. With no other rag but the checked shirt to cover and with my rug over my shoulder, he accompanwtl me to the door at whioh I entered, and, opening it, kept landing with naked feet on the stone threshold, mu in the draught 0f the frosty air while he pointed ou„ t,ne way I should go. It was not a long way, but 1 would have given much not to have trodden it. It was open as the highway—with flag stones below and the stars overhead, and, as I said before, and cannot help saying again, a frosty wind was blowing. h Straight across," said Daddy, to where you see the light shining through. Go in there, and turn to the> left, and you'll find the beds in a heap. Take one of 'em and make yourself comfortable." And straight across I went, my naked feet seeming to cling to the stones as though they were burning hot instead of icy cold (they had just stepped out of a bath you should remember), till I reached the spaee through which the light was shining, and I entered in. No language with which I am acquainted is capable of conveying an adequate conception of the spectacle I then encountered. Imagine a space of about 30ft. by 30ft. enclosed on three sides by a dingy whitewashed wall, and roofed with naked tiles which were furred with the damp and filth that reeked within. As for the fourth side of the shed, it was boarded in for (say) a third of its breadth; the remaining space being hung with flimsy canvas, in which was a gap 2ft. wide at top, widening to at least 4ft. at bottom. This far too airy shed was paved with stone, the flags so thickly incrusted with filth that I mistook it first for a floor of natural earth. Extendingfromone end of my bedroom to the other, in three rows, were certain iron cranks" (of which I subsequently learnt the use), with their many arms raised in various at- titudes, as the stiffened arms of men are on a battlefield. My bedfellows lay among the cranks, distributed over the flagstones in a double row, on narrow bags scantily stuffed with hay. At one 'glance my appalled vision took in thirty of them—thirty men and boys stretched upon shallow pallets, with but only six inches of comfortable hay between them and the stony floor. These beds were placed close together, every occupant being provided with a rug like that which I was fain to hug across my shoulders. In not a few cases two gentlemen had olubbed beds and rugs and slept together. In one case (to be further mentioned presently) four gentle- men had so clubbed together. Many of my fellow casuals were awake, others asleep, or pretending to sleep; and, shocking as were the waking ones to look upon, they were quite pleasant when compared with the sleepers. For this xeaaon, the practised and well. seasoned casual seems to have a peculiar way of putting himself to bed. He rolls himself in his rug, tucking himself in, head and feet, so that he is sompletely en- veloped and, lying quite still on his pallet, he looks pre- cisely like a corpse covered because of its hideousness. Some were stretched out at full length; some lay nose and knees together; some with an arm or a leg ,showing crooked through the coverlet. It was like the result of a railway accident; these ghastly figures were awaiting the coroner. From the moral point of view, however, the wakeful ones were more dreadful still. Towzled, dirty, villanous, they squatted up in their beds, and smoked foul pipes, and sang snatches of horrible songs, and bandied jokes so obscene as to be absolutely appalling. Eight or ten were so enjoying themselves-the majority with. the check shirt on and the frowsy rug pulled about their legs; but two or three wore no shirts at all, squatting naked to the waist, their bodies fully exposed in the light of the single flaring jet of gas fixed high up on the wall. My entrance excited very little attention. There was a horse-pail three parts full of water standing by a post in the middle of the shed, with a little tin pot beside it. Addressing me as old pal," one of the naked ruffians begged me to "hand him a swig," as he was werry nigh garspin." Such an appeal of course no old pal" could withstand, and I gave him a pot full of water. He showed himself grateful for the attention. "I should lay over there if I was you," he said, pointing to the left side of the shed; "it's more out of the wind than this here side is." I took the good-natured advice and (by this time shivering with cold) stepped over the stones to where the beds of straw bags were heaped, and dragged one of them to the spot suggested by my naked com- rade. But I had no more idea of how to arrange it tiian of making' an apple pudding:, and a certain little discovery added much to my embarrassment. In the middle of the bed I had selected was a stain of blood bigger than a man's hand! I did not know what to do now. To lie on such a horrid thing seemed im- possible yet to carry back the bed and exchange it for another might betray a degree of fastidiousness repugnant to the feelings of my fellow lodgers, and possibly excite suspicion that I was not what I seemed. Jast in the nick of time in came that good man Daddy. What! not pitched yet? "he exclaimed; "here, I'll show you. Hallo ¡ somebody's been a bleedin' Never mind; let's turn him over. There you are, you see! Now lay down, and cover your rug over you." There was no help for it. It was too late to go back. Down I lay, and spread the rug over me. I should have mentioned that I brought in with me a cotton handkerchief, and this I tied round my head by way of a nightcap but not daring to pull the rog as high as my face. Before I could in any way settle my mind to reflection, in came Daddy once more to do me a further kindness and point out a stupid blunder I had committed. "Why, you are a rummy chap!" said Daddy. You forgot your bread Lay hold. And look here, I've brought you another rug; it's perishing cold to. night." So saying, he spread the rag over my legs and went away. I was very thankful for the extra covering, but I was in a dilemma about the bread. I couldn't possibly eat it; what then was to be done with it ? I broke it, however, and in view of such of the company as might happen to be looking made a ferocious bite at a bit as large as a bean, and munched violently. By good luck, however, I pre- sently got half-way over my difficulty very neatly. Just behind me, so close, indeed, that their feet came within half a yard of my head, three lads were sleeping together. Did you hear that, Punch ? one of them asked. "'Ear what?" answered Punch, sleepy and snappish. "Why, a cove forgot his toke! Gordstruth! you wouldn't ketch me a forgettin' mine." You may have half of it, old pal, if you're hungry," I observed, leaning up on my elbows. "Chuck it here, good lack to yer?" replied my young friend, starting up with an eager clap of his dirty hands. I "chucked it here," and, slipping the other-half under the side of my bed, lay my head on my folded arms. Here I must break my narrative. In doing so per- mit me to assure your readers that it is true and faithful in every particular. I am telling a story which cannot all be told—some parts of it are far too shocking; but what I may tell has. not a single touch false colou-- in it.-Pall Hall Gazette.

APPALLING LIFEBOAT ACCIDENT. Twelve Lives Lost. At noon on Saturday a most terrible and melan- choly catastrophe ocaurred at Gorleston, a village near Great Yarmouth, which has resulted in the loss of no fewer than twelve brave and experienced boat- men. The facts are all follows:- In the, forenoon a vessel, with a signal of distress in her maintopmast rigging, was observed to be run- ning northwards through the Roads; and at once the lifeboats, Rescuer and Friend of All Nations, were fully manned, and proceeded out of the harbour in order to render her whatever assistance she might require. The wind at the time was blowing a gale from S.S.W. The sea. was rather rough, and there was an exceedingly nasty swell on the bar, the. tide being last quarter ebb. Both lifeboats were under double-reefed sails, tha Rescuer being just ahead and on the port side of the Friend of All Nations. As they passed over the bai, the water upon which was very shallew, the Rescuer touehed tb a groutid, in con- sequence of which her rudder became unshipped. At this moment a heavy sea struck her, and she caught the ground and immediately turned ovor, bottom up- wards, the crew, numbering sixteen hands, being un- derneath. Two of these-Robert Warner, sen., and George Palmer—managed to get from under her sides, and were rescued by means of boathooks by the crew of the other lifeboat, which was instantly brought to anchor. The Friend of all Nations was then veered round and proceeded after the Rescuer, which in the meantime had beaten over the North Sands, bottom upwards, with two of her crew—Ed- ward Hoods, jun., and H. Austrin-who:had succeeded in getting on to her keel. The Friend of all Nations came up with her after she had drifted about three- quarters of a mile, and managed to take off the two above-named men who were in a very exhausted state. Every effort was made by the Friend of all Nations to recover the rest of the unfortunate man, but without success, as not a man of them was to be seen. The crew of the Rescuer were all experienced boat- man, and it should be stated that the crew at the time of the accident were not protected by life-belts.. and wore their ordinary clothing, consisting of Guernsey frocks, oily jackets, and heavy sea boots. Ai catastrophe so appalling has not occurred on this coast for many years, and has spread a gloom not only over the hamlets of Gorleston and Southtown, to which the men belonged, but over the whole town of Yarmouth.

A SINGULAR. TRIAL AND AN EX- TRAORDINARY VERDICT. The extraordinary trial of Hill v. Finney," in the Nisi Prius Court, London Guildhall, came to a singular conclusion on Monday evening. We need not alludo to the details of the case further than to say that the plaintiff wished to disprove the charges made against him in the Divorce Court, that he had been guilty of revolting cruelty to his wife. It was not disguised by the plaintiff's counsel that the future of their client depended upon the verdict of the jury. The trial began several days before Christmas, and was resumed again on Friday, continuing over Saturday and Mon- day. The cause of complaint was thus steted:-That Captain Hill's wife had filed a petition against him in the Divorce Court for a judicial separation on the ground of cruelty; that he had employed the de. fendant Finney as his attorney in the suit, and that he had a good defence in it; but that the defendant advised him to consent to a decree for a judicial separation, ignorantly or negligently as. suring him that if he did so, evidence upon the charges contained in the petition would not be taken that upon this assurance the plaintiff did give such consent, but that evidence was taken whereby, it being un- answered, his character had been greatly injured. The defendant, by pleading Not Guilty," denied the alleged negligence, and he likewise pleaded denying that the plaintiff, his client, had a good defence in the suit. Mr. Coleridge, Dr. Tristram, and Mr. J. B. Maule (who has gone to Jamaica), were for the plaintiff Mr. Karslake and Mr. Watkin Williams were for the de- fendant. The evidence was concluded at the last sittings. The final addresses of counsel on each side occupied Friday and Saturday, and nearly the whole of Mon- day was occupied in summing up, which was so humorous and eloquent that it was listened to by a large audience, notwithstanding its length, with the most marked interest and attention, but of which space will only permit us to give the substance. The Lord Chief Justice, in a most elaborate sum- ming up, which lasted over five hours, left the impres- sion upon those present that he was in favour of a verdict for the plaintiff as to part of the issue relating to the defence in the former suit-viz., that there was a defence on the charge of cruelty, but that there was no defence on the ground of adultery; and for the 11 vI defendant upon the issue as to the negligent adviee alleged. The jury, who retired about a quarter to four to consider of their verdict, were absent for a long time. There were certain indications while they were in the jury-box of a division of opinion, and when two hours had passed away without their returning into court, it was doubted whether they would agree into court, it was doubted whether they would agree to a verdict. Three hours had more than elapsed before they came back to their box, and the foreman read from a paper the following ifadings:- "1. That there was a defence as to the charges of cruelty. "2. That there was not a defence on the ground of the recriminatory charge of adaltery. 3. That the plaintiff did not lose the benefit of his defence through the advice of the defendant, as alleged by the plaintiff." This, it will: be seen, was in accordance with the view understood to be conveyed by the summing up; and, of course, virtually it amounted, and was under- stood by all who heard it, to be meant, however, as a verdict for the defendant. The foreman was going on to state a finding as to damages, when The Lord Chief Justice interposed, and pointed out that their findings amounted to a verdict for the de- fendant, so that no damages could be given. The foreman said. it was not so understood. The Lord Chief Justice: Why you see, gentlemen, the plaintiff must have a cause of, action in order to recover damages, and, as I told you, he could only recover on the ground that the defendant gave him the alleged advice, which you have negatived, so that he cannot upon those findings be entitled to recover damages. The foreman said he believed his brethren had agreed to their findings on the supposition that they would be enabled to award damages. The Lord Chief Justice: That would not be so. The plaintiff's case consisted of two parts-that he had a defence, and that he lost it by the defendant's advice. You have negatived the latter, so that he cannot recover. The jary thereupon desired to retire, and did so. Daring their absence, Mr. W. Williams, one of the defendant's counsel, rose, and submitted that the findings of the jury amounted in law to a verdict for the defendant, and that therefore there was nothing further for them to consider. The Lord Chief Justice said certainly they ought not to alter their findings in order to give the plaintiff damages, and assuming those findings, of course the effect was a verdict for the defendant, and he had already sent for the jury to tell them so. The jury, having been sent for, returned into court, and The Lord Chief Justice addressed them in these terms: Gentlemen, it has occurred to me that I should not be discharging my duty either to the parties or to you if I allowed you to retire to reconsider your verdict without giving you a word of warning. You have, after several hours' consideration, solemnly recorded your deliberate verdict, that in your judg. ment the defendant did not give the advice complained of, and which forms the ground of the action. It seems, however, that some of you, having found the other issue in favour of the plaintiff, desire to give him damages; but that you cannot do. You cannot give damages against the defendant when you have ac. quitted' him of that which was the ground of action. You have come to a conclusion in favour of the defendant. You cannot, because you are disappointed in your intention of giving damages to the plaintiff, swerve from the verdict you have already deliberately adopted and deliberately returned. The jury, the majority of whom appeared by their gestures to assent to what was thus said, consulted among themselves, and then one of them said some- thing about an inconsistency between their findings. The Lord Chief Justice said: There is no incon- sistency at all, gentlemen. Your findings are perfectly clear and consistent. You have found that the plaintiff had a defence, but that he did not lose it by the defendant's fault. But the ground of action against the defendant rests partly upon the latter part of the case, which you have negatived; and, as you have negatived an essential part of his case, you cannot give him damages. One of the jury (the one who had put the point about the absence of Mr. Wood, and had put another point in the course of the summing up in favour of the plaintiff) desired again to retire, and accordingly the jury once more retired. After half an hour's absence they came back, and The foreman said: My lord, we return a simple verdict for the plaintiff-damages, one farthing. This seemed to surprise every one, and The Lord Chief Justioe, after a silence of several moments, said: I am afraid that will be an abortive result. You find for the plantiff, and you give a farth- ing damages. The foreman said that was so—that was their verdict. The Lord Chief Justice (after another pause): Then do I understand that you now find the defendant did give the advice alleged ? The Foreman: We do. We find that it was given. The Lord Chief Justice (in a tone somewhat con- temptuous) Why that is inoonsistent with your former finding! The foreman said that was their finding. The Lord Chief Juato?6: You think that the plain- tiff is entitled to a verdict, but not to damages; that he has lost his defence through the defendant's fault, but that he has suffered no loss ? The Foreman: Yes; but we desire to give him another start in life; a new trial in the world, so to speak. The Lord Chief Justice: I understand you. It is evidently the result of a compromise, and may make worthless this ten dar' trial. Your former findings satisfied, I think, the justice of the case. However, such is your verdict Dr. Tristam, one of the plaiatiffs counsel, said that was all he wantad. The Lord CMef Justice:. What a, farthing damages, (a laugh) ? Dr. Tristam: No; a new start in life. Ihe Lord Chief Justice: Well, there is the verdict. Verdict for the plaintiff—Damages, one farthing. It was now just upon eight o'clook, and the audience, amid audible laughter and murmurs, dispersed.

DESTR-UC TIVE FIRE AT ROTHERHITHE. Eebrly on Tuesday morning a fire occurred at Rother- nithe, destroying in a few hours manufactured goods of very great value in the aggregate, and the building containing them—a large warehouse of two floors, covering about three-quarters of an acre of ground, with a frontage towards the Thames. The premises were situated in Rotherhithe-street, directly opposite the entrance to the Thames-tannel on the Surrey side of the river, and were in the occupation of Mr. H. Levy, a sack manufacturer in a large way of business. si5 secoa(* occasion within the last five years that Mr. Lavy's warehouse and stock there have baen destroyed by fire, and the building which was burnt on this-occasion had been erected on the site of one which perished in a fire on the night of the 20th of June, 1861, a day or two before the memorable con- flagration near London-bridge. It consisted of two floors, about 85 feet by 60 feet, and was densely packed with new sacks, tightly pressed in bales and gunny bags, which, being made of jute, were extremely inflammable. The fire broke out about half-past two in the morning, in a corner of the upper floor, and on the land side of the building. It was speedily fanned into a flame by a smart breeze from the south-west, and in half an hour afterwards the place was in a blaze, lighting up the whole district for miles round. It carried its own alarm to the head-quarters of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade in Watling-street, and Captain Shaw, the chief superintendent, with a num- bar of men and engines, proceeded to the spot. En- gineer Gerard, from the Lucas-street fire station, which is in the immediate neighbourhood, had re- ceived a verbal summons previously, and was at the scene of the fire with an engine and five men when the rest of the brigade arrived. Altogether four powerful laiid steamers, two hand engines, and a floating engine, with forty-six men, were engaged in extin- guishing the fire; but, in spite of them, it was not under control until about six in the morning, and the rums continued to smoulder throughout the whole of the day. It was at its height about four in the morn- ing. By that time the floor, extending throughout the whole length of the building, and which had given way in places as the fire progressed and the mesal pillars supporting it became red hot, had fallen in with a crash, as had also the roof. Presently afterwards the main waJl en the south side toppled over into Rotherhithe-street, and then that fronting the river, leaving only the two gables standing, with an immense mass of inflammable material blazing between. The building was fortu- nately isolated on all sides, and the wind blew towards the river, so that the fire was confined to it, though it scorched an adjoining granary in the occupation of Mr. A. F. Timothy. It is somewhat remarkable that the same Mr. Timothy's premises there were destroyed by fire about a year ago, as were those adjoining Mr. Levy, the present safferer, a few years ago. More remarkable still is the fact that during he fire of Tuesday morning the workshop of Messrs. Shuttle and Ward, boatbuilders, Church street, in the same neighbourhood, caught fire, and a young man related to Mr. Shuttle, one of the firm, was found upon the premises, jUff¡ after the fire was discovered, under circumstances which induced the police, whose suspicions had been excited, to take him before a magistrate at Green- wich, by whom he was remanded, after undergoing a preliminary examination. A match and a pipe were found upon him, and his explanation was that he was on his way home from the fire at Mr. Levy's ware- house when found near his uncle's workshop, where the fire had just broken out: but the police say that was out of the direct way to his residence. As it happened, the fire was put out before it became serious, but not before some unfinished work had been burnt. Besides, two separate fires were found on the premises when the alarm was given. There was also a fire at night in the premises of the same firm of boat-builders a few months ago. Both the building and stock in the case of Mr. Lavy are understood to be insured, as are also those of Mr. Timothy, some of whose stock was slightly damaged by water. As ta Mr. Levy's stock, there will be considerable salvage.

ltIORE SHIPPING DISASTERS. On Tuesday, the large American ship Excelsior. which left Liverpool on the 26th December last, for New York, under command of Captain Pendleton, put back to Liverpool in a very disabled state. Sle had scarcely got clear of the Irish coast than she en- countered that terrific Christmas storm from the westward, notwithstanding which Captain Pendleton endeavoured to force kis way to the west; but after several ineffectual attempts he was compelled to re- linquish the task, and seek safety by running before the wind. Even this resouroe was not unaccompanied with danger, as the Excelsior's sails were all carried away clear out of the gaskets, the boats were all stove in, the decks swept, and, on the whole, the vessel was so buffetted about as to make her entry into tha Mersey in a very leaky condition. Captain Pendleton states, on the 14th inst., at two p.m., when in lat. 51.6 N., long. 9.15 W., he spoke the screw steamer Leinhard, Captain Muller, of Amster- dam, in a very crippled state. The steamer had lost her rudder, and had also been damaged in her hull and rigging. The vessel appeared to be in great dis- tress and to labour very hard in the sea, and the captain desired Captain Pendleton to report his condi- tion, if possible, to two steam-tugs and send them to his assistance, as his vessel was fast drifting to the E.S.E. on the Irish coast. The Lily, which left Liverpool on the 18th December for Madeira, put back to the Mersey on Tuesday in a disabled state, having also encountered the late gales.

FOUNDERING OF THE AMALIA STEAM- SHIP. The total loss of this large steamer, one of the new line of steamers recently established in connection with an overland route to India from Liverpool, was made known in the City on Tuesday, and from the very heavy amount of insurances effeoted on her at Lloyd's and different marine insurance off--laearlv < £ 250,000—her wreck excited considerable interest. The Amalia was a first-class steamer, 3,000 tons burthen, and was owned by Messrs. Pagavanni and Co., of Liverpool. She was constructed under special survey, at Glasgow, in 1860. She had six bulkheads, was 277 feet long, 37 feet beam, 25 feet 6 inches depth of hold, and was fitted with engines of 280 horse power. She left Liverpool on Saturday, the 6th inst., with a very heavy oargc) for Malta and Alexandria, and the pilot left her at o.30 that afternoon—all well. Nothing further was heard until Monday, when the Laconia steamer reached Liverpool, and broag ut intelli- gence of the Amalia, having foundered, being a total loss in the Bay of Biscay on the 12th instant, after six days beating about in a very heavy gale. The passen- gers ana crew were saved by the Laconia. The Amalia foundered in lat. 46.31 N., long. 8.40 W. All t £ e officers, crew, and passengers lost their baggage and everything belonging to them. The loss of the steamer is attributable Aainly to the bunkers not being fitted with lid coverings.

During the week ending January 13, the visitors to the South Kensington Museum were aa follows:- On Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday, free days, open from ten a.m. to ten p-Hk, 9,809; on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, students' days (admission to the public, 6d.), open from ten a.m. to four p.m., 1,262. Total, 12,016. From the opening of the museum, 5,757,584. Accident to a Wild Beast-tamer.—An alarm- ing incident has just occurred at the Cirque Napoleon, during the performance of the wild beast-tamer, Batty, while in a cage with five lions. He had placed his head in the mouth of a lioness, at the same time holding his hands behind his baok, when a convulsive movement of the animal's jaws caused its teeth to inflict deep scratches on eaoh side of the man's fore- head, from which blood flowed profusely. A cry of horror arose from the spectators, and numbers made a rush to leave the building; but Batty, without losing his presence of mmd, called for a pocket- handkerchief, wiped the traces of the accident from his face, and then firing a revolver to drive the animals from before the door of the cage, quietly withdrew to get his wounds dressed. The director has now decided that the part of the performance which consists of the tamer's head being introduced into the mouth of one of the animals shall henceforth be discontinued. The wounds turned out to be slight. —GoMc.n-i.