Malta. Returning home on the 25th, the Pacha was signalled by the French war-steamer Lavoisier; and Captain Olive, the Commander, was informed that the Avenger had been wrecked on the evening of the 20th. The two steamers repaired in company to the scene of the disaster; but found only some small portions of wreck floating about. It appears that, when the Avenger struck, two boats were lowered, one containing Lieutenant Rooke, the surgeon, the second master, and five seamen; but they were at once carried away from the ship, which they saw thrown upon her beamends, the sea making a clean breach over her. The boat reached the coast of Africa at Bizerta, but was swamped in the attempt to land; only five persons, including Lieutenant Rooke, gaining the shore. By the aid of some friendly Arabs, they were enabled to reach Tunis; and the French authorities there lost no time in sending off the Lavoisier to rescue any of the crew that might be still alive. Nothing, however, was found of the remains of this noble vessel except a few pieces of cabin furniture floating on the waves. The cause of the disaster appears to have been the unexpected rapidity of a current which carried them out of their course.

:

Sir William Young and Captain Charretie, pleaded "Not Guilty.' The other defendants were out of the jurisdiction of the Court, and had not pleaded. The facts of the case are shortly these:In the year 1842, a writer to the signet, named Wotherspoon, residing at Edinburgh, being desirous of procuring a military appointment for his eldest son, became acquainted with Mrs. Stewart, from whom he sought information as to the best mode of carrying out his wishes. Mrs. Stewart appears to have told Wotherspoon that a commission could be obtained by means of a considerable outlay, and in that way only. Mrs. Stewart having left Edinburgh for London, Mr. Wotherspoon shortly afterwards sent her 1,100., to be applied in obtaining a commission. Mrs. Stewart's first efforts were unsuccessful; and after some delay she returned to Mr. Wotherspoon 1,0801. In 1844, however, the negotiation was reopened, and the money was again remitted from Edinburgh. The defendant Rallett was now called in to aid the plan. Through a Mr. Trotter he obtained an introduction to Captain Charretie, secretary to the Asturias Mining Company, and through him to Sir William Young, a director, both of that company and of the East India Company. Trotter received 50l. for his aid, and the larger portion of Wotherspoon's remittance was paid to Charretie. On parting with his money on the second occasion, Wotherspoon required from Mrs. Stewart some security that the negotiation should proceed. She accordingly sent him a letter, addressed by Sir William Young to Captain Charretie, stating that he would have much plea

sure in giving an appointment to young Wotherspoon in November. Accordingly in that month the appointment was made, and the young man went out to Madras, as a cadet, in the December following. Every thing remained quiet until 1846; but in the course of some proceedings then taken against Rallett by the East India Company in respect of other transactions, the suspicions of the directors became roused, and a secret inquiry brought to light the sale of the cadetship to young Wother spoon. On these facts the present proceedings were founded. For the defence, it was admitted, on behalf of Captain Charretie, that he had introduced Mr. Wotherspoon to Sir William Young; but it was contended that no proof had been adduced of any connection between Captain Charretie and Mrs. Stewart, or that Captain Charretie had received any portion of the money. No doubt he had done wrong in asking for the appointment without sufficient in quiry, and had most improperly endeavoured to conceal the affair. For this he must suffer in the opinion of the jury; but this error, grievous as it was, did not make out the charge now preferred. The defence raised for Sir William Young was to the same effect. Against Captain Charretie, the jury found a general verdict of Guilty;" but against Sir William Young, the verdict was, "Guilty on the second count of the indictment," which charged a conspiracy to obtain the appointment by sale.

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27. PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE.Two men, named William Hatfield and Mark Clegg, the former an engine-driver and the latter a fireman, in the employ of the Lon

don and North-Western Railway Company, were brought up before the magistrates, of Manchester, charged with drunkenness and gross negligence in the discharge of their duty. of their duty. It appeared that the prisoners had charge of the night mail train from Liverpool to London on Saturday. The pointsman at the Warrington junction being at his post, waiting for the train, was surprised to hear it coming at a very rapid rate. He had been preparing to turn the points, in order to shunt the train on to the Warrington junction; but as the train did not diminish in speed, but rather increased as it approached, he, anticipating great danger if he should turn the points, determined on the instant upon letting the train take its course, and not turning them. Most fortunate was it that he exercised so much judgment and sagacity, for, in consequence of the acuteness of the curve at the Warrington junction, and the tremendous rate at which the train was proceedingnot less than forty miles an hourit does not appear that any thing could have otherwise prevented the train from being overturned, and a frightful sacrifice of human life ensuing. Meantime the train continued its frightful progress; but the mail guard, seated at the end of the train, perceiving that it was going on towards Manchester instead of staying at the junction, signalled to the engine-driver and fireman, but without effect, no notice whatever being taken of the signals. Finding this to be the case, he, at very considerable risk, passed over from carriage to carriage, till he reached the engine, where he found both the prisoners lying drunk, and insensible, from the effects of liquor. With great

difficulty the guard succeeded in stopping the train in time to prevent a collision with another train running on the same line. The magistrates sentenced both prisoners to two months' hard labour.

CONFLICT ON BOARD A SLAVER. -Accounts have been received of a sanguinary attack by the crew of a captured slaver on the prize crew, nearly resembling that recorded in our volume for 1845, in the case of the Felicidade.

"Sierra Leone.-On the 22nd of July last Her Majesty's ship Waterwitch, with Her Majesty's ship Rapid in company, captured the Brazilian brigantine Romeo Primero, which was subsequently given in charge to Lieutenant W. G. Mansfield, R.N., and four seamen, to be conveyed to St. Helena for adjudication. Owing to adverse winds, and the unmanageable qualities of the prize, the officer in command found it necessary to alter his destination, and to bear up for this place. On the 11th of August, about mid-day, two of the crew being engaged aloft and the others in the bunks, where the arms were stowed, the lieutenant, being at the moment pulling a rope which had been recently spliced, was murderously assailed from behind by one of the prisoners (who were four in number, and during the day time allowed the liberty of the vessel) with an axe used for chopping firewood. At the same moment the other prisoners furiously attacked the sailors in the bunks, who, from the unexpected nature of the assault, were driven from their post wounded and unarmed. Lieutenant Mansfield, laying hold of a piece of firewood, gallantly, but unequally, contend

ed with a Brazilian, armed with a cutlass; in the course of a desperate struggle the officer received no fewer than nine wounds, more or less severe, in the head, arms, and abdomen; a great coat which he wore being, under Providence, the means of saving him from instant death. The two sailors who had been occupied in the shrouds having reached the deck, of course unarmed, the lieutenant, nearly exhausted by profuse hæmorrhage, made a violent effort to join them, in which he fortunately proved successful, though in his progress one of the prisoners discharged at him. a marine's musket, the contents of which took effect, inflicting a most dangerous wound on his head, and bringing him for an instant to the ground. Having succeeded in recovering his feet, and gaining his men, he encouraged them to rush aft upon their armed antagonists, a piece of service which three of their number performed in the most daring manner; the fourth seaman (since dead) being hors de combat by his wounds, and the lieutenant himself fainting at the instant from loss of blood. intrepidity of the three British tars rendered them more than a match for their armed antagonists, whom they speedily overpowered, one of the prisoners leaping overboard, and perishing in the waves. Believing their officer to be killed, the seamen, in the excitement of the moment, were about to hurl the surviving prisoners over the gangway, when Lieutenant Mansfield, partially reviving, ordered them to be imprisoned, that their wounds should be washed, and that they should be reserved to be dealt with by the authorities here. On the 1st of September, the Romeo Primero, the scene of this

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bloody encounter, entered our port. Lieutenant Mansfield, who, since the day of conflict, had scarcely been able to stir hand or foot, was promptly conveyed to sick quarters, and for many days his life was entirely despaired of by his medical attendants. The gallant little crew, all wounded, were also looked after in the best manner which skill and sympathy could suggest; but, alas! two of them were soon removed beyond the reach of human succour, one dying of the direct consequences of his wounds, and the second of fever, induced by them. After a fortnight of extreme danger on shore, Lieutenant Mansfield's powerful constitution showed symptoms of triumphing over his injuries, and he is now so far convalescent as to justify sanguine hopes of his complete restoration."

The prisoners were taken before the authorities; but as the decision in the case of the Felicidade constitutes the attempt to recapture no crime, they were discharged.

COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS.-The aspect of commercial affairs has continued to improve throughout the month, although the period did not pass by without some further disastrous failures. Of these the chief were Messrs. Gates and Co., and a large East India house, whose liabilities exceed 400,000. The failure of Messrs. De Bruyn and Sons, sugar refiners, of Amsterdam, to the extent of 250,000Z., having large engagements in London, was also announced. On the other hand, the funds continued gradually to rise. Consols, which on the 30th ult. were at 861, continued throughout the month at nearly the same quotation. The specie in the Bank, which on the 4th instant amounted to 10,532,9437., on the 11th had increased to 11,032,599l., on the 18th to 11,426,1761., on the 25th to 11,991,3761, and on the 31st to 12,236,5267. Exchequer bills also began to regain their usual favour, and rose from 3s. to 12s. premium.