among themselves, of which there were several, and
they said eight of their number were killed in the fight
and thrown overboard. They quarrelled much among
themselves about the division of the plunder. Some
days afterwards, land was made, and Valentine and
another man found means to escape from the vessel.

Another Breach of Promise case was tried at
Nottingham on the 23rd. Fanny Bird, a farmer's
daughter, about four-and-twenty years of age, went in
April, 1850, to perform the duties of housekeeper for
her brother, who held a small farm and water corn-mill
at Shirland Park, in Derbyshire. Near to her
brother's house lived a family named Bansall, who soon
became intimate with their new neighbours. George
Bansall the son, twenty years old, fell in love with Miss
Bird, who was pretty, lively, and well educated for a
farmer's daughter. For some months Bansall simply
paid assiduous court to the young lady in the ordinary
way; but at length he wrote a letter formally declaring
his passion, and soliciting an instant reply. Miss Bird
did not send one. About a week after, Bansall met her
at Mansfield fair; went home in her company; declared
his love, and was accepted. The courtship now ran
smoothly; Bansall being constantly at the Birds',
writing foolish verses, and making presents. At length
Fanny found herself about to become a mother. In her
terror she told her lover: he replied, they would soon
be married; his father would take a farm for him, and
all would go well. The wedding-day was fixed, the
ring bought, the clothes made; but the farm was not
taken, and the day was adjourned. Bansall now
proposed that they should go to Australia; but their
plan failed. Another day was fixed, but Bansall did not
come; and gradually he deserted her, and she went
home. On the 23rd of October, 1851, a female child was
born. Bansall was again asked whether he intended
to marry her; but he did not reply. There was only
one course left for her friends—an action against Bansall.
The jury assessed the damages at £800.

Another Garotte Robbery has been committed at Leeds.
On the 26th, four men, named George Wood, John Bone,
John Hudson, and Robert Turner, were brought up
before the Leeds sitting justices, charged with assaulting
and robbing Michael Coleman, a carver and gilder,
residing at Huddersfield. A police officer stated that about
one o'clock on Sunday morning, while on duty at the
west end of the town, he heard a loud cry of "Murder,"
and on going to the spot, he found Michael Coleman in
Corporation-street, standing with his hat off, and bleeding
profusely about the head and face. He complained
of having been knocked down by some men, who, he said,
had robbed and nearly killed him. After endeavouring
but in vain to trace out the parties, he (the policeman)
returned to Coleman and set him off towards Woodhouse,
where he said his mother resided. About an hour later
on, he (the policeman) heard another call of "Watch."
This was on the Kirkstall road, not far from Corporation-
street, and on going to the place he met a man named
John Broadbent, who complained of three or four men
having assaulted and robbed him, and he further stated
that the men who had assailed him had walked off
towards a haystack, which he pointed out, and behind
it they found the four prisoners covered over with hay.
On two of them was found a hat, a shirt front, two
tobacco boxes, and other articles belonging to Coleman,
the man who was first robbed. Coleman himself was
too ill to attend to give evidence against the prisoners,
who were remanded.

At the Derby election, a person named Morgan was
found with money in his possession, and documents
proving that he was engaged in Bribery. Amongst
other things, there was the following letter, addressed
to "Mr. John Frail, Clerk of the Course, Shrewsbury "—

"A good and safe man, with judgment and quickness, is
wanted immediately at Derby. I suppose that you cannot
leave your own place; if not, send some one whom you can trust
in your place. Let him go to Derby on receiving this, and find
the County Tavern, in the centre of the town, and send his card
to Cox, Brothers, and Company, lead-works, as coming from
Chester; that will he enough.                           W.B.
'Monday."

An investigation took place before the magistrates,
and a Mr. Keogh, who had been secretary of the
Reading and Reigate Railway, at which time Major
William Beresford was chairman, stated that the
letter and the address on the envelope were in the
handwriting of Major William Beresford, M.P., now
Secretary at War. Bribery by Morgan was proved by
a butcher, whose name was marked 1053 in Morgan's
pocket book, and who admitted that he had taken £2
to vote for Horsfall. Morgan was committed, but
afterwards liberated on bail, himself on £300, and two
sureties in £150 each.

A fracas has taken place between Mr. Digby Seymour,
the newly returned member for Sunderland, and Mr.
Campbell Foster. Mr. Seymour used expressions in
one of his election-speeches which were considered
injurious to Mr. Campbell Foster. A mutual friend
interfered, and obtained an expression of regret from
Mr. Seymour. But the two gentlemen afterwards met
in York Castle, and a dispute arose as to whether
Mr. Seymour's letter was an apology. Angry words
were exchanged, and were succeeded by a regular
boxing-match. Bystanders interfered, and the learned
pugilists were taken before Lord Campbell and Mr.
Justice Wightman; there admonished on the great
impropriety of their conduct, and bound on their own
recognizances in £500 each to keep the peace for six
months.

NARRATIVE OF ACCIDENT AND
DISASTER.

THE Duchess of St. Albans and Lady Beauclerk met
with a Dangerous Accident on the 30th June. The
Duchess had visited the exhibition of the Botanical
Society in the Regent's Park, and was crossing the
ornamental basin in her carriage by the bridge: suddenly
the box on which the coachman and footman were
sitting gave way. The footman managed to gain his
legs, but the coachman fell. The horses, being unchecked,
plunged violently, and started off. Before they passed
through the gates, the coachman, fortunately, got
extricated; he had apparently received no hurt, for he got
up directly, and ran after the carriage, followed by the
footman. The horses went at their utmost speed
towards Marylebone Church; where they came in
collision with the iron railings in front of the portico,
two bars of which were snapped; both the horses fell,
and it was found afterwards that one of them had its
neck broken. The ladies were taken from the carriage
unhurt.

A terrible Steam-boat Collision happened in the
Thames, off Northfleet, on the 1st inst. The Ravensbourne,
bound for Antwerp, was running down the
river with full tide in her favour, almost in the wake (a
little on the star-board quarter) of the Meteor, Gravesend
steamer, and was nearly opposite Northfleet at two
o'clock. Near Northfleet point, the Margate steamship,
Duchess of Kent, was met coming up against the
tide, hugging the Kentish shore closely. The Ravensbourne
was about three parts over towards that shore,
and as she came near to the point, she seemed to take
the starboard tack, which would bring her nearer to the
Kentish shore. The Duchess of Kent was crossing over
from the point, and was trying to go between the
Ravensbourne and the Meteor, when the Ravensbourne
came full upon her bows, about twenty feet from her
figure-head, and stove her in to such an extent that she
immediately began to fill, and in nine minutes of time
she went down head-foremost, in deep water. A dreadful
scene ensued. There were from seventy to a hundred
persons—many ladies and children—in the sinking
steamer. Some were got on board the Ravensbourne.
The Meteor approached alongside and took off the rest,
except a Mr. Hale, who was too infirm to move. This
gentleman went down with the vessel; but when in
water he rose, and kept afloat till a boat took him up.
In the confusion of the moment, it was rumoured that
some passengers were missing; but it was ultimately
found that all escaped. The Ravensbourne was so little
damaged that she proceeded on her voyage.

A gallant act has been performed by Mr. G. H.
Bowden, a young gentleman of Eton. A gentleman was
rowing near Windsor; his boat upset in shallow water;