men, who looked as if they would have fought to the death in the breaches, if such had been the will of their chief. They brought camels and horses and large bundles of things along with them. These, together with their arms, were placed in charge of the prize-agents as they passed. At last came Moolraj, his brethren, and chiefs. He was gorgeously attired in silks and splendid arms, and rode a magnificent Arab steed, which bore no marks of suffering or privation. No small curiosity was experienced to discover the appearance of one who had maintained a defence obstinate and protracted beyond any related in the annals of modern warfare. He but little exceeded the middle size; was powerfully but elegantly formed; his keen, dark, piercing, restless eyes surveyed at a glance everything around. He neither wore the face of defiance nor of dejection, but moved along under the general gaze as one conscious of having bravely done his duty, and aware of being the object of universal regard. He was taken to the General's tent, and gave up his sword, which is said to have been returned to him; and was placed in charge of Lieutenant Henry, of the Nineteenth Bombay Native Infantry. Writing materials were prohibited him, but every attention was shown to his comfort in so far as this was compatible with his safety. It was not considered safe to retain him longer than was indispensable in a neighbourhood where there were numberless dependents ready to incur any risk in attempting his rescue; and he was accordingly ordered to proceed with the force about to march up the line of the Chenaub in the direction of Ramnuggur, to turn

off as they approached the road leading to Lahore for the camp of the Governor-General."

24. DREADFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION-75 LIVES LOST.-A fearful explosion, resulting in an appalling destruction of human life, occurred at the Darley Main Colliery, about two miles south of Barnsley. This mine had been the scene of two former explosions in 1847, when six lives were lost; and again in August of the same year, when two persons perished. In consequence of these occurrences the mine had been inspected, and was pronounced in good working order. The fireman, whose duty it is daily to inspect the pit for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is any accumulation of foul air, pronounced all to be safe. The men began to assemble at their work soon after 4 o'clock in the morning, and continued descending the shaft until after 6 o'clock, when there were, it is supposed, 104 men and boys in the pit, besides Mr. Thompson, the bottom steward, whose duty it is to superintend the operations under ground and adopt any precaution for the safety of the miners that may seem necessary.

About 20 minutes before 12 o'clock Mr. Thompson, who had observed nothing to cause the slightest suspicion in his mind, felt a sudden and most alarming change in the atmosphere; and before he could take any steps to ascertain the cause-indeed, almost before he could turn round-there was a frightful explosion. Judging from the nature of the report, and from the devastation committed, the explosion did not appear to have been confined to any particular spot, but extended nearly from end to end of the works. All the

stoppings, trap-doors, and gates in the pit were blown away by the violence of the explosion; and it was felt that the wreck of human life must be appalling. The inhabitants of the villages around, the wives, children, and relatives of the miners, instantly assembled around the pit's mouth with cries of most heart-rending anguish; the proprietors of the neighbouring collieries sent their men; and in a short time arrangements were made for rescuing the survivors— a task of no small difficulty and danger, for the choke-damp, which is the result of the explosion, is as deadly as the explosion itself. By great exertion, and encountering the greatest risks, about 27 persons were rescued while yet living, among whom was Mr. Thompson, and 75 corpses were removed, burnt and disfigured in a horrible manner. The scene in the neighbourhood of the mine was most painful; the dead bodies were removed by cart-loads; not a house but contained one or more relics of the catastrophe; four cottages contained 15 corpses; in some families every male had been killed. Ten corpses were interred at one time in the churchyard at Barnsley, and 40 at Worsboro' Dale. The catastrophe is supposed to have arisen from the accumulation of gas, caused by the state of the atmosphere, which was such as to cause a greater emanation of gases than usual, while it prevented the usual rapidity of draught through the shafts.

24. COURT-MARTIAL. Plymouth.

A court-martial assembled on board H. M. S. Caledonia, to try Commander George Sprigg on the following charge :- For that the said Commander George Sprigg, when Commander of Her Majes

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ty's brig Ferret, and in actual service and full pay of Her Majesty's fleet, did, upon the main sea, on the 10th day of June, 1848, evil entreat 11 men whose names are to us unknown, who were part of the crew of the Brazilian schooner Castro III., which he had taken as a prize, by ordering such 11 men into a boat belonging to the said schooner, and by ordering them when in such boat to steer south-east, the western coast of Africa, which was the nearest land, being at the time many miles off, and such 11 men not being then properly provided with oars and water. For that by such conduct the said Commander George Sprigg did behave in a cruel and oppressive manner, unbecoming the character of an of ficer in Her Majesty's navy."

John Holmes, late acting boatswain of the brig Ferret, deposed to the capture of a slave schooner between 8 and 9 o'clock A.M. of the 10th or 11th June. Does not recollect the return of the second boat, until the prize was near the brig at 5 o'clock, when the gig came alongside with five prisoners, and subsequently the prize's boat, with 10 or 11 prisoners, but none of the Ferret's men. Captain Sprigg ordered that the prisoners should not come out, but that a beaker of water, containing five gallons, a compass, a lantern, and candle, should be put in, and that she should shove off for the shore. Did not know if there were any provisions, but there was a number of bags in the boat. Witness does not recollect whether Captain Sprigg inquired what was put in the boat. The slavers were not searched; they had two oars pulling and one steering. Saw nothing cruel, oppressive, or unof

ficer-like in the conduct of Captain Sprigg. Did not see a rudder, tiller, mast, or sail, in the boat. The slavers were not sober. The boat was apparently new, about 18 feet long, built long-boat fashion, with less beam than the Ferret's jolly-boat. Did not consider she was overloaded for the weather, which was very fine and settled; water smooth; there was a swell in the morning. Witness had been two years on the coast of Africa, and had assisted the Ferret in capturing 12 slave ships. Never saw slavers sent away so far from land in the same man

ner.

Jeremiah Tomey, acting-gunner of the Ferret, was on detached service in the pinnace when the Castro III. was captured. Fell in with the long-boat and 11 prisoners, who started all their water, about a gallon, out of the beaker into a tin, and drank it; they said they had no bread. Witness saw four or five large canisters in the stern, and in the bow a roll of matting, such as is used to wrap junk beef in. The land was in sight, two or three miles distant, and 10 or 12 miles south of Coquimbo. The men said they had been captured by the Ferret four days before on the Saturday. It was then Tuesday afternoon. They were pulling with two oars and steering with one. Witness filled their beaker with water, and gave them from 15 lbs. to 20 lbs. of small bread. They reached Coquimbo at 12 o'clock that night.

Charles Cuthbert Mitchell was acting-master of the Ferret in June last, when the Castro III. was taken. Witness was in the whale-boat. There were 17 men on board the slaver, which was 10 or 12 miles from the Ferret. Two

hours and a half after the capture they were near enough to hail the brig, and reported the prize as an empty slaver with 17 prisoners. To a question from the commander, witness answered that there was a very good boat on board. Captain Sprigg ordered the boat to be hoisted out, and the men to be asked if they would take her and go ashore. Witness talks a little Portuguese. The master of the slaver said it was too far from the land; the crew, at first, also objected, but, being ordered, 12 went in. Clements, the captain of the foretop, from Captain Sprigg, told witness to keep two slavers in the prize. The crew were to have what provisions they required from the cabin stores, with water; the latter they refused to take, saying they would go to the Ferret. They took no provisions excepting what might be in their bags, which were lying on the deck. Witness put their bags and things into the boat. Slavers generally put their provisions in similar bags. The slavers took two oars. Witness offered four, but they refused, and shoved back one, which was put over the gunwale. They had no compass, no mast or sails, but had a rudder and tiller. This occurred on the 10th of June, when, at noon, they were about 84 miles from land. The commander did not hail to know if the boat was properly provided, and witness did not inform him that she was not. The Ferret was not in hailing dis

tance.

For the defence witnesses were called who served on board the Ferret at the time, and who proved that there was no harshness on the part of Commander Sprigg; that the prisoners were neither searched, beaten, nor ill-treated.

Commander Watson, who had served six years on the coast of Africa, had frequently detached boats at the distance of 100 miles from land, and thought there was no danger if the weather was fine. Commander Horton did not consider it dangerous for a boat to be sent off under the circumstances described.

Captain Charles Edmunds had Commander Sprigg serving under his command last May, when he sent, with a sailing order, a private note stating that a run of slave-vessels might be expected on that part of the coast. The Ferret was clean and smart in weighing and making sail. Witness never sent away prisoners when more than 12 miles off shore. On one occasion five or six asked and were allowed to land in their own boat.

The decision of the Court was that the charge was only in part proved; that Commander Sprigg be reprimanded, and admonished to be more circumspect in future.

FEBRUARY.

7. HIGHWAY ROBBERY AND MURDER NEAR BRIGHTON.--Mr. George Stonehouse Griffith, a respectable brewer of Brighton, was found murdered in a lonely spot near Piecombe, between Horsham and Brighton, under the circumstances detailed in the evidence given before the coroner's inquest.

Mr. Harry Mills Blaker deposed -I am a surgeon residing at 7, Pavilion Parade, Brighton. I had known Mr. Griffith between three and four years, and had been his medical attendant. Mr. Griffith was a brewer, and resided at 25, Montpelier Crescent. He was about 42

It

years of age. I have this day examined his body. The only mark on the surface of the body is a wound in the centre of the breastbone-exactly in the centre. is a round wound, evidently caused by a bullet. I afterwards made a post mortem examination of the chest, heart, and lungs, and tracing the external wound found it to go through the breast bone, through the fore part of the bag of the heart, then, penetrating through the heart itself, the bullet finally lodged in the back of the heart. It was a leaden bullet. The lungs were not wounded. This bullet was extracted by me from the bag of the heart. Such a wound would produce almost instantaneous death. The pistol was evidently fired close to Mr. Griffith's breast. The clothes were singed and the flesh scorched, and a portion of the wadding was also found in the wound. I have no doubt of his death having been caused by the wound I have described.

A Juror. Do you suppose that he would have groaned after the shot?

Mr. Blaker. He might have uttered one groan or shriek, and no more, for his death would have been almost instantaneous.

The Foreman.-Could he have done it himself?

Mr. Blaker.-No, I believe not. He could not have done it himself.

Mr. James Hodson examined.I am a miller, and reside at the mill on on the Dyke Road, near Brighton. About 2 o'clock this morning, as I was returning from Mr. Smith's, at Woodmancote, in company with my brother Charles and Mr. Kirton, in a horse and light cart, I saw something lying on the off side of the road, and as I ap

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proached I saw a hat lying beyond it. I stopped, and told my brother to get down and see what it was. He got out and spoke, but received no answer. It proved to be the body of a man. He examined the body, took hold of it, tried to move it, and said Get up," or something of that sort, but still received no answer. Charles Kirton then got out, and looking at the face said directly it was Mr. Griffith. I turned round, got out of the cart, and saw a pistol lying by our off wheel. [The pistol was here produced.] I saw some reins lying beyond the hat, and thought it was a snaffle bridle, and that some one had fallen from his horse. The pistol appeared to have been discharged, the pan was open. I found a knife near the horse's head. [Mr. Harper, one of the inspectors, produced the knife. It has a buckhorn handle, with the names of James Green and Co. on the handle.] I found on the other side of the cart a piece of black crape [produced] attached to the frame of a pair of spectacles; a purse with one ring off-a steel bead purse. There was nothing in the purse. I found a righthand glove on the off-side of the road. [All these were produced.] It was a very light night, but the moon was not shining at the time. The body was lying with the head rather inclined to the bank, and the feet towards the road. The legs appeared in a cramped position. The right leg was rather raised. Mr. Griffith was quite dead. My brother and Mr. Kirton placed him in the cart, and we took him to the Plough. I noticed the wound in the bosom when we laid him down in the room at the Plough. The shirt was very much singed. I saw no VOL. XCI.

The body was

marks of blood. lying on its back. I saw Mr. Kirton pick up a whip. I saw the loaded pistol now produced, a book, and a seal, taken from Mr. Griffith's pocket by Mr. Kirton, and a memorandum-book. The whip was broken, but it did not appear as if it had been broken by the wheels. The right-hand breeches-pocket of the deceased was turned inside out. The whip appeared to have been wrenched asunder. The pistol was about a couple or three yards from the body. The crape was very near the hind wheel. It was a hired horse and gig, belonging to Mr. Roberts. The reins found in the road were fitted to those found upon the horse, and they exactly corresponded. The reins were evidently cut at one stroke. The road was very rough, and I could not trace any footsteps. We made a mark at the spot where we found the body.

Mr. W. S. Martin said-I reside at 18, Devonshire Place, Brighton, and am manager of the Rock Brewery, Brighton, of which Mr. Griffith, the deceased, was part proprietor. I have been in the habit of going this round for the last twelvemonth-I mean the round to Horsham-to collect money. The deceased went yesterday to transact some business at Horsham which I could not do. I received this letter on the 11th of January. It is written in a disguised hand, and, though badly spelt, is evidently written by a person who has had a tolerable education: