son had time to come to his assistance, the flames broke through the roof of the carriage-depot, a spacious building, upwards of a hundred feet long, which was filled with carriages of the first and second class. Contiguous to this building stood another, in which several more carriages were deposited these were taken out in time. Intelligence was sent to the engine-stations of the town; and forthwith the barrack and parish engines reached the scene of the fire.

A large body of the military assisted. The whole of the old locomotive depôt was soon enveloped in flames, and upwards of a dozen first and second class carriages were blazing. For some time great difficulty was experienced in obtaining a supply of water; meanwhile the flames progressed with such rapidity, that before four o'clock both the stations of the present atmospheric and the old locomotives presented an immense body of flame, which roared as it issued from the several win dows like a number of furnaces in

full operation. By leading the hose of the engines through the windows, the military and firemen were enabled to pour a stream of water upon the fire; but it had obtained too firm a hold to be easily extinguished carriage after carriage fell a prey, and it was not until the whole of the combustible articles in the two buildings were burnt that the flames were at all got under. The conflagration was only cut off just as it was attacking the ticket-station and bookingoffices. Thirteen carriages were consumed.

An inquiry as to the origin of the disaster took place, but it remained uncertain whether it arose from

spontaneous combustion of tow and oil in the lamp room, or from sparks having accidentally fallen on those combustible materials.

24. CHINA.-By the Overland Mail, accounts have been received of serious disturbances with the Chinese at Canton, of such a nature as to bode a renewal of hostilities at no distant date.

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Between five and six o'clock in the afternoon of the 8th of July, an English merchant, an old resident in China, was passing along the street leading from the Ame rican factories to Chungwo, or Mingqua's Hong, when he was impeded by a crowd of idle Chinese, such as are generally to be found loitering about in that neighbourhood. One of them he pushed out of his way; upon which the Chinaman first struck him, then threw a stone at him, and afterwards ran away. He was pursued, and caught near Mingqua's Hong; and having been dragged inside, was bound to a post until information of what had occurred was sent to the British Consul. In the mean time, however, the man contrived to escape; but was a second time caught by another foreign resident, and brought back to the Hong. A crowd now began to gather outside; and believing themselves sufficiently powerful to wreak their vengeance on the foreigners, they forced open the gates of the Hong, rescued the man, and stoned the foreigners who had taken refuge in the house. The mob, which had by this time greatly increased, now began to batter the doors and windows with stones, brickbats, &c., and attempted to fire the building by throwing in crackers and other lighted materials. This state of matters continued until about half

past seven P.M. when it was decided to throw open the gates of the American Gardens, where the greatest portion of the foreign residents had collected with fire-arms. They divided themselves into companies, with each a commander. One division faced towards Old China Street, while another marched round to the front of Mingqua's Hong. The mob, having previously overmastered and driven off the Chinese police, stood their ground in China Street and beyond Mingqua's Hong, and sent a perfect storm of stones and brickbats at their opponents, who returned the compliment with a volley of balls. This had the effect of clearing the place; and the mob moved off, leaving, according to the most probable account, four dead and ten or twelve wounded; though the numbers are variously given, the highest being thirteen killed and twenty wounded. In the proclamation of the Chinese magistrate, Sz, the casualties are stated to have been three killed and six wounded. On the other side three persons were hurt, one, a Parsee, rather severely. When the fray became serious, information was given to the Chinese authorities, by whom a body of soldiers and armed police were sent, and they were very useful in clearing the streets; but their influence only began to be felt when the foreigners had proved themselves more than a match for the rabble. To guard against another attack, the foreign community patrolled the streets during the night.'

mob continued to be loud and insolent, but abstained from further violence.

The higher Chinese authorities issued proclamations, promising inquiry, and cautioning "the good" from mixing with "the bad," lest they should be injured in the necessary process of keeping the peace. The district magistrate, Sz, imputed the blame to the English, for prematurely using their fire-arms.

28. ACCIDENT.-A dreadful accident happened on the railway works near Aberdeen, opposite the Devanha Brewery. Several arches of the inclined plane had been completed, and the necessary wooden erections to support it while building were taken away last week; and arrangements were in progress to proceed with others. A little before eight o'clock in the morning, three of the arches gave way, burying among the stones, bricks, and rubbish a number of the workmen. Measures were immediately taken to relieve the unfortunate individuals; but, after a tedious and arduous task of upwards of an hour, seven were taken out dead, having evidently been killed instantaneously; two others died subsequently.

four o'clock in the morning, five men and a boy went down in the course of their ordinary occupations; immediately on the lights

which they carried coming in contact with the foul air, the explosion took place, by which the whole have been deprived of life.

ELECTION OF THE LORD MAYOR.-Some objection being alleged against Mr. Thomas Wood, the alderman next in rotation for the mayoralty, his opponents started Sir George Carroll, who stands next in the list, against him, and two others pro formá, and at the conclusion of the poll Sir George had a considerable majority. These two being thus returned to the Court of Aldermen, that body chose Sir George Carroll, thus passing by Alderman Thomas Wood.

29. THE WELLINGTON STATUE. -The arduous task of removing Mr. Wyatt's colossal equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington from the artist's studio in the Harrow Road, to the triumphal arch at Hyde-Park Corner, which has been decided upon as its pedestal, was this day accomplished without accident. The streets were thronged with a great multitude of people anxious to witness the transit of the enormous bulk; and the windows in the streets through which it was to pass were filled with a vast assemblage of beauty and rank.

Upon a stand erected in Mr. Wyatt's grounds were assembled a large number of most distinguished personages, including her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Rutland, the Marquis of Londonderry, the Countess of Westmoreland, Lord and Lady Fitzroy Somerset, Lord H. Bentinck, Sir John Macdonald, Adjutant-General, Sir F. Trench.

To give an idea of the gigantic proportions of this statue, it will be sufficient to state that its height

from the ground to the crown of the hat is twenty-seven feet, and its weight about forty tons: it is composed of the brass metal of guns taken by the noble Duke in his various campaigns, and which has been contributed by the Board of Ordnance for this purpose. The dray or carriage upon which it was removed weighed about twenty tons, and consisted of a strong square frame upon four large iron wheels, ten feet in diameter, the two front being constructed with radiating cast-iron spokes, and the hindwheels of sheet-iron, of rather a convex shape, and very wide rims. The statue was slung within this frame, the feet of the horse resting upon narrow ledges about two feet and a half from the ground, thus sinking the weight so low as to preclude all danger of overturning. The task of withdrawing the statue from the studio was a work of time and labour, and was accomplished by means of haulage, the ropes being manned by 100 of the Fusilier Guards in fatigue dress. A few minutes after eleven the statue was fairly dragged into the open street, where it was received with the most tremendous cheering by the assembled crowds. Nearly an hour more was consumed in turning the carriage into its proper track, and in yoking the horses who were to drag it to its destination. These horses, twenty-nine in number, were supplied by Mr. Goding, brewer, and were driven by ten sturdy draymen in full professional costume, one wearing upon his breast a Waterloo medal. The horses were crowned with laurel, and were yoked, with the exception of the two wheelers, three abreast. All having been prepared, the police with some difficulty cleared a passage, and at five minutes past twelve

The

The procession wound its way at a comparatively rapid rate through the Harrow Road, down the Edgeware Road, to Tyburn Gate, thence down Park Lane, round the Duchess of Gloucester's house, into Piccadilly, and thence to the triumphal arch, Hyde-Park Corner. whole line of procession was one continuous throng of people, and the reception of the statue was most enthusiastic. At the turning into Piccadilly, where some apprehended a difficulty from the narrowness of the street and the sharpness of the angle, a short delay occurred, but at half-past one o'clock the statue arrived opposite Apsley House, and then the cheers were redoubled. At Apsley House a distinguished party was assembled to witness the installation of this tribute to the prowess of the noble proprietor; amongst them were Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, the Princess of Prussia, Princess Mary, Prince George, VOL. LXXXVIII.

Earl Howe, Countess of Westmoreland, Lord C. Wellesley, &c.

The statue having been brought opposite the scaffolding intended. for its elevation to the summit of the arch, the horses were detached. The labour of raising it to its position on the top of the arch was deferred to the following day. It was then found that the statue had not been placed in the proper position for hoisting; to remedy this were attached to the carropes

riage, and the whole mass, weighing upwards of sixty tons, was raised into the air!- a satisfactory proof that the scaffolding (a beautiful piece of construction) was quite strong enough for its purpose. On the second day the statue was raised about fifty feet, and was left during the night suspended in midair on the third day it was placed in its position. Doubts have, however, arisen whether the site selected is in accordance with correct taste, or if it is, whether the statue is not too large for the structure; and it is understood that it is to be removed.

OCTOBER.

1. FORM OF PRAYER IN THIS TIME OF SCARCITY.-Pursuant to the Order in Council, the Archbishop of Canterbury has issued the following Form of Prayer to Almighty God for relief from the dearth and scarcity now existing in parts of the United Kingdom, owing to the failure of some of the crops of the present year: to be read in all Churches and Chapels of England and Wales, on Sunday the 11th of October and two following Sundays, immediately before the Litany; or when the LiL

tany shall not be read, before the Prayer for all Conditions of Men.

A FORM OF PRAYER TO ALMIGHTY GOD.

"O God, at whose bidding the earth, which sustaineth the life of man, hath withholden in parts of these islands the wonted provision of food, and turned abundance into scarcity, withdraw, we beseech Thee, the judgment of which we are justly afraid, that the poor perish not by famine.

"We acknowledge, O Lord, that by our strifes and divisions, misuse of Thy gifts, and forgetfulness of Thy manifold mercies, we have justly deserved punishment. We have sinned; we have grievously sinned against Thee. Yet knowing that Thou art full of compassion, we beseech Thee to pardon the offences of Thy people, to relieve the poor and the needy in their present necessities, and to give and preserve to our use the fruits of the earth in all its seasons.

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But whatsoever may be Thy pleasure concerning us, give us grace to receive Thy dispensations, whether of judgment or mercy, with entire submission to Thy will; endeavouring to abate Thy displeasure by repentance, and showing forth our sense of Thy goodness by faithfully keeping Thy commandments.

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bounties in peace and contentment, to the honour and praise of Thy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BORNEO.-Despatches have been published containing the accounts of the operations of the squadron, under Sir Thomas Cochrane, against the Sultan of Borneo, in the month of July.

The Admiral was accompanied by Mr. Brooke, the English gentleman who has received investiture of the government or sovereignty of Sarawak from the native princes. The squadron sailed up a fine river to Bruné, the capital of the country. On approaching Pulo Bungore five forts opened to view, admirably placed for denying a passage beyond them; two were erected on the right hand, one on the left shore over the narrow, formed by Pulo Bungore and the main, and the largest of the whole on the side of a hill, elevated about 100 feet, (immediately in front of the narrows,) and which sand-banks compel you to stand directly for and to pass within from seventy to eighty yards; the fifth battery was further up the river, on the same side. Besides these forts there was a heavy battery à fleur d'eau, which was found to consist of eight brass and two iron guns, from sixty-eight to nine-pounders; another upon the heights, immediately above it, of four guns, nine and six-pounders; and four more upon another height, commanding the latter, and 100 yards in the rear of it. All these forts and batteries were carried in the course of the day; and the guns, thirty-eight in number, were spiked or carried off. A quantity of ammunition of all kinds was destroyed, and the forts were burnt.