wards held at the Greenwich Police Court before Mr. Patterson, the magistrate, and Captains Harris and Hight, nautical assessors, and on the 11th of April judgment was pronounced by the Court.

The decision concluded as follows:-" After carefully considering the evidence that has been adduced in this inquiry, the Court is of opinion that the Normandy,' by a breach of the Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, is solely to blame for this disastrous collision. The Court is further of opinion that the master of the 'Mary' did all that lay in his power to avoid a collision and to save life, and therefore adjudges that Mr. Stranack's certificate be returned to him. The Court cannot pass over without comment the irresolute conduct of the second-mate of the 'Mary' when despatched by the master to render assistance to the Normandy.' There seems to be no valid reason for his return to his own ship without carrying out the orders he had received from his master. Had he obeyed these orders, and proceeded in the first instance, as requested to do, by the crew of the 'Normandy's' boats, more lives might possibly have been saved."

18. THE FIRE AT THE STAR AND GARTER-INQUEST ON THE REMAINS. An inquest was held by Mr. Carter, at the Star and Garter Hotel Tap, Richmond Hill, on the remains of a person unknown, but which were supposed to be those of Mr. Lever, the late manager of the hotel.-(See Chronicle, ante.)

The first witness called was Henry West, who deposed as follows:"On the morning of the 14th, while I was at work clearing out the rubbish of the old Star and Garter, I struck my pick on what are supposed to be the remains of Mr. Lever, which consisted of some bones and some portion of flesh. We had been told to be careful in clearing the ruins and preserve what we found of bones or flesh, and we collected them carefully. There was a quantity of charred wood and some bricks lying above the remains. We put the remains aside with the charred wood, and sifted a quantity of rubbish, and found a quantity of small pieces of bones, but no large ones, or skull. We found the remains on the right hand side of where the front door stood, about twelve feet from the front of the old building."

Mr. Richard Archer Warwick, M.D., said, from the size of the bones generally, he should say that they were those of a man of considerable stature.

Dr. James Palfrey, of 18, Finsbury-square, said he knew John Charles William Lever, who was his brother-in-law. His age was thirty-one years, and he held an appointment as manager of the Star and Garter under the company, but did not know what salary he was to have; knew that his life was not insured.

George Mingey, cellarman, was called, and said he had been some years at the Star and Garter. At the time of the fire occurring the hotel had been closed for about two months, and some of the servants had been discharged. "On the night of the fire," continued the witness, "I was awoke by hearing some crackling noise and by a smell of smoke. I got out of bed and opened the door, and my room became

filled with smoke. I lighted a candle, but the smoke put it out. The smoke was coming up the stairs. I then got out of the window on to the leads of the bow-window, but found it too far to jump from, so I went down the stairs to the passage leading to the hall, and from there through the new coffee-room on to the common. The window of the coffee-room was not fastened. I jumped from the coffee-room window about five feet on to a wall, and then dropped another five feet, and went round to the front of the hotel, and saw flames coming out of the bar windows and the door. I ran towards the new hotel and met two persons. I then turned back and saw two men at a front window on the top floor. I can positively state that the two I saw were Mr. Simpson and Mr. Lever; they were both crying for help. I heard some one call out, "Tie the sheets together." I then went

to the new hotel for the ladder which was kept in the area, and I got two policemen to help me, but we could not get it out. I afterwards found they had got a ladder." Witness further stated that the spot where the remains were found would be directly under the window where he last saw Mr. Lever.

After some more unimportant evidence, the Coroner summed up, when the foreman said the jury were of opinion that the remains were those of Mr. Lever, and that his death had occurred accidentally, and not otherwise. A verdict of "Accidental death" was then recorded.

25. FATAL ACCIDENT TO LADY LOPES.-A very sad accident occurred about five o'clock this afternoon, at Easthill, near Frome, the residence of the Dowager Lady Lopes. It appears that her ladyship, who was in her usual health, was standing in front of the fire in her boudoir, when her dress became suddenly ignited. Immediate assistance was obtained, but the fire had so far progressed, and had caused such severe injuries, that the two medical men, Dr. Hurd of Frome, and Dr. Shorland of Westbury, who were promptly in attendance, from the first gave her family no hopes of her recovery. The medical gentlemen remained at Easthill until three o'clock in the morning, when her ladyship expired. A niece of Lady Lopes, who was on a visit, had only left the room a few minutes before the accident occurred. This melancholy event cast a sad gloom throughout the neighbourhood, in which her ladyship was most deservedly beloved and respected.

28. EXECUTION AT AYLESBURY.-The extreme sentence of the law was inflicted, in the Buckinghamshire County Prison at Aylesbury, on William Mobbs, aged twenty, for the wilful murder of James Newbury, a lad about twelve years of age. At the time of his trial Mobbs appeared very indifferent and careless, but since his condemnation he had very much altered in his demeanour. He had been very attentive to the ministrations of the chaplain, the Rev. W. Rawson, who was most assiduous in his attentions to the culprit. On the 24th he signed the following confession, which was written at his dictation by the Under-Sheriff, Mr. A. Tindal :— "I, William Mobbs, declare that when I saw the boy Newbury

coming towards me I felt all of a shake and as if I could not help murdering him. I had dreamt of murders, and I had seen a picture of the man Baker murdering the girl in the hop-gardens. It was a very hot day, and we sat down together on the free-board. Newbury laid down; and about ten minutes after we met it was done. I rolled on him, and when on him I pulled out my knife and cut his throat twice. He halloaed out 'Oh!' only once. I don't know if he was dead directly. I left him at once. I felt as if I did not know where I was or what I was doing. I went away bird-keeping. I left the body where it was. I put my smock where it was found by the police. I had no grudge against the boy, and I never had a quarrel or struggle with him. When we were sitting on the ground I asked him what they would say if any body was to murder him,' and he (Newbury) said, 'They would hang him.' I replied, What, for murdering varmint?" He said, 'Yes.' Upon this I immediately attacked Newbury. I had a book about Cain and Abel in my dinner basket. The book was given me by my grandfather, just before he died. It belonged to my uncle Thomas Joyce (my mother's brother)."

He was visited in his cell about half-past six in the morning by the chaplain, who was with him until his death. He did not in any way seem afraid, but looked steadily at the drop while his arms were being pinioned by Calcraft. He then walked with firm step to the gallows, and his legs were pinioned. The rope was then adjusted, and after the preliminary arrangements by the hangman the drop fell, the culprit praying earnestly.

The execution was conducted within the prison, no one being present but the representatives of the local Press and the prison authorities, but there were about 100 persons assembled outside the prison. Immediately after the execution, a black flag was raised over the gaol gates.

29. DEPARTURE OF THE QUEEN OF HOLLAND.-Her Majesty the Queen of Holland, attended by the Baroness de Pabst de Bingerden, the Baroness de Dedem, Baron Schimmelpenninck Van der Oye, and Captain Gavaerts de Simonshaven, left Claridge's Hotel shortly before four o'clock p.m. on her return home. The Queen and suite travelled from the Victoria station in one of the saloon carriages of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company. His Excellency the Netherlands Minister and Baroness Gevers were at the station to take leave of the Queen. Her Majesty and suite crossed from Dover to Calais early in the evening, remaining at the latter place for the night, and resumed the journey to the Hague after breakfast the next morning.

APRIL.

3. FIRE AT NOTTINGHAM.-A fire, attended with immense loss of property, broke out at two o'clock a.m. in a portion of the premises belonging to Messrs. Thomas Adams and Co., lace manufacturers, St. Mary's-gate, Nottingham. The flames were first seen by Policeconstable Winfield, who was on duty near the spot, and he at once communicated with the fire brigade, who were soon at the scene of the fire with a steam and a manual engine. The flames had got extensive hold at the time the engines arrived, and quickly spread to the warehouses of Messrs. Carter and Co., Messrs. J. and G. Trueman, and Mr. J. H. Clarke, all of which firms were engaged in the manufacture of lace. The silk warehouse of Mr. Baumgarten was also ignited by the flames, and the stock on the premises of Messrs. T. Drew and Co., was spoilt by the water thrown on the building. The fire burnt with great fury for several hours, but there being a good supply of water and the brigade rendering great service, the flames were in a great measure subdued by five o'clock. The engine, however, played on the burning mass for some hours afterwards. The whole of the premises being closed at two on the preceding (Saturday) afternoon, it is probable that the fire had smouldered for hours. The firemen, owing to the number of passages and staircases in the buildings, experienced great difficulty in getting to the place where the fire first broke out. The amount of damage was enormous, the premises being completely gutted, and a great quantity of valuable lace goods was consumed. It was estimated that 30,000l. would not cover the loss. All the firms were insured, but some not fully, in the County, Westminster, Manchester, and Imperial Offices.

6. THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT-RACE.-This great race was won by Cambridge for the first time since 1860. It was rowed in the afternoon under a warm sun and clear sky, and the crowd assembled to witness it was enormous.

The Oxford crew as usual won the toss for position, but, as the tide was beginning to slacken, they chose the outer or Surrey station, nearly in mid-stream, were the tide was going strongest. The Cambridge crew, consequently, took the Fulham station, but the lighter from which they were to start was moored rather closer to the Middlesex bank than it need have been. In the then state of the tide it was the worse position of the two, as the flood was not so strong as in mid-river. Very little time was spent in preparing for the race and backing down to their station boats-which were moored opposite Putney Steamboat Pier and off the end of the Terrace-and at fourteen minutes past five o'clock the signal was given from a waterman's skiff by Mr. Edward Searle of Lambeth, who officiated as starter, Mr. J. W. Chitty of Exeter College, Oxford, standing as Umpire in the bows of the "Lotus." The following were the names and weights of the crews:

The Oxford crew were the first to dip their oars and catch hold of the water, by which they obtained a momentary lead, but it did not avail them, for as soon as the Cambridge crew had got their boat well under way they first drew up to and then headed Oxford. So quickly, indeed, did the Cambridge crew settle down to their work, and so fast did their boat move, that off Simmons's Yard, they had obtained a lead of a quarter of a length, as nearly as could be made out, and off the London Club Boathouse had increased their advantage to about half a length, the number of strokes rowed per minute in each boat being much the same-from thirty-eight to thirty-nine. The pace of the Eights up the first Reach was so great that the two steamboats which followed the match were some distance astern, and it was consequently a matter of the greatest difficulty to discern exactly the relative positions of the competing boats. At the site of the old half-mile post, below Craven Cottage, Cambridge led by a good half length, which was increased to three-quarters at the Grass Wharf, a few hundred yards higher up the river. Off the Crab Tree the Oxford crew gained slightly, partly by making an effort, and partly through the Cambridge boat being taken out unnecessarily wide, instead of being gradually edged in round the bend in the Surrey shore; and at the Soapworks they had reduced the lead of Cambridge to about half a length. Between the Soapworks Wharf and Hammersmith-bridge it looked for a moment as if the Oxford crew were about to draw up level, especially as the Cambridge coxswain kept his boat's head pointed across towards the Middlesex shore, thus losing considerable ground, and throwing his crew more or less athwart the tide. Having presently gone out beyond the centre of the river, he took a steady pull at his left rudder line, and once more the Cambridge boat was pointed her true course, this being just below Hammersmith-bridge. No sooner was their boat straightened than the Cambridge crew made an effort without quickening their stroke, and, although the rowing in the Oxford boat was most determined at this point, Cambridge shot the bridge first by three-quarters of a length, the nose of the Oxford boat being abreast of the stroke oarsman of Cambridge; time from the start 8 min. 5 secs. No sooner were the Eights through the bridge the uproar being perfectly deafening when it was seen how well the Cambridge crew were holding their own, rowing, be it

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