only discovered one man (an Irishman) in the work, who was committed to Morpeth gaol, for three months, in default of the penalty of thirty pounds.-Local Papers. 1838 (July 18).-Wednesday, a hive of bees lighted on a man and a boy, standing near the Pack-horse inn in Morpeth, during the market; their faces were completely covered. A hive having been procured, and placed over the heads of the man and the boy, the queen bee was taken off the lad's jacket and placed on the top of the hive, when her subjects were gradually attracted to her, and thus the parties escaped unhurt, much to the satisfaction of crowds who were anxiously waiting the result.-Ibid. This month, Ralph Bates, esq., of Milbourne hall, presented through the vicar of Newburn, a complete set of sacramental plate to the Holy Trinity chapel in that parish.—Ibid. In the latter part of this month, a bull, having broke from his keepers, very unceremoniously proceeded to pay a visit to Mrs. Peters's cook shop, on the Quayside, Newcastle. The bull walked up to the fire, and after coming sufficiently near to feel the heat, quietly but quickly retreated, much to the pleasure and astonishment of the worthy hostess.-Ibid. August 5.-Richard Martin, son of Jonathan Martin, the incendiary, who expired in the lunatic asylum, in which he had been confined since the burning of York minster, committed suicide at his residence, No. 30, Allsop-terrace, New road, London, on the afternoon of this day, Sunday. He had been in a desponding state of mind since the death of his father.-Ibid. August 9.-Died, at Hendon terrace, Sunderland, Mr. Smith Graham, aged 78. He was the first person that established baths and bathing machines, for sea bathing, in the neighbourhood of Sunderland.—Ibid. August 11.-In pulling down the old buildings at the south end of Tyne bridge preparatory to the erection of the Gateshead new fish market, several coins were found under the flooring. They were with one exception, of silver-being a half-crown of William III., and shillings of Charles II., William III., and Anne. The most curious, perhaps, is a counterfeit half-crown of Charles II., which had not been able, like its genuine companions, to resist the ravages of time.-Ibid. August 13.-Between the hours of one and two o'clock on the morning of this day, Monday, a fire was discovered in the premises of Mr. John Wandlass, farmer and shipowner at Southwick, near Sunderland. On the alarm being given, an engine was procured without delay from Messrs Attwood and Co.'s glass works, and a great number of people residing in the neighbourhood hastened to the spot, and rendered every assistance in their power in extinguishing the flames. The principal damage sustained was the destruction of a hay-stack in the farm yard: a barn, stable, and cottage were also partially burnt. The loss was estimated at between one and two hundred pounds. As the hay stack and the buildings were all on fire at the same time, and were altogether unconnected, no doubt whatever was entertained that the property was wilfully set on fire. Laths were found on the premises daubed with tar, and hay was found in the cottage, evidently placed therein with a view to its destruction.-Local Papers. 1838 (Aug. 14).-A silver coin of the reign of queen Elizabeth, about the size of a half-penny of the present day, was found by Mr. Nattress, the ore-washer of the London Lead Company, at White Syke Lead Mine, Alston Moor. It was in good preservation, and the date 1578, very legible. It is somewhat remarkable that previous to its discovery, it had passed twice through the crushing mill without receiving the least injury.-Ibid. HE eighth annual meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, was held in the town of Newcastle, during the seven days extending from the twentieth to the twentysixth of August, 1838. For some months previous, great and important preparations had been in progress, in order to do honour to the distinguished body who had accepted the invitation previously given, and nothing was omitted, which could in any way effect this desirable end. The result shewed a larger meeting than had been held on any other previous occasion. The large influx of strangers which was expected, led the local committee, (whose labours mainly tended to the excellence of the arrangements,) to make some enquiry respecting lodging housest for their accommodation, but this resource failing or being found inadequate, many gentlemen, including the mayor and other distinguished and respectable individuals, offered the use of beds, some of two, and others of three, four, and The General Committee held its first meeting on Saturday August 18, at one, P.M. in the grand jury room of the county courts; afterwards, according to adjournment. The Inns were soon filled. Breakfast, however, was provided daily from 8 to 1 A.M., at the principal inns: charges including waiters, 2s. Dinner was provided daily at the Riding School; charge including wine and attendance, 7s. 6d. This building had been fitted up for the occasion. Places for the ordinary could not be had by resident members, until 10 A. M. on each day. Large quantities of game, and several deer were sent in by the nobles and gentry of the neighbourhood. even five. However, the public were not behindhand in their estimate of the importance of the ensuing meeting. Applications for local tickets were become so numerous, that when they amounted in number to 1083, it was found necessary to stop further increase, except the parties requiring tickets would become life members, or consent to the gratuitous reception of at least one of the distinguished personages about to arrive, and even then, cases which came under either the one or the other of these rules, must be taken into special consideration by the local committee.* The committee of each section, met daily at 10 A.M., in rooms adjacent to the respective section rooms, and the communications to each section were taken in a settled order, as previously fixed by the secretaries, and made public by notifications at the enquiry room, at the Literary and Philosophical Society, and on the doors of each meeting room. The Newcastle and Carlisle railway, with great liberality, placed at the disposal of the Association, railway carriages and one of their engines, whenever the members might require their use, and Messrs. Shield and Parker placed an additional steam vessel to ply between London and Newcastle for the quick and regular transit of visitors from the former place. Most of the owners of the great iron foundries, chemical works, &c., on the Tyne, threw open to the Association and its friends, their respective manufactories, and our stranger visitors were not slow to avail themselves of the permission thus granted.‡ A general wish seemed prominent with the mass of the inhabitants, to do sufficient honour to the occasion, and numerous companies, public bodies, and even individuals, liberally granted unrestrained admission into their respective places of meeting, business, manufacture or otherwise. A reception committee was also formed, whose * The admission of ladies to the meetings of the Association was restricted to the sections of Mathematics and Physics, Chemistry and Mineralogy, Geology and Geography, Mechanical science, Model room, &c., and the charge for resident ladies was fixed; for one ticket £2, for two tickets £5, and for three tickets £10; the object of the committee being to hold out an inducement for large subscriptions, as the amount contributed at the time these terms were made, promised to fall far short of the expences likely to be incurred. A committee sat daily (at stated hours), in the Guildhall, to issue the tickets of admission. ↑ During the week, the members made Geological and other excursions to the principal objects of interest in the vicinity. During the week an almost unparalleled multitude of exhibitions, &c., were open to add to the general interest of the proceedings. The rooms of the Literary and Philosophical Society, of the Literary and Mechanical Society, of the North of England Fine Arts Society, the Museum of the Natural History Society, the Churches, the Castle, and other public buildings; Mr. J. Gibson's gallery of paintings, Mr. Lister's show rooms, &c., the Theatre, Batty's equestrian arena, and Gyngell's Fireworks also entered into competition to supply the public with amusement. duties consisted in the giving of information to foreigners and others, chiefly in respect to their personal accommodation. The members of this committee were distinguished by a white ribbon. An enquiry room was also opened at the Savings' bank in the Arcade, where any information, either to residents or strangers, arrivals, sectional arrangements, ordinaries, &c., was to be had. With the transactions of the Association we have no concern, further than to state that no small number of the papers read, were by divers of the literati and men of science, natives of our town or district. The sectional meetings assembled each day during the week, Saturday excepted, at eleven in the forenoon, in the large rooms of the public institutions of the town,* which had been fitted up expressly for the occasion. In the evening of each day the meetings were held in the Central Exchange, at which the duke of Northumberland occasionally presided. On Wednesday evening, the 22nd., the Green market || was opened for promenade, conversation, and refreshment, and presented a most brilliant spectacle. It was lighted with gas, the fountains played with great effect, and the shops, entrances and pillars were decorated with evergreens, &c. On Friday the 24th, the Assembly rooms, which had been materially enlarged, were opened for the like purposes, and proved most brilliant and successful. Extensive as the suite of rooms had been made, they were crowded to excess, and on Saturday evening, the 26th, the concluding general meeting of the Association took place, ending a week of important scientific business, unparalleled of its kind.§-Local Papers, MS., &c. 1838 (Aug. 24).-This day the opening of the Durham Junction railway took place. The directors had acted judiciously in their determination of deferring the opening of the railway to the present week, thus affording to the numerous members of the British Association, • A. Mathematics and Physics. Lecture room of the Literary and Philosophica Society.-B. Chemistry and Mineralogy. County courts.-C. Geology and Geography. New Music hall.-D. Zoology and Botany. County courts.-E. Medical science. Surgeons' hall.-F. Statistics. Academy of Arts.-G. Mechanical science. Music hall. -The model room, over the shop of Mr. Wilson, hatter, was also open daily, and con tained many beautiful specimens of Mechanical ingenuity. + Which had been fitted up for the evening meetings of the Association. When completed it held 4000 persons. Mr. James Wallace contractor: £180. Westmoreland house in Westgate street, had been repaired and fitted up for the reception of the duke during his stay, by its respected owner, Robert Leadbitter, esq. || In order to produce as splendid an effect as possible, prizes were competed for, for the decoration of the interior, with flowers, plants and evergreens. § The anniversary of the Natural History society was held on the 28th of August, and several of the magnates of the Associatiation were specially invited to remain after the conclusion of their business, when they dined with the members of the society ir their meeting room. who were interested in architectural and mechanical science, an opportunity of being present. With this view the arrangements and invitations were on the most liberal scale. The railway procession which set off from South Shields consisted of two trains; the appointments of the directors being most complete, and the company in the carriages consisting of about four hundred, (almost without exception) gentlemen. The sun shone brilliantly: the mountains of ballast which command a view of the railway were crowded by holiday spectators; the South Shields band played the national air; cannons roared; flags waved in the breeze; thousands of voices sent forth a shout of joy; while the engines dragged off their respective trains to the magnificent "Victoria Bridge" built at a cost of about £35,000 after designs and under the superintendence of T. Elliott Harrison, esq., the celebrated engineer. The bridge has four main arches, respectively of 160, 144, and 100 feet span. Of these arches, three are viaductal, being thrown over the valley, to obtain the requisite railway level. There are besides, six smaller arches, (three on each side,) inserted in the approaches or wing walls, to lighten the masonry and add unity to the design. The length of the entire bridge is about 270 yards, its width, within the parapet walls, 21 feet, the total height of the masonry from the base of the foundations to the summit of the parapet 157 feet, and from the level of the river 130 feet, being considerably higher than Sunderland bridge. There is a double line of railway over the bridge, with an excellent flagged causeway on each side for foot passengers. To view this sublime object the company descended to the valley, where the eye could take in the whole at one view. Indeed a scene better calculated to give an elevated opinion of the triumph of genius over nature can scarcely be conceived. The scenery, on the south side of the bridge, is bold, rocky, and well wooded. Hundreds of spectators had assembled from all parts of the country, who testified their joy at the completion of this great work by hearty and repeated cheers. Again the company took their seats in the carriages, and the trains proceeded over the bridge and along the railway, for about six miles. Here there were about 100 waggons laden with coals, from Black Boy pit, the property of the marquess of Londonderry. These being united by the coupling chains to a locomotive engine, the shrill steam-whistle gave warning of the return trip. All was pleasureable excitement on the return until the Victoria bridge was reached. More perfect arrangements were never witnessed, but here, one of those events occurred which defy human calculation, and against which no human foresight can sufficiently guard. The engine of the second train came in contact with the last carriage of the first train. The collision was |