At the same Sessions, on the 23d, John Thomas Cox,
a shopkeeper in Holywell Street, was indicted for
publishing and selling Obscene Books and Prints. The
offence was proved, and the prisoner convicted. He
had been indicted for a similar offence in 1847, but had
escaped punishment by writing to the prosecutors (the
Society for the Suppression of Vice) a letter so full of
contrition and promises of amendment, that the prosecution
was not proceeded with. This letter was now put
in, and the Judge, holding it to be an aggravation of
the offence, sentenced Cox to be imprisoned in the
House of Correction for two years, and afterwards to
find bail for his good behaviour.

On the night of the 23rd, Mr. Armstrong, of Sorbietrees,
in Cumberland, through a lamentable mistake,
was Shot by the Rev. Mr. Smith, the incumbent of
Walton. In the middle of the night the rev. gentleman,
alarmed by a noise at his window, fired a revolving
pistol at random, with the view of frightening away the
persons who, he apprehended, were attempting to break
into his house. In the morning Mr. Armstrong was
found lying near the door, shot through the heart. It
does not apppear how Mr. Armstrong came to Mr. Smith's
door: he had dined at Bampton, it being market-day,
and, when last seen, was riding homeward, slightly
intoxicated. An inquest on the body has given a verdict
of "manslaughter" against Mr. Smith, who is said to be
a state bordering on insanity.

NARRATIVE OF ACCIDENT AND
DISASTER.

A case of Death from Chloroform has occurred at the
Stepney Union. John Holden, an inmate, was about
to undergo an operation, and desired the relief of
chloroform. Mr. Swain, a surgeon, administered the
chloroform under the direction of Mr. Reynolds, and in
the presence of two other medical gentlemen connected
with the establishment. Mr. Swain having examined
the deceased, and finding nothing to prohibit the use of
chloroform, administered half a drachm, which was less
than the average dose, without producing any of the
premonitory symptoms. He again administered a
similar dose, when the patient suddenly died without
exhibiting any one of the symptoms usually found to
precede the full and desired effects attendant on the
administration of chloroform. The countenance was
suddenly suffused, the heart ceased its action, the pulse
was still, and the vital spark was instantly quenched.
At the inquest on his body, the coroner spoke of the
value of the discovery of chloroform as an alleviant of
human suffering in severe surgical operations, and cited
several opinions of judges to show that even non-medical
men operating with good intentions were not liable to
the charge of manslaughter when the result proved
fatal. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that
the deceased died through the administration of chloroform,
though all the requisite precautions had been used.

An Unfortunate Accident happened in Her Majesty's
Theatre, during the performance of " Masaniello," on
Saturday evening, the 12th. A young man, named
Deuwell, was firing off some guns behind the scenes,
when one of them rebounded and discharged its contents
in his left leg, which was dreadfully shattered. He was
conveyed to Charing Cross Hospital, and amputation
was performed. When the accident happened, the
Queen, with several of the royal family, and a crowded
audience, were witnessing the performance.

A Destructive Fire took place, on the evening of the
7th, at Stanwood Farm, in the New Forest. Mr.
Chanwood, the farmer, noticed a light in the farm, and,
opening the door, found the interior in a blaze. There
was a fresh wind, which carried the flames to the stables
and ricks. The whole of the stables, with eight horses
and three fat oxen, were consumed; the barn, with
sixty quarters of corn, five ricks of corn, ten pigs, nearly
200 head of poultry, a vast quantity of farming
implements, &c. The granary, though in the midst of the
flames, escaped, as did four ricks and the farm-house;
but the furniture was much injured by removal. The
labourers looked on with apathy; some, indeed, stole a
barrel of beer, and cut slices from the burning bullocks.

SOCIAL, SANITARY, AND MUNICIPAL
PROGRESS.

The annual meeting of the Female Aid Society was
held on the 8th, at the Hanover Square Rooms, the
Marquis of Cholmondely in the chair. This society
supports a Home for friendless young women of good
character, a Home and Registry for female servants, and
a Home for Penitents. The report stated that a
comparison of the present capabilities of the society in two
departments of its labour with those which existed in
the year 1844 showed that great progress had been made.
The number of inmates who were received into the
Friendless Home in 1844 was sixteen, and the present
asylum was capable of accommodating thirty-five. In
the same year the Penitents' Home could, with difficulty,
accommodate forty inmates, and the present limit was
extended to sixty. During the past year sixty-six
females had been placed in service from the Friendless
Home, and there were now thirty inmates in that
asylum. Since the commencement of the society, 988
young persons, friendless and unprotected, had been
trained and placed in service from this branch of the
society's labours. The success which had attended the
Servants' Home during the year was very encouraging.
The number of servants admitted as lodgers during the
year had been 165. Since the commencement of the
society the number was 1520. The persons supplied
with situations during the year numbered 311, and since
the commencement of the society 3204. As regarded
the Penitents' Home the committee observed, that 107
had been admitted into that asylum during the year,
making, with the sixty who were previously there, a
total of 167 who had received the benefits of the society.
Of this number fifty were now resident in the building,
twenty had been restored to their friends, and nineteen
had been sent to service. Since the commencent of the
society above 2160 outcast females had been admitted
into the Home, of whom upwards of 900 had passed
through their probation satisfactorily, and had been
either reconciled to their friends or placed in situations.
Upon the financial condition of the society the committee
reported that at the close of the year 1849 the society
was in debt to the amount of £600, and this sum had
now been paid off without affecting the efficiency and
usefulness of the Homes. Each source of the society's
income showed an increase; but nevertheless a sum of
about £3000 would be required previous to April, 1852,
to maintain the institution in its present state of
prosperity. Of this sum about £1400 must be derived from
donations and new subscriptions. The receipts during
the past year amounted to £3533. 7s. 8d., and the
expenditure to £3265. 2s. 7d.

The fourth anniversary of the Hoxton Ragged Schools
was celebrated on the 16th by a meeting in the school-
room. Mr. S. A. Hankey, in the absence of Lord
Ashley, was in the chair. The report of the committee
gave a very satisfactory account of the progress of the
schools; and also related some interesting particulars
respecting the success which had attended the boys who
had emigrated at the expense of the establishments.
One boy had written from America to Lord Ashley and
Lady C. Sturt, stating that whilst in England he was
seven times convicted as a thief; but in his present
position he was respected, and was happier than ever he
was in his life. In England, he was "six weeks in
prison and one out:" now he had an abundance of all
he wished for, and had been enabled to place thirty
dollars out at interest, after spending twenty-five dollars
in clothing. The report went on to state that daily
instruction was imparted to 120 infants; whilst twenty
boys and thirty girls were taught writing and arithmetic
four nights in the week; and about 260 received instruction
upon the Sabbath-day. A London City missionary
had been appointed in connexion with the schools,
Mr. H. C. Sturt and his lady contributing £25 a-year
towards his support. A penny bank had been opened
to receive from the children their little sums, to which
interest would be added. The annual expenditure of
the institution did not exceed £104, and this sum was
found sufficient to provide for day and evening instruction,
emigration, school requisites, &c. There was,
however, a debt upon the school amounting to £218 12s.,