Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 4183, 24 July 1876, Page 3

The portrait of t b ® Duchess of Devonshire, by Gainsborough, Wu’ cb was recently bought at a public auction for 10, 109 guineas, was stolen during Thursday night froi£ the gallery in Bond street. The picture wa& being exhibited by the Messrs Agnew, at the well-known Art Gallery, 39, Bond street, Piccadilly. The painting was first forced out of the large frame, then a knife was inserted on the face of the straining frame and the canvas was cut put. It was then probably rolled up, and in that l? rm could, without attracting attention, be carried 12 the hand along the street. There are marks of a chisel on the window frame inside the room, leading to the supposition that the thief must have concealed himself upon the premises before they were closed for the night. A reward of Ll,ooo has been offered for the apprehension of the person or persons who stole the picture. Mr Agnew bore his loss with great equanimity, remarking to those friends and neighbors who quickly gathered round him to offer him their sympathy that he looked upon the event more in the character of a public outrage than of a private wrong. The ironclad Caledonia at Devonport is being temporarily used as a naval training ship, and 500 boys are berthed on board. On June 24 reports were current that a plot to sink her ha'd been discovered, and although every effort has been made to conceal it, the news has been corroborated. The leave of the boys of the Caledonia had been stopped for the misconduct of some among them, and much discontent prevailed, Early oh Thursday morning water was found to be coming into the ship rapidly, and signals for assistance were made by flashing lights. Several feat of water were found to be in the hold, and the pumps Were set to work vigorously, and gained on the inrush. It w.is then discovered that a valve had been opened under conditions which made it impossible that it could have been accidental This was stopped, and the ship pumped dry. Later on, two of the boys came forward attd voluntarily confessed that they opened the sca-cock—denying, however, that they did si. out of any spirit of revenge or to endanger the ship. They said they were rambling about the bottom of the ship, and out of curiosity turned some of the handles. The b'>ys’ story is believed, and they are not to be punished, but the master of the hold has been reprimanded for allowing the boys in that part of the ship.