ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 728, 24 July 1852, Page 4

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

By the Royal Mail ste?ra ship Severn, Capt. Vincent, we have important advices from ths coast of Africa, brought to Lisbon by her Majesty's steam frigate Sampson, which put into the Tagus on the 1 lth February, for a supply of coals on her way to England with despatches and mails. The Sampson reports the almost total deslruclion of the town of Lagos by the boats of the British squadron en the 26th and 27th' of December, the English vessels sustaining a loss of fifteen killed and seventy-five wounded. The ships engaged in the attack were the Penelope, Bloodhound, Sampson, and some others, and the jrreat loss of the ED^lish squadron was occasioned by the Bloodhound having grounded on a sand bank within range of a battery of 18 guns.. It is understood- tliat these hostilities were undertaken in consequence of the refusal of tba king or chief of that place to sign a treaty for the effectual suppression of the siave trade in his dominions. It was ac* cordingly determined to attack Lagos, and, after two days' fighting, the object was accomplished, and the place nearly destroyed, an immense number of the natives having been killed. The chief, or kiug, has also beeu depose*!, "ami another one sui/slimted. Amoug the killed were Mr. Flstcher, of the Penelope, and Mr. Richards, of the Sampson, two midshipmen, and Mr. Gilham, master-assistant of the Penelope. Among the wounded on board the Penelope are included Capt. Listei, Commander Hillver, Lieut. Corbett, R.N., and Lieut. Williams, Royal Marines, all severely injured ; Lieut. Eaumarez, of the Sampson, was also wounded, being shot through the thigh. Great Fire at Manchester. — A fire, which involved the destruction of a cotton mill, and the loss of upwards of £20,000, occurred on Saturday evening, the 31st January, at Manchester. The mill was an old structure, of considerable extent, measuring about sixty yards in length, and twelve in breaihh, and running to the height of eight stories, with an attic. It is situate at the bottom ol DicUenson-street, St.-Peters-square, was in the occupation of Mr. Frost and others, trading uuder the title of Thomas Ogden & Sons, a firm name long attached to the mill. They employed between four hundred and fifty and five hundred hands in the manufacture of fine yarns mainly, and some small quantity of low numbers, and their workpeople will now be out of employ. The cause of the fire is accidental, or, at least, it is said to be so. A piece of machinery, in No. 3 Room, driving the first " wheelhouse," or pair of "mules," was not working well, and Mr. Frost, in the-rafternoon, gave instructions to a mechanic to look at it. The man found that the repairs would take. some time, and he was obliged to remain at work after all the hands had quitted the mill, at about 4 o'clock. Darkness coming upon him before he had finished, he called upon the watchman of the mill to procure a light, and while they were still at, work,, the watchman let the light drop, and the flame, communicating

with the cotton about, he and the mechanic had scarcely time to get out of the room before it was in a blaze. Great Running Match. — The foot race for the Champion Belt carae off in Copenhagen fields on the 2nd February, before at least 6,000 spectators. There were 21 competitors ; the whole of the pedestrians weie on ihe ground -by balf-past two o'clock, but it was 50 minutes past 2 before they were off; Frost (the Suffolk Stag) taking the lead at'a killing psce, so that before four miles were run, Granthara of Eton, Levett of Battersea, and other " cracks " were forced to give in, others dropping off, one by one*, -till the contest was reduced- to four, viz., — Frost, J. Tetlow, of Oidham ; Pudney, of Mile End ; and Adams, ofMitcham — -they running throughout in a -most splendid manner, Frost evidently master of the oiber three, going ever the ground like a "stag" — the assumed name he bears. The 10 miles were run in 51 minutes 32 seconds ; Frost coming in at 44 minutes 32 seconds past 3 o'clock, and_being at least 300 yards in advance of Tetlow, Pudney fifty yards further behind, and Adam's -SO yards in tbe rear of Pudney. Betting before starting was rather in favour of Jackson, Levett, and Grantham, some taking odds of 3 to 1 against Frost, the winner.