asylum. Miss Wood was then forcibly put into a carriage and driven off to the Laverstock Asylum. On entering the carriage Miss Wood called on the representatives of the press to bear witness that she was being taken against her will. FUNERAL OF SIR CHARLES LYELL.-The great geologist, whose death, at the age of 77, took place on the 22nd of this month, was buried to-day in Westminster Abbey. Dean Stanley read the service and the lessons. The Queen's carriage and the Prince of Wales's were among those which followed the hearse, and Mr. Donald Cameron of Lochiel, one of the Grooms-inWaiting, placed upon the coffin at the last moment a memorial wreath of white camellias and hyacinths, to which was affixed a paper with the words, "A mark of esteem from the Queen." Public feeling was much shocked before the interment of the body by the proceeding of the Middlesex coroner, Dr. Hardwicke, who, not having been summoned by the family to hold an inquest on the occasion, insisted some days after Sir Charles's death upon going through that formality, and had the coffin forcibly opened for the purpose; the reason given being that the deceased had met with a fall two months previously, which might have accelerated his death. The subject was brought before Parliament, and the coroner met with a severe rebuke. MARCH. 2. FIRE AT EDINBURGH.-A serious fire occurred to-day in the first flat of the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh. Just as the cleaners were preparing to leave the premises, flames were seen proceeding from the flue of the furnace used for heating the water which is led through the building. Catching hold of the wood, the fire soon communicated with the books, and before the arrival of the fire brigade of the city a large portion of the library was placed in jeopardy. The flames, however, were soon got under, though not before about 1,000 volumes had been destroyed. These consisted principally of geographical and historical works. SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT.-The express train which leaves Lichfield for Birmingham by the London and NorthWestern route at 9.15 a.m. met with an alarming accident the same morning. Whilst turning a curve near Brownhill Station, the driver observed a coal train standing on the line in front of the engine, and at once shut off steam and endeavoured to bring the train to a standstill. At the moment the express was travelling at a high rate of speed, not being timed to stay at Brownhill, and the efforts of the driver to avoid a collision were therefore unavailing. Seeing this the driver and stoker jumped off, thus, in all probability, saving their lives. The engine of the express and the guarl's van of the coal train were smashed to pieces by the force of the collision, and several of the carriages and trucks were greatly damaged and broken. There were about fifty passengers in the train, and as soon as possible they were removed. Some twenty persons were then found to have sustained various injuries more or less severe. Three or four of the passengers were seriously injured and left at Brownhill, the others being either conveyed to Birmingham or taken back to Lichfield. It is stated that one man was thrown forward and his head forced through the panel of the carriage in which he was sitting. AN ALARMING ACCIDENT happened on the same day at the Jerusalem Chamber, Cowper's Court, about mid-day, when most of the leading merchants of the City had assembled beneath the dome of the building, to the number of about 200. A man who was employed upon some adjoining premises lost his foot-hold, and came with a tremendous crash on to the skylight of the Jerusalem Chamber, sending the glass flying in all directions. He, however, managed to sustain himself by means of his arms, but his position was exceedingly perilous, owing to the slight support offered by the fragile sash. Every one present thought that he must soon fall, but in a moment an old gentleman, nearly eighty, rushed to the rescue, and grasped the labourer by the collar until sufficient assistance arrived to place him on the roof in safety. The man was terribly shaken and frightened, and also sustained some severe cuts from the broken glass, as indeed did several of the gentlemen down below, two or three of whom had to procure medical assistance. Had the man fallen, nothing could have saved him, for the distance from the roof to the ground must be nearly sixty feet. Others, too, would have been killed or severely injured by his descent. -- A COURT-MARTIAL. The members of a general courtmartial, which assembled at Chatham garrison by direction of the Duke of Cambridge, have just passed a more than usually severe sentence on a soldier belonging to the 2nd battalion of the 16th Regiment, named Robert Kelly, with the object of endeavouring to put a stop to the desertions and fraudulent re-enlistments which now prevail to so great an extent in the army. The accused originally belonged to the Royal Artillery, from which he deserted, making away with the whole of his regimental necessaries and uniform. He then re-enlisted at Sunderland in Sept. 1873, in the third subdistrict, having previously falsely declared that he had not served in the army before. Within a few weeks he deserted from the third sub-district, and almost immediately re-enlisted at Middlesborough, selecting this time the Grenadier Guards, again receiving a free outfit, kit, &c. On July 4th last he once more deserted, and on the 7th of the same month enlisted at Chatham for service in the 33rd Brigade Depôt, again falsely declaring that he had never served in the army before. He was, however, a short time since detected as he was again on the the eve of deserting, and handed over for trial by a general court-martial, by whom he was sentenced to five years' penal servitude, and to be dismissed from Her Majesty' service with ignominy. 3. SHIPWRECKS.-A telegram from Melbourne has informed us of the loss of two Australian steamers. The "Gothenburg" was wrecked on Flinders Island, Port Darwin. She had on board 85 passengers and a crew consisting of 35 men, and 3,000 ozs. of gold. Only four passengers were known to be saved, and three boats full of passengers were adrift. The "Norseman" was wrecked on the Bunker group, but the crew were saved. - MURDER OF MR. MARGARY IN CHINA.-Intelligence has also been received by telegraph of a terrible tragedy in the East. An exploring party was despatched some time since by the Indian Government, under Colonel Horace Browne, to enter SouthWestern China through Burmah. It was joined by Mr. Margary, a civil engineer, of the Chinese Consular service, who was despatched from Pekin to act as Chinese interpreter to the expedition. Letters were received from this gentleman describing his daring journey from Shanghai to the Burmese frontier, a route which had previously been impracticable to Europeans, and stating that he everywhere found the Chinese mandarins civil and the people "charming." He joined the expedition safely at Bhamo, in Burmah, but on the 22nd of February they were attacked at a place called Manwine, in Chinese territory, by several hundred Chinese and natives, and Mr. Margary and five Chinese servants were surrounded and killed. 4. A GAS EXPLOSION occurred this evening at Messrs. Dickinson's, 168, New Bond Street, where "The Roll Call" is being exhibited. An escape of gas being perceived, the manager insisted on the bags containing the gases used for the illumination of Miss Thompson's picture by limelight being removed from the gallery. They were taken into the basement, where shortly afterwards a violent explosion took place. The contractors in charge, being hurt, were removed to St. George's Hospital; their injuries were not found to be dangerous. It was resolved for the future to use ordinary gas when artificial illumination is necessary. No damage whatever was done to "The Roll Call," or to the valuable collection of water-colour drawings exhibited in the gallery. A DARING ROBBERY was effected on the same day at a jeweller's, Mr. John Neal, Edgware Road, by some expert burglars, who drilled through the iron shutters, and then through a large square of plate glass, and, by means of a hooked instrument, drew through the aperture so formed all the gold chains, rings, and other valuable jewels within their reach. A robbery of the same description has also been committed in Commercial Street, Leeds. About seven o'clock a man went to the shop window of Mr. Smith, jeweller, and breaking a pane of glass with a stone, seized a quantity of jewellery and made off with it. He was captured in Briggate. He gave the name of William Thompson, and describes himself as a cloth dresser. The articles stolen were recovered. 6. THE BOYTON LIFE-DRESS.-A practical experiment of great interest was successfully carried out on the Thames to-day. An American belonging to the New Jersey Life-Saving Service, Captain Paul Boyton, having, it is said, saved many lives along the American sea-board by the help of an inflated dress, has brought it to England, for the purpose of making its usefulness more extended. The dress, which is of American invention, consists of a solid india-rubber tunic, with head-piece and gloves attached, and a pair of pantaloons terminating in boots. It is secured with a watertight joint at the waist. The wearer is rendered buoyant by the inflation of five air-chambers. The headpiece has a small opening, which only exposes his eyes, nose, and mouth. On the present occasion, Captain Boyton was accompanied by two gentlemen, Lieutenant Morgan and Mr. Willis, a surgeon, all three being equipped in the life dress. They entered the Thames at Westminster Bridge, several scientific and other gentlemen keeping near them in a steamer, and floated down the river, helping themselves with canoe paddles, till they reached Greenwich, where they landed after a voyage of two hours and a quarter. Captain Boyton took in tow an india-rubber canoe and a large tin canister or floating magazine. The former contained a supply of rockets and signal lights; the latter, which has a close-fitting lid, some working tools and a stock of provisions and cigars, with an axe suspended from it. Each gentleman had a socket strapped to one foot, in which he carried a flag, Captain Boyton flying the American, Lieutenant Morgan the English, and Mr. Willis the Irish colours. As soon as the parties were afloat, their chief fired a series of signal rockets. In the Pool Captain Boyton showed the manner in which a life-line could be carried from shore to a ship. He received the end of the line from his brother, who was on board the steamer. Aided by his paddle, he carried the line a long distance across the river to a barge, which represented the vessel in distress. After this Captain Boyton and his two companions partook of a luncheon, including bottled beer, carried in their magazine; fresh cigars were lighted, and they continued their course. At Greenwich a large concourse of people awaited the three voyagers, who were enthusiastically received. They proceeded to the Ship Hotel, where further explanations respecting the dress and its capabilities were afforded. The voyagers were not in any respect the worse for their two hours' immersion and their exertions in paddling, although it was a cold, raw day. The experiment satisfactorily establishes the value of the Boyton life-dress in many respects, and the ease with which various operations can be carried on in water by the wearer suggests its applicability to the purposes of fishing, B shooting, and exploring. Its capabilities on a rocky and dangerous coast and in a rough sea have not yet been demonstrated in England. It is Captain Boyton's intention to make a voyage from Dover to Calais as soon as his arrangements will permit. ESCAPE OF A LION.-Great consternation has been caused in the neighbourhood of Balsall Heath by the escape of a lion from a menagerie at that place. The lion had succeeded in freeing himself from the cage, and one of the keepers observed it in the garden, walking towards the gate leading into the Balsall Heath Road, and with great courage and presence of mind closed the gate, thus preventing the animal from leaving the garden. The keeper obtained assistance, and a large piece of meat was tied to a rope and thrown to the animal, the men putting themselves in a secure position as they did so. The lion seized the meat, and held it so pertinaciously that the keepers succeeded in drawing the animal into its cage again, and so prevented it from doing serious mischief. 9. SEVERE STORM.-There has been a furious gale in Scotland lasting two days; the rain fell in torrents, flooding the rivers and causing great damage to property. Mr. John Cumming, lessee of the pier at Cove on the Clyde, lost his life during the gale. He had gone down to the end of the pier to cover with tarpaulin some goods which had been discharged from a steamer but had not been removed. He had finished his work, when he either fell over the pier or was carried over by the force of the wind. His cries were heard, and several persons rushed to the spot and took him out of the water. Not more than 12 minutes elapsed from the time the cries of distress were first heard till he was found, but although not dead when brought ashore, all the efforts made to restore consciousness failed, and he died soon after. AN UNUSUAL INCIDENT occurred at the sitting of the House of Commons this evening. During the debate two strangers entered the House by the members' doorway, and passing unchallenged, took their seats in the body of the House on the Liberal side close by the chair of the serjeant-at-arms. There they sat, according to their own story, for over half an hour, keeping their hats on, in imitation of those they saw around them. At length a division was called. The Speaker's wonted emphatic warning, "Strangers must withdraw," fell upon deaf ears, for the two strangers did not understand the summons and remained in their places. When the doors were locked and tellers were appointed, and members passed leisurely into the division lobbies, the two visitors must have begun to feel uncomfortable and see that they were not quite where they ought to be. By this time Captain Gosset's attention had been called to them, and the first order they received was "Take your hats off." As the doors were locked the intruders could not be turned out; and it would have been against all Parliamentary precedent to unlock the doors |