WEST BRITON AND CORNWALL ADVERTISER . 25 JULY 1856 . CORNWALL MINING SCHOOL - The first session of the Mining School, 1855-6, terminated on the 30th of June last, and on the 2nd of July, Warrington W. SMYTH, Esq., Professor of Mining and Mineralogy at the Government School of Mines, at Jermyn-street, London, was, at the request of the Government Department of Science and Art, present at and conducted the examination of the pupils at Truro. After having carefully scrutinized their work, and passed them through a 'viva voce' examination, Mr. Smyth presented the Governors with the following report: . "Truro, 3rd July, 1816. It gives me great pleasure to be able to congratulate the Governors of the Cornish Mining School on the successful termination of the first session, and on the number of students attending the courses of instruction, a number which considerably exceeds that attained during the first few years of its existence, by the Mining Academy of Freiberg, an institution which has played so important a part in the extension of science throughout Europe. Considerable difficulty has evidently occurred during this first year, in suiting the courses of instruction to the different grades of preparation of the pupils, some of whom only entered the school after the courses had been for some time commenced." . "Of the ten students whom I yesterday met at the school, Messrs. FITTON and HUSTLER, whose examination papers proved them to have made excellent progress, could not, from their superior age and previous training, be placed in competition with the younger pupils. It is satisfactory to find that these gentlemen intend to continue their studies through the second year." . "A third adult student, Mr. EDWARD UREN, deserves special mention, as being one of a class whom it is very desirable to encourage, with a view of bringing forward the talents of the working population. This young man, who had devoted his spare time, whilst a working miner, to self-instruction in the elements of mathematics, has passed, after three months study, an excellent examination with Mr. HOBSON and Mr. RICKARD. His proficiency in algebra, the first four books of Euclid, trigonometry, and mining calculations would, when added to the principles of chemistry and mineralogy (to which he will apply in the next term), render him a very efficient teacher for one of the mining districts." . "With the younger pupils, whose ages vary between fourteen and sixteen, the main obstacle to progress would seem to have been the number of subject to which their attention had been directed during the first year. As the subjects will be more divided when the second year's course is commenced, a greater proportionate advance may then be expected." . "Messrs. PIKE, MICHELL and HIGGS, nevertheless, passed very well in the elements of chemistry, in the first two books of Euclid, algebra, and mining calculations; yet it is quite evident that as young lads will generally come to the school with but small preparation in the science of numbers and geometry, they must for some months devote so much time to these fundamental studies, as to preclude them from entering vigorously upon the application of the sciences to mining. ...[These difficulties] are likely to be fairly met and overcome by the judgment of your three teachers, the Rev. Mr. HOBSON, Mr. HODGE, and Mr. RICKARD, whose zeal and fitness for their task are evinced in the progress of one kind or another which has already been made by most of the students." Signed - Warrington W. SMYTH . In accordance with this report and the recommendation of Mr. Smyth, prizes were awarded to the following pupils: - first, PIKE, second, UREN, third HIGGS. . TRAVELS IN EGYPT, &c - On Tuesday evening last, at Penryn, Mr. CHARLES FOX gave descriptions of his recent travels in Egypt and the Holy Land, to the Sunday-school teachers and pupil teachers of the Wesleyan-schools, and at the same time showed them numerous illustrations, particularly of places connected with the history of the ancient Israelites, as described in the sacred scriptures. He also shewed them pieces of granite from Mounts Sinai and Horeb, and many other interesting relics from different places. ... Those who were privileged to hear him were highly delighted, and returned him their hearty thanks at the close. . MEDALS OF THE LEGION OF HONOR - Among the names of the English officers whom the Emperor of France has just conferred the medal of the Legion of Honor, we perceive that of Capt. CHARLES GEORGE GRYLLS, R.N., son the late Rev. HENRY GRYLLS, Vicar of St. Neot. . APOTHECARIES HALL - Amongst the gentlemen who passed their preliminary classical and mathematical examination on the 15th and 16th was Mr. CHARLES JENKYNS, of Tuckingmill. Mr. JOHN WAY, of St. Austell, passed his examination in the science and practice of medicine, and received his certificate to practice, on Thursday the 17th instant. . ST. STEPHENS BY ST. AUSTELL FAIR - This fair, held on Tuesday last, was more than usually well attended with an excellent show of cattle, and many bargains were made. Several superior lots of sheep also changed hands. The farmers of the neighbourhood are disposed to render the fairs here more worthy of the parish and its vicinity. . CAMELFORD JULY FAIR - At this sheep and lamb fair, which was held on the 17th instant, there were 4,055 penned; 3,320 of which were sold, the pieces of lambs varying from 10s. to 25s. per head. The bullock fair on the 18th was, as usual, well supplied with a very superior show of cattle, which were in great demand, and a very brisk sale continued throughout the day at prices similar to those maintained at late faire sin the neighbourhood. It was found at the close of the fair that 620 bullocks had exchanged hands, which is a greater number than was ever before known to have been sold at a fair in this place. . EARLY HARVEST - A field of self-sown oats, grown at Park Orchard, St. Clement, was cut on Tuesday last, by Mr. JOHN FERRIS, of the Fountain Inn, Truro. The sample is a most excellent one, and the yield is estimated to produce not less than twenty Cornish bushels per acre. . FOWEY - QUICK DISPATCH - The Fowey "lumpers" consisting of PHILLIPS, VINCENT, MUTTON and eleven others, in less than five days, discharged the "Countess of Lowden," RICHARDS master, of 875 tons register, from Quebec, with timber, working each day from six a.m. to six p.m. . LOST IN A FOG - Some of the inhabitants of Marazion were thrown into a state of excitement on Tuesday evening last, in consequence of the rumour that a boat, with a party of ladies and gentlemen on board, had been lost in a fog. . It appears that on Tuesday a party of about thirty, from Redruth, came to Marazion and the Mount, on an excursion; in the afternoon, they engaged two boats to put them across the bay to Mousehole. All passed off pleasantly until a short time after they started from Mousehole on their way back to Marazion, when they were enveloped in a dense fog, and were unable to discern either land or sky. . Happily the larger boat sailed in the right direction, and arrived in safety, but the smaller boat containing the rest of the party was missing. She was managed by two inexperienced lads, and without a compass to steer by, and as night was fast approaching, the people on shore felt alarmed for their safety; guns were fired, horns blown, and noises of various descriptions made, to attract them if possible by the sound. At last they were about to light a fire on the lofty cliff, when the sound of human voices were heard, proceeding from the lost boat, which was then approaching the shore. . It appears that those in the boat had been rowing about on every point of the compass, when fortunately [they] fell in with a fishing boat, whose crew informed them of the course they should steer; otherwise they might have gone to France, or into the broad Atlantic. They were then attracted by the firing of the guns on shore, when they proceeded in that direction, and were soon landed on "terra firma," to the great joy of their friends and themselves. . The boatmen were then kindly remunerated for their labours, and liberally supplied with refreshments. [There were reports of 2 ships going on the rocks because of the fog, including the new screw steamer "Zebra", Capt. Wm. BETTS, from Havre, with 22 passengers and 35 crew; all were saved, but the ship was completely lost on the rocks off Lizard Point.] . HELSTON WRESTLING - This match came off on Tuesday last, and there was never better play seen on Helston Downs, nor more general satisfaction given to all parties. From nine o'clock in the morning until noon, crowds were wending their way to witness this ancient game, and by half-past eleven, sixty-four standards were enlisted, with their ages, weight and height, and then paired off for the contest. . It gave much pleasure to the committee to hear "the thrown men" say, that in all their lives they had never seen a finer wrestling, nor men more fairly matched. . At twelve o'clock precisely, the play commenced, and it lasted until eight in the evening. In the fourth round, WILLIAM ARGALL (Redruth) threw WILLIAM TREGLOWN (Ludgvan); JOHN MERTON (Gwennap) and RICHARD WALL (St. Just), were compelled after a long struggle, to toss, and the former won. WILLIAM QUICK (Ludgvan) threw RICHARD TREVORROW (Illogan); THOMAS WILLIAMS (Ludgvan) threw JOHN OLIVER (Paul). In the fifth round, Argall threw Merton, and Quick threw Williams. In the sixth round, Argall threw Quick, and Merton threw Williams. . The prizes were therefore awarded as follows: First prize, GBP 10 to WILLIAM ARGALL; second prize, GBP 7. to WILLIAM QUICK; third prize GBP 5, to John MERTON; fourth prize, GBP3 to THOMAS WILLIAMS. The two other prizes of GBP 2 and FBP 1 (reserved by the committee) with GBP 1.10s. extra, were divieded between the men thrown in the fourth round, (who had 10s. each) and the men thrown in the third round with two old players, (who had 5s. each). . As a matter of course, some of the best players were thrown in the earlier part of the match, but it would be invidious to mention names. There was at attempt at 'fagotting' or 'selling the back' discovered, and both men were immediately paired with superior players, and got their just desserts. This was the only thing that caused an interruption to the proceedings. The fine weather helped to crown the diversions of the day, which must have been witnessed by at least three thousand spectators. . ROYAL ALBERT BRIDGE - At this bridge of the Cornwall Railway, in the course of erection over the river Tamar, at Saltash, an accident occurred on Monday evening last to the cylinder in which the centre pier was being built. For the convenience of the workmen, or some other cause, some of the stays had been removed from the internal parts of the cylinder, and on Monday evening the upper part collapsed under the immense pressure from the force and weight of the tide. Fortunately no one was injured. A telegraphic message was sent off immediately to MR. BRUNEL, the engineer. The pier is two feet above low-water mark, and its completion can be effected as the tide will permit; but the accident must necessarily occasion some delay. . TRURO POLICE - On Saturday last, HENRY HOUSE, of Perran, was charged with being found on the premises of Mr. JULYAN, builder, Fairmantle Street, at half-past nine at night, and not giving a satisfactory account of himself. There was no imputation of any felonious intention, and on defendant promising not to go there again to annoy of the inmates, he was discharged from custody, on paying the expenses. . MARY JANE ALLEN, of Grampound, was charged before Mr. NANKIVELL, with stealing a silk turnover, two silk handkerchiefs, two yards of ribbon velvet, four yards of lace, and two sovereigns, the property of Mr. RICKARD, innkeeper, of St. Erme. . The prisoner lived as servant with Mr. Rickard, who had missed some money, and from information he received, charged her with taking it. She admitted taking a sovereign, of which she produced 19s.6d. Mr. Rickard discharged her from his service, and the other articles above named were found in bundles she had left at a house in St. Erme. Mr. NASH, police superintendent, having been informed of the matter, she was taken into custody at Truro by police constable WOOLCOCK; the articles were identified by Mrs. RICKARD, and the prisoner was committed for trial. . ESCAPE FROM THE COUNTY GAOL - On Tuesday morning last, two prisoners escaped from the county prison at Bodmin. One of them was JOHN BASSETT, a ticket-of-leave man, who had been committed for burglaries at Falmouth; the other was GEORGE HARRIS, committed for sacrilege, for breaking into and stealing from St. Neot Church. Bassett is a cabinet maker, and Harris a mason, and they were both to be tried at the assizes next week. . Handbills have been issued, offering a reward for the apprehension of the two men, and stating that they escaped with only their shirts on, and it was supposed at about three o'clock in the morning. Harris, when he escaped, was wearing a cotton shirt marked "Cornwall County Prison, 1" . Bassett was wearing his own flannel shirt. It was said the way in which they escaped was by Bassett making a hole in the bottom of his cell, with a chisel, and drawing up Harris, who was in the cell underneath. Bassett's cell was next to the roof, so they then made a hole in the ceiling and get out upon the roof, and thence upon the spiked wall of the prison. Here they made use of a rope, which they had formed by splicing together short pieces, and by means of this rope let themselves down a wall twenty-five fee high, got into Mr. EVEREST's garden, and thence escaped. Bassett is a native of Falmouth; Harris, of Truro, but has lately resided at St. Cleer. . FATAL ACCIDENT - On Friday morning, about nine o'clock, a melancholy occurrence took place on the Gum Tree Flat, very nearly opposite the Bee-hive store. A party of miners working on one of the claims at this locality were drawing up their mate, JAMES RALPH, a Cornishman, who had previously gone down to bail the well out, he had been drawn up about eighty feet, when from some cause, unknown to his mates he fell out of the bucket. . On some of the party descending immediately afterwards, Ralph was found dead, and much bruised, principally on the left side of the head, his jaw broken and the left shoulder put out. His body was conveyed to the John O'Groat public-house where an inquest was held on the body by Dr. CLENDENNING, and a verdict of "accidental death" returned. The deceased was about 29 years of age, and son of Mr. JAMES RALPH, butcher of Helston. . CORONERS' INQUESTS - On Tuesday last, an inquest was held at Redruth, before Mr. JOHN CARLYON, county coroner, on the body of Joseph JOHNS, miner, aged 14 years, who was killed on Monday last, in Clijah mine, by falling down the shaft. He was wheeling stuff to the pat at the 40-fathoms level, where he was picked up insensible and carried to the surface, but just as he reached the brace he expired. . There being no one in the plat at the 40-fathoms level at the time, it was impossible to say what caused him to fall; but it was supposed that by some means or other he caught his toe in something, and rolled into the shaft, over a pile of stuff, which was there. Verdict, "Accidental death". . The following inquests have been held by Mr. HICHENS, county coroner: On Monday last, in the parish of Sancreed, on the body of JOHN GRENFELL, aged 73 years. The deceased, being in his usual state of health, on Saturday last after taking his breakfast, left his house for a walk, from whence he returned very shortly, and complained of being unwell, and after taking off his shoes, he went upstairs, undressed himself, and got into bed. After having been there about an hour, his wife went up and asked him if he would have anything, and he then told her to get some warm water and to bring it up with the box of pills, he having been long in the habit of taking pills whenever he felt as he thought bilious; but before she could get the water warm, she heard him moving, and thinking he was about to dress himself, went up to assist him, when on reaching the bedroom she found that he had fallen backward across the bed and was to all appearance dead. Two persons near at hand were immediately called in by Mrs. Grenfell, who on lifting the body up found that life was extinct. Verdict, "Natural death." . On the following day, at Penrose-lodge, in the parish of Sithney, on the body of MARY THOMAS, aged 72 years. The deceased and her husband occupied the lodge, and the latter being a labourer, left his home early on Monday morning last to follow his employment, and returned to his home to breakfast about seven o'clock, which he found his wife had prepared as usual. After eating his breakfast, he left again to go to his labour, his wife being then in her usual state of health, and being occupied in giving breakfast to some grandchildren who happened to be there. . Shortly after, a daughter of the deceased, being in the way to her mother's house and near thereto, was met by the grandchildren who said to her "Aunt, Granny is dead." And upon entering the house, she found her lying on the floor of the back kitchen, a corpse. Verdict, "Natural death."