West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. Friday 15th August, 1851. WHEREAS, HENRY SYMONS, late of St. Mawes, master of the Merchant Ship "Golden Eagle," and PHILLIPPA his Wife, are supposed to have been drowned together in November last, when the said ship was wrecked on the Haaks off the coast of Holland. Whoever will give any specific information respecting the death of the said Persons or either of them, to Mr. JOHN SYMONS, Hungerford Wharf, Strand, will be rewarded for his trouble. BOCONNOC - This fine mansion is not less distinguished by the historical events with which its name is connected than by the beauty of situation, and the extent and character of its grounds, and the views it commands. One of the events in its history, its being the head quarters of King Charles I., at the time of the siege of Fowey, has recently been again under notice of the sale of some rare autographs in the metropolis, amongst which the Athenaeum tells us there was sold at Sotheby's "a very interesting letter from Charles the first to Prince Rupert, entirely in the autograph of the King, and dated Boconnoc August 30, 1644, sold for GBP11. 5s. The letter closes "I must protest to you, upon the faith of a Christian, (the reason of this protestation, I refer to Robin Leg), that, as concerning your generosity, and particular Fidelity and Friendship to me, I have an implicit faith in you: this at all tymes, shall be made good by your loving Oncle and most faithful friend - Charles R." On the reverse of the second leaf is a continuance of the letter, in cipher, with the following note on the side, in the King's handwriting:- "I send you a Cyfer of my owen making, desiring you to use it, if you understand it, as I believe you will, though Waker [Sir Edward Walker?] who transcribes it, cannot." THE HARVEST - Harvesting has become general in the neighbourhood of Penzance, and has been commenced in other parts of the county. A field belonging to the Hon. G. M. FORTESCUE, of Boconnoc, is stated to have no less than one hundred and sixty shocks, ten sheaves in a shock, in an acre; the reed on an average being five feet seven inches long. THE REV. SAMUEL ANDREW - On Tuesday the 5th instant, Mr. LACY presented a petition from the electors of Launceston, praying for "an inquiry into the circumstances connected with the removal of the Rev. Samuel Andrew from the Head Mastership of the Ordnance School." EMIGRATION - On Tuesday last, the barque "Belle," BISON master, sailed from Padstow for Quebec, with one hundred and forty emigrants on board. NAVAL APPOINTMENT - Mr. JOHN VIVIAN WILLIAMS, son of Mr. OCTAVIUS WILLIAMS, of Truro, has been appointed midshipman to H.M.S. "Calypso." ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. - Mr. HENRY SPRY LEVERTON, of Truro, having undergone the necessary examinations for the diploma, was admitted a member of this college, at the meeting of the Court of Examiners, on the 8th instant. QUARTERLY RETURNS OF BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS - The population of England and Wales was 15,914,148 on June 7th 1841, and 17, 922,768 on March 31st, 1851; and this implies such a rate of increase that the population, exclusive of persons in ships, must have been about 17,977,000 in the middle of the year 1851, and 15,930,000 in 1841. With regard to Cornwall, the registrar General's report contains the following. The population of the county in 1841 was 343,321, and by the recent census (the returns yet unrevised), the population on the 31st of March, 1851, was 356,662. The registrar of the Liskeard district states that scarlatina has prevailed during the last quarter, and has been extremely fatal in a portion of the sub-district. The St. Agnes registrar reports that the deaths have been a little above the average, from typhus and scarlatina having been rather prevalent among children. At Redruth the increase in births is attributed by the registrar to the influx of population; the deaths are in excess of the quarterly average, but no particular cause can be assigned, as no epidemic has prevailed; the mortality has principally been with persons of advanced years, and very young children. In the Camborne district, the increase in births and deaths is attributed to the great influx of labourers into the district during the last two years. In the Penzance district and Uny Lelant, the small-pox has prevailed during the past quarter. At St. Ives eleven died from small-pox making its appearance. The registrar suggests that some stringent measure should be enacted to compel people to have their children vaccinated. He says, "People have a superstitious fear of having their children vaccinated; they say, 'it is taking the cause out of the hands of God.'". This the Registrar General remarks, "is an instance of the effects of the mistaken fatalism of an ill-instructed people." PENZANCE GENERAL QUARTER SESSIONS - These sessions were held at the Guildhall, on the 6th instant, before G. N. OXENHAM, Esq., (deputed by ROBERT P. COLLIER, Esq., Recorder), when CHARLES WILSON was indicted for having on the 7th ultimo, at Penzance, feloniously stolen a blue cloth jacket and two cloth caps, the property of CHARLES ROGERS, of Scilly, shipwright. The prisoner pleaded "not guilty." Mr. PASCOE appeared for the prosecution. The evidence shewed that the prosecutor on the abovenamed day was lodging at the house of Mr. JOHN MORRIS, at the Quay. The prisoner and another man were lodging there at the same time with the prosecutor. The prosecutor, on retiring to rest the evening previous, had hung his jacket and caps to crooks in two rooms below stairs. On coming down stairs on the morning of the 7th ult., he missed these articles; the prisoner had then quitted the house and suspicion having fallen on him, Mr. Morris went in search of him, and discovered him at Hayle, with one of the prosecutor's caps on his head. Mr. Morris immediately gave the prisoner into the custody of THOMAS WESTACOTT, a police officer residing at Hayle. The Recorder summed up the evidence, and a verdict of "guilty" was immediately returned by the jury. The prisoner was sentenced to four months' imprisonment with hard labour, in the borough gaol. WEST PENWITH - The monthly meeting of the magistrates for this division was held at the Guildhall, Penzance, on the 6th instant. The magistrates present were D. P. LE GRICE, SAMUEL BORLASE, and JOSEPH CARNE, Esqrs., and Revds. C. V. LE GRICE and H. E. GRAHAM. RICHARD VINICOMBE DACY and JOHN BLACKEREY READ, two of the overseers of the borough of Penzance, were summoned to shew cause why they had not obeyed an order of the board of guardians of the Penzance Union, for the payment of the sum of GBP130, on the 19th of June last, to the treasurers of the said union. Mr. Read admitted the amount was not paid on the day ordered, but stated that the fault did not lie with the overseers, inasmuch as they had left in the hands of the assistant overseer an ample rate to cover the call. Mr. TRUDGEON, the assistant overseer, stated the reason the call was not paid in due time was the great difficulty he had had in collecting the rate, and added that he paid the call to the treasurer on the 19th of July, being one month after the day named in the order. The justices decided that the overseers were guilty of the charge, and ordered them to pay 5s. and the expenses. JOHN ROGERS, clerk, v. WILLIAM ROWE and CHRISTOPHER EDWARDS. Mr. REGINALD ROGERS, of Truro, appeared for the complainant. The defendants were charged with having wilfully and maliciously broken down two posts at the tenement of Trevowin, in Ludgvan, the property of the complainant. The charge was admitted by the defendants, upon which Mr. Rogers stated his object in summoning the parties was to prevent the committing of similar offences, and as the defendants had expressed their sorrow for the injury they had done, he should be content if the magistrates ordered the defendants to pay merely for the damage done to the posts, and the expenses. Decision accordingly. HENRY SAMPSON, a beerseller, residing at New Bridge, in the parish of Sancreed, appeared to answer a charge of having on the 10th of June last, (being Sancreed feast-day), kept his house open at improper hours and allowing drunkenness therein. The charge was proved by a man named WILLIAM ROBINS. Mr. BORLASE, of Castlehorneck, informed the bench that Sampson was a man of good character, and hoped that a small fine only would be inflicted. The justices ordered the defendant to pay GBP1, to include the expenses. WILLIAM JENKIN and RICHARD JENKIN were summoned to shew cause for their refusing to reimburse the parish of Madron, for the maintenance of their father, ENOCH JENKIN, now an inmate in the union workhouse, and chargeable to the said parish. Mr. DUNN, the master of the workhouse proved these facts, and stated the weekly cost of the pauper was 1s. 8 1/2 d. per week. An order was made for the payment by William Jenkin of 8d. and by Richard Jenkin of 1s. per week, each. JOHN CLEMENCE was charged by WILLIAM MADDERN, of the parish of Madron, with having on the 4th instant, deserted his service before the full term of his servitude was completed. The justices deemed the complainant's evidence uncertain and unsatisfactory and dismissed the charge. PETER WILLIAMS v. JOSEPH HUNKIN. The complainant sought to recover the sum of 17s. 6d. as a balance due for wages for work done at West Wheal Darlington mine, in Ludgvan. From the cross-examination of the complainant and the evidence adduced on the part of the defendant, it appeared that the complainant and defendant and two others were joint contractors for the erection of an engine-house and other buildings on the above mine, that the defendant after working at the "job" for about twenty days, finding it likely to prove an unprofitable one, ran off, leaving the defendant to his own resources to complete the contract, that previous to his leaving, the complainant had taken up an equal share of "subsist" money with the defendant and the two other partners, but notwithstanding his having so shabbily served the defendant by leaving the work in the manner described, he now sought to make it appear as if the defendant was his employer at daily wages. The justices were of opinion that the parties were co-contractors and dismissed the case. There was another summons against the same defendant by W. J. HUNKIN, another of the contractors, for GBP1. 9s. which met with a similar fate. Mr. PASCOE appeared for the defendant in each case. ST. AUSTELL PETTY SESSIONS - These sessions were held in the Town-hall on Tuesday last, when DAVID KENT, of St. Stephens, was charged, on the information of policeman SAMBELL, with leaving his waggon in the eastern turnpike for more than one hour and a half, and was fined 5s. with 6s. 6d. cost. AMELIA BULLEN was charged with an assault on a young woman named BULLEN, and was fined 20s., and in default of payment was committed for one month to the county gaol. TRURO POLICE - On the 1st instant, SAMUEL DAVIS was committed to the House of Correction for three calendar months, with hard labour, for being in GEORGE CLIFT's garden for the purpose of stealing apples. On the same day EBENEZER NIKE was fined 10s, with 10s. costs, for assaulting STEPHEN JOHNS, in Calenick Street, and in default of payment was committed to the House of Correction for fourteen days. He was also fined GBP2 and 10s. costs, for assaulting policeman Ward in the execution of his duty, and in default of payment was committed to the House of Correction for one calendar month, with hard labour, to commence at the termination of the former sentence. On the 6th instant, MARY FRANKS was committed for trial at the next sessions, for stealing several articles of wearing apparel, the property of WILLIAM TRENHAILE, of Calenick Street, cordwainer. On the 7th instant, JOSIAH SPARGO was committed for trial at the sessions on two charges, for stealing a pair of kerseymere trousers, the property of GEORGE PELLEW, jun., of Truro, baker, and for stealing a calico shirt, the property of THOMAS BATTERSHILL, hatter. On Friday last, WILLIAM HENRY GLASSON was fined 40s. and 11s. costs, for offering and exposing for sale obscene songs in the public streets, and in default of payment was committed to the House of Correction for three calendar months. On the same day, JOSIAH EVANS was fined 5s. and 9s. costs, for assaulting police constable WARD, whilst in the execution of his duty; and in default of payment was committed to hard labour for one calendar month. THE MULLION FIRES - This and the adjoining parishes have been the continued scene of incendiary fires and threatening letters for several years past; and a person of the name of WILLIAM BARTLE was tried and convicted at the late assizes and sentenced to fifteen years' transportation. The offence was brought home by a mass of circumstantial evidence, of which we gave a full report last week. Our correspondent states that much praise is due to Mr. HILL, of Helston, for it is understood to be principally owing to his untiring exertions that the guilty party has been brought to justice. We trust we shall never have again to record, especially in our county, such terrible visitations as have been inflicted on some of the inhabitants of this district by fire. The learned judge, Lord Campbell, in summing up the case to the jury, said the crimes were only paralleled in the county of Tipperary, in our unfortunate sister country, Ireland. A LAD DROWNED WHILST BATHING - An alarm being given at Padstow on Tuesday last, that a lad named JAMES DOCTON had sunk whilst bathing. JAMES GAMMON OSBORN, conductor of the blockmaking department in the establishment of Messrs TREDWEN, hastened to the spot, and succeeded in bringing the body to land, but the means used for resuscitation proved unavailing, life being extinct. FATAL ACCIDENT - On Sunday the 20th ult., on board the "Jane Sowden," of Padstow, ROBERT LANGFORD, master, on her voyage from Quebec to Truro, JAMES WHITE, a youth about eighteen years of age, fell from the main-top-sail yard-arm to the deck, and was injured so severely that he died in about ten minutes after. It is stated that his parents reside at Brompton Villa, London. CORONER'S INQUESTS - The following inquests have been held before Mr. HAMLEY, county coroner:- On the 2nd inst., at Roche, on ANN VERCOE, an old woman. She lived with her son-in-law and daughter. The daughter had just gone up stairs leaving the old woman sitting in the kitchen alone. She heard a noise and on going down found her lying on the floor; she lifted her up and found she was quite dead. Verdict, "visitation of God." On the 9th inst., at St. Neot, on JOHN OATS. It appeared that the deceased, only 15 months old, had gone out with some other children into a house in which there was an open well. Soon after, one of the children made an alarm that the child had fallen into the well. Assistance was soon got and the child taken out, but he was quite dead. Verdict, "accidentally drowned." On the 13th inst., at Treganissy, in the parish of St. Austell, on the body of CHARLOTTE VIVIAN a child two years and half old. The mother had left her on a bench in the kitchen near the fire-place, while she went to fetch some turf. A few minutes after, a neighbour heard her crying and on going out saw the child coming out of the house all in flames. She got out the fire as soon as possible and called the mother. Medical assistance was soon had, but the child died in consequence of the injuries. It was supposed she fell off the bench and caught her clothes on fire. Verdict, "accidentally burnt to death."