West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. Friday 28th December, 1849. ECCLESIASTICAL - The Reverend NUTCOMBE OXENHAM has been appointed to the Prebendal stall in the Cathedral of Exeter, vacant by the death of the Reverend Sir HENRY LESLIE, Bart. The Reverend E. SEYMOUR has been appointed by the Bishop of Exeter to the perpetual curacy of East and West Looe in this county. SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN AND MARINERS’ BENEVOLENT SOCIETY - It is gratifying to refer to the doings of this society, connected with which an eminent proof of usefulness and liberality has recently come under our notice at Polperro. Through the agency of Lieutenant CORNISH, R.N., of that place, each of the seventeen men wrecked in the barque “Shepherdess,” on the 6th instant, received GBP1. 17s. 9d. from the society’s funds, for the purpose of providing them with clothing, &c., and considering the destitute circumstances in which these poor men found themselves on landing, having lost everything but what they had on them, this munificent donation cannot be too highly appreciated. In estimating the efficiency of the society we must take into account the great number of vessels, fishing boats, &c., which are annually wrecked on our coasts, and the vast number of persons who consequently receive assistance in the “time of need” from this source. We fear, however, that the society does not receive that amount of support from mariners generally to which it is deservedly entitled, and we hope that such instances as the above may more fully awaken them to its advantages. CARHARRACK - In the Wesleyan chapel at this place the morning of Christmas day was solemnly ushered in by the choir of that chapel singing the beautiful piece, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come,” after which prayer and singing were continued, the latter reflecting much credit on Captain RICHARD JEFFERY, the leader of the choir. In the evening an excellent discourse was delivered by the Rev. J. HARROP, from St. Luke’s gospel, chap. 2nd, verse 14th, in the course of which he explained with much energy, the nature of Christ’s mission. It is highly gratifying to add, that unlike past Christmas days, no Bacchanalians were seen in the public way, but many hundreds of human beings proceeding to the house of prayer. SUSPENSION OF PILOTS - We understand that Mr. VINCENT, of St. Mawes, and the other pilots on board his pilot boat at the time of speaking the “Mary,” of Dartmouth, lost near Falmouth about a fortnight since, are suspended from acting till some further investigation has taken place relative to the charges against them for not taking the ship under their care. STEALING FROM CHANGING-HOUSE - On Saturday last, JAMES NINNIS, of the parish of St. Austell, labourer, was brought before Mr. EDWARD COODE, jun., charged with stealing, on the 14th instant, from Balleswidden mine, in the parish of Saint Just in Penwith, a duck-jacket, a pair of trowsers, a waistcoat, and a pair of drawers, the property of WILLIAM WARREN, of the parish of Sancreed, miner. It appeared that the prisoner took advantage, whilst Warren was at work underground, to steal the clothes from the changing-house. He was pursued to St. Austell, and when apprehended, the whole of the articles were being worn by him. He was committed to take his trial at the next quarter sessions. FIRE - On Christmas day, about eight o’clock in the evening, the inhabitants of Falmouth were alarmed by the ringing of the fire-bell, and it was reported, that a fire had broken out in a house near the church, occupied by different tenants. The part on fire was in the occupation of a person called HOCKING, a shoemaker. There were indications of fire for some time previous to the alarm being given, but Mr. hocking and his wife being from home, and the place locked up, the neighbours could not gain admittance; but at length the place was forced open, and it was discovered that some part of the stairs, and some sticks, &c., underneath were on fire, the door of the closet being closed. FATAL ACCIDENT - On Saturday last, at Restormel Iron Mine, a large quantity of ground gave way, and buried three men, one of whom was crushed to death, another died on being conveyed to his house, and the other had an arm broken, besides receiving severe injuries. CORONERS’ INQUESTS - The following inquests have been held before Mr. JOSEPH HAMLEY, coroner. On the 20th instant, at Port Isaac, on WILLIAM STROUT, aged 16, a mariner, who died under the following circumstances. It appeared that a puncheon of rum had washed on shore near Port Isaac, and this young man and several others, drank of it until they became so drunk that they were obliged to be carried home, all in a state of insensibility. Mr. TREVAN, surgeon, was called to them, and succeeded in recovering all but Strout, who died of apoplexy from drinking ardent spirits, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly. On Monday last, on WILLIAM KEAST, and JOHN JANE, two miners. They were working together at Restormel Iron Mines, when a large rock, about four tons weight, came unexpectedly away from the upper part of the adit, and fell on them, killing Keast on the spot, and injuring Jane so much that he died in being carried to his home. It appeared from the evidence that there was no danger apprehended in that part of the mine, and that there was no blame to be attached to any one, and the jury returned a verdict of “accidental death.” Keast has left a wife and six children; Jane was a young man. On the same day, at St. Minver, on WILLIAM CRADDOCK, an old man aged 66? He was an old ringer, and had been ringing in the belfry in consequence of a wedding, and when putting on his coat to leave the belfry, one of the other ringers saw him fall, and on taking him up saw that he was dead. Verdict, “visitation of God.” On Monday, at St. Kew, on the body of ANNE MASIE? LIBBY, aged 5 years. In this case, the mother had dressed the deceased and her little sister on Saturday morning, and sent them down stairs under the impression that their elder sister, a young woman, was there; but she had left the house a few minutes before, and deceased, in removing a tea-pot from the fire-place, caught her saveall afire, and ran out of the house. She rant to a neighbour’s house, but not being able to get in there, she returned to her home, where her sister met her, and pulled off hr clothes. The mother then took charge of her, and paid her every attention, but she was so badly burnt that she died at four o’clock the next morning. Verdict, “Accidental death.” On the same day, in the parish of Newlyn, on the body of THOMAS ROBERTS, aged 7 years. The mother of deceased went to Michell to receive some Christmas charity, and locked the deceased and his sister in the house, to keep them, as she thought, out of harm’s way, as the neighbours had been complaining of their being mischievous children. A neighbour, hearing screeches proceeding from the house, looked in at the window, and saw the deceased with all his clothes on fire, and his sister throwing water on him. The neighbour rendered what assistance he could, and afterwards Mr. VIGURS, surgeon, attended him; but he died in the course of the night. Verdict, “Accidental death.” On Wednesday, at Gadlass Farm, in the parish of St. Gluvias, on the body of JANE MARTIN, aged 3 years. In this case, it appeared that on Monday morning last, between six and seven o’clock, the deceased, who was sleeping in a room with two other little children, called to her mother, who went up and attended to her and left a candle on the table, and went down stairs. She had not been down long, before she heard the deceased crying, and on running up, found her with her night clothes all on fire. It appeared, that she or one of her little sisters had removed the candle from the table and placed it on the floor; and, by some means her clothes were ignited. It was not thought that the injuries were serious until towards evening, when the child had a fit, and a surgeon was sent for from Penryn, who dressed the wounds, but she survived only two hours afterwards. Verdict, “Accidental death.” CHRISTMAS MUNIFICENCE - A large quantity of beef and bread was distributed at Menabilly on Christmas eve, to one hundred and sixty poor families residing in the parishes of Tywardreath, Fowey, and St. Sampson’s, and one guinea and a suit of warm clothing and bedding to each of twenty poor widows, inmates of the Rashleigh Alms Houses at Fowey and Tywardreath. Also fifty shillings were distributed by the vicar of Fowey, to as many poor persons in his parish, being the annual munificent donations of Mr. RASHLEIGH of Menabilly.