The Sun. — London, England, 1849-01-11 00:00:00

ALTA CALIFORNIA ;OR THE 1 NEW GOLD REGION. From the geographical memoir upon Alta Califor nia (the California acquired by the late treaty with Mexico) addressed by Lieutenant-Colonel Fremont So the Senate, at the last session of Congress, v7e make a few extracts descriptive of the country : Alta California is divided into two parts the lash= and Western. The Eastern portion, lying betwesa the Rocky Mountains on the east, and the great range of the Sierra Nevadalon the west, compre hends an area of about 500 square miles, and saving the region around the Great Salt Lake in the north east corner, and a few green spots along the flanks of the Western Mountains, is a howling desert of burning sands, bald mountains, and is covered with evidences of volcanic action. It comprehends five-sixths of the terri tory of California, as acquired from Mexico. The only white settlement within its limits is the Mormon colony near the great Salt Lake. The Great Basin is sur rounded by . mountains on all sides, and the rivers which flow into it from the mountains empty into lakes the waters of which are evaported in the sun, as a substitute for an outlet to the sea, or the streams are absorbed by the sands of the desert; as, for in stance, Mary's river, after a course of 300 mi les, sud denly sinks into the sands, its waters as thick and bitter as bitumen, from the impregnations of its volcanic trail. (4ee the journal of Mr. Bryant, who went out to the Pacific by that route.) The western division of California lies west of the great range of the Sierra Nevada, and between it and tilt.- Pacific Ocean. Excepting the Mormons, near the Salt Lake, which trenches upon Oregon, in the eastern basin, this western section is the only part of California with which the army, navy, and settlers from the United States have had anything to do. All the accouunts we have had of California, from time immemorial, apply to the slip of country flanking the Pacific Ocean. We now come to the extracts from Lieut.-Colonel Fremont : • SIERRA NEVADA This Sierra is part. of the great mountain range which, under different names and with different ele vations, but with much uniformity of direction and general proximity to the coast, extends from the pe ninsula of California to Russian America, and with out a gap in the distance through which the water of the Rocky Mountains could reach the Pacific Ocean, except at the two places were the Columbia and Frazer's river respectively find their passage. This great range is remarkable i`or its length, its proximity and parellelisni to the sea coast, its great elevation, often more lofty than the Rocky Mountains, and its many grand volcanic peaks, reaching high into the region of perpetual snow. Ri-dng singly, like pyre- mids from heavily timbered plateaux, to the height of fourteen and seventeen thousand feet above the sea, these snowy peaks cons'itute the characterizing feature of the range, and distinguish it from the Rocky Mountains and all others on our part of the continent. That part of this range which traverses the Alta Ca lifornia is called the Sierra Nevada (Snowy Mountain) —a name in itself implying a great elevation, as it is only applied, in Spate,' geography, to the mountains whose summits penetrate the region of perpetual snow. It is a grand feature of California, and a do minating one, and must be well understood before the structure of the country and the character of its different divisions can be comprehended. It divides California into two parts, and exercises a decided in fluence on the climate, soil, and productions of each. Stretching along the coast, and at the general distance of 160 miles from it, this great mountain wall re ceives the warm winds, charged with vapour, which sweeps across the Pacific Ocean, precipitates their ac cumulated moisture in fertilizing rains and snows upon its western flank, and leaves cold and dry winds to pass on to the east. Hence the characteristic dif ferences of the two regions—mildness, fertility, and a superb vegetable kingdom on one side; comparative barreness and cold on the other. The two sides of the Sierra exhibit two distinct climates. The state of vegetation, in connexion with some thermometrical observations made during the recent exploring expedition to California, will esta blish and illustrate this difference. In the beginning of December, 1845, we crossed this Sierra, at let. 39 deg. 7.12, at the present usual emigrant pass, at the head of the Salmon Trout River, forty miles north of New Helvetia, and made observations at each base, and in the same latitude, to determine the respective temperatures, the two bases being, respectively, the weatern, about 500, and the eastern, about 4,000 feet above the level of the sea ; and the pass, 7,200 feet. The mean results of the observations were, on the eastern side, at sunrise, 30 deg. ; the state of vege tation and the appearance of the country being at the same `time (second week of December), that of confirmed winter, the rivers frozen over, snow on - the ridges, annual plants dead, grass dry, and deciduous trees stripped of their foliage. At the western base the mean temperature during a corresponding week was, at sunrise 29 deg., and at sunset 52 deg.; the state of the atmosphere and of vegetation that of advancing spring ; grass fresh and green, four to eight inches high, vernal plants in bloom, the air soft, and all the streams free from ice. Thus, December on one side of the mountain was winter, on the other it was spring. MARITIMR REGION WEST Of TIIE SIERRA NEVADA. West of the Sierra Nevada, and between that mountain and the sea, is the second grand division of California, and the only part to which the name an plies in the current language of the country. It is the occupied and inhabited part, and so different in character, so divided by the mountain wall of the Sierra from the great basin above, as to consti tute a region to itself, with a structure and configu ration, a soil, climate, and productions of its own ; and as Northern Persia may be referred to as some type of the former, so may Italy be referred to as some point of comparison for the latter. North and south, this region embraces about ten degrees of latitude — from 32 degrees, where it touches the peninsula of California, to 42 degrees, where it bounds on Oregon. East and west, from the Sierra Nevada to the sea, it will average in the middle parts 150 miles, in the northern parts, 200 ; giving an area of above one hundred thousand miles. Looking westward from the summit of the Sierra, the main feature pre sented is the long, low, broad valley of the Joaquin and Sacramento rivers—the two valleys forming one —five hundred miles long, and fifty broad, lying along the base of the Sierra, and bounded to the west by the low coast range of mountains which separates it from the sea. Long dark lines of timber indicate the streams, and bright spots mark the intervening plains. Lateral ranges, paralleled to the Sierra Nevada and the coast, make the structure of the coun try, and break it into a surface of valleys and moun tains—the valleys a few hundred, and the mountains 2,000 to 4,000 feet above the sea. These form greater muses, and become more elevated in the north, where some peaks, as the Shasti, enter the regions of perpe tual snow. Stretched along the mild coast of the Pacific, with a general elevation in its plains and valleys of only a few hundred feet above the level of the sea —and backed by the long and lofty wall of the Sierra—mildness and geniality may be assumed as the characteristics of its climate. The inhabitant of corresponding latitudes on the Atlantic side of this continent can with difficulty conceive of the soft air and southern productions under the same latitudes in the maritime region of Upper California. The sin gular beauty and purity of the sky in the south of this region is characterised by Humboldt as a rare phenomenon, and all travellers realise the truth of his description. The present condition of the country affords but slight data for forming correct opinions of the agri cultural capacity and fertility of the soil. Vancouver found, ati the mission of San Buonaventura, in 1792, latitude 34 deg. 16 min., apples, pears, plums, figs, oranges, grapes, peaches, and pomegranates growing • together with the plantain, banana, cocoa-nut, sugar cane, and indigo, all yielding fruit in abundance, and of excellent quality. Humboldt mentions the olive oil of California as equal to that of Andalusia, and t e Wine like that of the Canary Islands. At present bat little remains of the high and various cultivation which had been attained at the missions. Under the mild and paternal administration of the ,‘ fathers," the docile character of the Indians was made available for labour, and thousands were em ployed in the fields, the orchards, and the vineyards. At present, but little of this former cultivation is seen. The fertile valleys are overgrown with wild mustard ; vineyards and olive orchards, decayed and neglected, are among the remaining vestiges; only in some places do we see the evidences of what the country is capable. At San Buonaventura we found the olive trees, in January, bending under the weight of neglected fruit ; and the mission of San Luis Obispo (latitude 35 deg.) is still distinguished for the excellence of its olives, considered finer and larger than those of the Mediterranean. The productions of the south differ from those of the north and of the middle. Grapes, olives, Indian corn have been its staples, with many assimilated fruits and grains. Tobacco has been recently intro duced, and the uniform summer heat which follows the wet season, and is uninterrupted by rain, would make the southern country well adapted to cotton.— Wheat is the first product of the north, where it always constituted the principal cultivation of the missions. This promises to be the grain-growing region of California. The moisture of the coast seems particularly suited to the potato and to the vegetables common to the United States, which grow to an extraordinary size. Perhaps few parts of the world can produce in such perfection so great a variety of fruits and grains as the large and varied region enclosing the bay of San Francisco, and drained by its waters. A view of the map will show that region and its great extent, com prehending the entire valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, and the whole western slope of the Sierra Nevada. General phrases fail to give precise id e as, end I hive recourse to the notes in my Journal to show its climate and productions, by the test of the thermometer and the state of the vegetable kingdom. VALLEYS Or THB SACRAMENTO AND SAN JOAQUIN. These valleys are one, discriminated only by the na mes of the rivers which traverse it. It is a single valley—a single geographical formation—near 500 miles long, lying at the western base of the Sierra Nevada, and between it and the coast range of moun tains, and stretching across the head of the bay of San Francisco, with which a delta of 25 miles con nects it. The two rivers, San Joaquin and Sacra mento, rise at opposite ends of this long valley, receive numerous streams, many of them bold rivers, from the Sierra Nevada, become themselves navigable rivers, flow towards each other, meet half way, and enter the bay of San Francisco together, in the region of tide water, making a continuous water line from one end to the other. The valley of the San Joaquin is about 300 miles long and 60 broad, between the slopes of the coast mountain and the Sierra Neveda, with a general ele vation of only a few hundred feet above the level of the sea. It presents a variety of soil, from dry and unproductive to well watered and luxuriantly fertile. Yhe eastern (which is the fertile) side of the valley is intersected with numerous streams, forming large and very beautiful bottoms of fertile land, wooded principally with white oaks', (quercus longiglanda, Torr, and Frem) in open groves of handsome trees, ~fren five or six feet in diameter, and 60 to 80 feet high. Only the larger streams, which are 50 to 150 yards wide, and drain the upper parts of the moun tains, pass entirely across the valley forming the 'l'ullare lakes and the San Joaquin river, which, in the rainy season, make a continuous stream from the head of the valley to the bay. The foot hills of the Sierra Neveda, which limit the valley, make a wood ' land country, diversified with undulating grounds and pretty valleys, and watered with small streams, which reach only a few miles beyond the hills, the springs which supply them not being covered enough to carry them across the plains. These afford many advantageous spots for farms, making some times large bottoms of rich moist land. The rolling surface of the hills presents sunny exposures, shel tered from the winds, and, having a highly favourable climate and suitable soil, are considered to be well adapted to the cultivation of the grape, and will pro bably become the principal vine-growing region of California. The uplands bordering the valleys of the large streams are usually wooded with evergreen oaks, and the intervening plains are timbered with groves or belts of evergreen and white oaks, among prairie nd open land. The surface of the valley consists of plains along the Tullare lakes and San Joaquin river, changing into undulating and rolling ground nearer the foot hills of the mountains. VALLEY OE THE SACRAMENTO. The northern half of the valley of Alta California s watered by the Sacramento, which runs down south into the Bay of San Francisco, while the San Joaquin comes into it from the southern extremity, flowing westward, and meeting the Sacramento in the bay, which is nearly in the middle of the valley. The valley of the Sacramento is divided into upper and lower—the lower two hundred miles long, the upper about one hundred; and the latter not merely entitled to the distinction of upper, as being higher up on the river, but also as having a superior eleva tion of some thousands of feet above it. The division is strongly and geographically marked. The Shasti peak stands at the head of the lower valley, in the forks of the river, rising from a base of about 1,000 feet, out of a forest of heavy timber. It ascends like an immense column upwards of 14,000 feet (nearly the height of Mont Blanc), the summit glistening with snow, and visible, from favourable points of view, at a distance of 140 miles down the valley. The river here, in descending from the upper valley, plunges down through a canon, falling 2,000 feet in twenty miles. This upper valley is 100 miles long, heavily timbered, the climate and produc tions modified by its altitude, its more northern position, and the proximity and elevation of the neigh bouring mountains covered with snow. It contains valleys of arable land, and is deemed capable of settlement. WESTERN SLOPE OF THE SIERRA NEVADA. The western flank of the Sierra belongs to the maritime region of California, and is capable of add ing greatly to its value. It is a long wide slope, timbered and grassy, with intervals of arable land, copiously watered with numerous and bold streams, and without the cold which its name and altitude might imply. In length it is the whole extent of the long valley at its base, five hundred miles. In breadth it is from forty to seventy miles, from the summit of the mountain to the t erm ination of the foot hills iu the edge of the valleys below, and almost the whole Hof it available for some useful purpose—timber, pas turage, some arable land, mills, quarries—and so situated as to be convenient for use, the wide slope of the mountain being of easy and practicable descent. Timber holds the first place in the advantages of this -lope, the whole being heavily wooded, first with -aks, which predominate to about half the eleva tion of the mountain, and then with pines, cypress, and cedars, the pine predominating ; and hence called the pine region, as that below is called the ~ak region, though mixed with other trees. fhe highest summits of the Sierra are naked, massive granite rock, covered with snow, in sheltered ;laces all the year round. The oaks are several va rieties white and black oak, and evergreens, some of them resembling live oak. Of the white oak there are some new species, attaining a handsome elevation, upon a stem six feet in diameter. Acorns of uncom mon size, and not bad taste, used regularly for food, by the Indians, abound on these trees, and will be of great value for stock. The cypress, pines, and cedar, are between 100 and 250 feet high, and five to twelve feet in diameter, with clean solid stems. Grass abounds on almost all parts of the slope, except towards the highest summits, and is fresh and green all the year round, being neither killed by cold in the winter, nor dried by want of rain in the summer. The Coot hills of the slope are sufficiently fertile and gentle to admit of good settlements, while valleys, coves, beaches, and meadows of arable land are found throughout. Many of the numerous streams, some of them amounting to considerable rivers which flow down the mountain side, make handsome, fertile valleys. All these streams furnish good water power. The climate in the lower part of the slope is that of constant spring, while above the cold is not in pro portion to the elevation. BAY or SIN FRANCISCO AND DIPENDIINT COUNTRY. The bay of San Francisco has been celebrated, from the time of its first discovery, as one of the finest in the world, and is justly entitled to that cha• ratter, even under the seaman's view of a mere har bour. But when all the necessary advantages which belong to it—fertile and picturesque dependent coun try, mildness and salubrity of climate, connexion with the great interior valley of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, its vast resources for ship timber, grain, and cattle, when these advantages are taken into the account, with its geographical position on the line of communication with Asia, it rises into an importance far above that of a mere harbour, and deserves a particular notice in any account of maritime Cali fornia. Its latitudinal position is that of Lisbon ; its climate is that of southern Italy ; settlements upon it for more than half a century attest its healthful ness; bold shores and mountains give it grandeur; the extent and fertility of its dependent country give it great resources for agriculture, commerce, and population. The bay of San Francisco is separated from the sea by low mountain ranges. Looking from the peaks of the Sierra Nevada, the coast mountains present an apparently continuous line, with only a single gap, resembling a mountain pass. This is the entrance to the great bay, and is the only water communication from the coast to the interior country. Approaching from the sea, the coast presents a bold outline. On the south, the bordering mountains come down in a narrow ridge of broken hills, terminating in a precipitous point, against which the sea breaks heavily. On the northern side, the mountain presents a bold promontory, rising in a few miles to a height of two or three thousand feet. Between these points is the strait—about one mile broad in the narrowest pert, and five miles long from the sea to the bay. Passing through this gate,* the bay opens to the right and left, extending in each direction about thirty-five miles, having a total length of more than seventy, and a coast of about 275 miles. It is divided by straits and projecting points into three separate bays, of which the northern two are called San Pablo and Suisoon bays. Within, the view presented is of a mountainous country, the bay re sembling an interior lake of deep water, lying between parallel ranges of mountains. Islands, which have the bold character of the shores—some mere masses of rock, and others grass-covered, rising to the height of three and eight hundred feet, break its surface, and add to its picturesque appearance. Directly fronting the entrance, mountains, a few miles from the shore, rise about 2,000 feet above the water, crowned by a forest of the lofty cypress, which is visible from the sea, and makes a conspicuous land mark for vessels entering the bay. Behind, the rugged peak of Mount Diavolo, nearly 4,000 feet bay b ay a and derives, S a n h igh (3.770), overlooks the surrounding country of te Joaquin. The immediate shore of the relation to the sea,ftrhoemname p b r f o e x e i n t m r a a t e o a s n t ( o c p o p u o n s t i e t e r coast, or opposite coast). It presents a varied character of rugged and broken richod e dranges, hills rolling and undulating land, andall u; i a suitable s or es, backed by fertile and w o 41 Called Chrysopyhe (golden gate) en the map, on the same principle that the harbour of Byzantium (C ons tantinople afterwards) was called Chrysoceras (golden horn). The form of the harbour, and its ad vantages for commerce (and that before it became an entrepOt of eastern commerce), suggested the name of the Greek founders of Byzantium. The form of the entrance into the bay of San Francisco, and its advan tages of commerce (Asiatic inclusive), suggest the name which is given tc this entrance. THE SEr N, for towns, villages, and farms, with which it is be beginning to be dotted. A low alluvial bottom land, several miles in breadth, with occasional open woods of oak, borders the foot of the mountains around the southern arm of the bay, terminating on a breadth of twenty miles in the fertile valley of the St. Joseph, a narrow plain of rich soil, lying between ranges from two to three thousand feet high. The valley is openly wooded with groves of oak, free from under brush, and after the spring rains covered with grass. Taken in connexion with the valley of San Juan, with which it forms a continuous plain, it is fifty- five miles long, and one to twenty broad, opening into smaller valleys among the hills. At the head of the bay it is twenty miles broad, and about the same at the southern end, where the soil is beautifully fertile, covered in summer with four or five varieties of wild clover several feet high. In many places it is overgrown with wild mustard, growing ten or twelve feet high, in almost impenetrable fields, through which roads are made like lanes. On both sides the mountains are fertile, wooded, or covered with grasses and scattered trees. On the west it is protected from the chilling influence of the north-west winds by the cuesta de los qatos (wild-cat ridge), which separates it from the coast. This is a grassy and timbered mountain, watered with small streams, and wooded on both sides with many varities of trees and shrubbery, the heavier forests of pine and cypress occupying the western slope. Timber and shingles are now obtained from this mountain, and one of the recently discovered quicksilver mines i 3 on the eastern side of the mountain, near the Pueblo of San Jose. This range terminates on the south in the Anno Nuevo point of Monterey, by and on the north declines into a ridge of broken hills about five miles wide, between the bay and the sea, and having the town of San Francisco on the bay shore, near its northern extremity. Sheltered from the cold winds and fogs of the sea, and having a soil of remarkable fertility, and the valley of St. Joseph (San Jose) is capable of pro ducing in great perfection many fruits and grain hich do not thrive on the coast in its immediate vi cinity. Without taking into consideration the extra wdinary yields which have sometimes occurred, the f iir average product of wheat is estimated fiftyfold, or iitty for one sown. The mission establishments of auta Clara and Santa Jose, in the north end of the valley, were formerly, in the prosperous days of the missions, distinguished for the superiority of their wheat crops. The slope of alluvial land continues entirely around the eastern shore of the bay, intersected by small itreains, and offering some points which good landing and deep water, with advantageous positions between the sea and interior country, indicate for future settlement. The Strait of Carquines, about one mile wide and eight or ten fathoms deep; connects the San Pablo Suisoon bays. Around these bays smaller val us open into the bordering country, and some of he streams have a short launch naviga tion, which serves to convey produce to the bay. Missions and large farms were established at t he head of navigation on these streams, which are favourable sites for towns or villages. The country around Suisoon bay pre sents smooth low ridges and rounded hills, clothed with wild oats, and more or less openly wooded on their summits. Approaching its northern shores from Sonoma, it assumes, though in a state of nature, a cultivated and beautiful appearance. Wild oats cover it in continuous fields, and herds of cattle and bands of horses are scattered over low hills and partly isolated ridges, where blue mists and openings among the abruptly terminating hills indicate the neighbour hood of the bay. The Suisoon is connected with an expansion of the river formed by the junction of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, which enter the Francisco Bay in the same latitude nearly as the mouth of the Tagus at Lisbon. A delta of twenty-five miles in length, divided into islands by deep channels, connects the bay with the valley of the San Joaquin and Sacra mento, into the mouths of which the tide flows, and which enter the bay together as one river. Such is the bay, and the proximate country and shores of the bay, of San Francisco. It is not a mere indentation of the coast, but a little sea to itself . , con nected with the ocean by a defensible gate, opening out between seventy and eighty miles to the right and left, upon a breadth of ten to fifteen, deep enough for the largest ships, with bold shores suitable for towns and settlements, and fertile adjacent country for cultivation. The head of the bay is about • forty miles from the sea, and there commences its connec tion with the noble valleys of Saa Joaquin and Sacramento. THE GOLD REGIOII.-THE CLIMATE. The gold region of California is in the Sacramento and its tributaries . The climate of the country has n o winter in the valley, but the rainy season and the dry. The rainy season begins in November, and continues to the end of February or the begin ning of March. The rest of the year is without ain ; but the streams from the Sierra Nevada afford all the facilities for irrigation in the heats of July and August. The whole valley abounds in wild cattle, wild horses, elks, deer, antelopes, grizzly bears, partridges, water fowls, salmon, &c., &c. All the products of the United States, from apples to oranges, from potatoes to sugar cane, may be produced in the valley of the San Joaquin and Sacramento. The climate is remarkably healthy. Such is the California on the Pacific—the richest, most picturesque and beautiful region, for its extent, upon the face of the earth. Such is the El Dorado of the gold mines; such is the great acquisition of the late war with Memico. LAW INTELLIGENCE . INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Jan. 10. (Before Mr. Commissioner LAW.) IN RE ALEXANDER CARROLL. Mr. Coosa applied for payment of 2061. to an attorney, who had been engaged in realizing the in solvent's property for his creditors. Mr. Carroll had possessed considerable estates in Ireland, which were mortgaged to some extent, and which only realized 9,0001., in consequence of the great depreciation of property in Ireland. The attorney had proceeded to Dublin to sell the property, and now applied to be paid out of 9101. deposit-money, which had been paid into Court. His HONOUR required some further information before he granted the application. NISH V. COLES. This was an application under the Small Debts Act. The defendant was in attendance, and an at torney appeared for the plaintiff. Mr. Commissioner LAW laid it down in express terms that both plaintiff and defendant must attend. He did not make the Act of Parliament, and if any inconvenience occurred, he could not help it. The ATTORNEY said he knew all about the case. Would the Court adjourn the summons ? His HONOUR could grant no adjournment. If the defendant had not appeared he should have committed him ; and as the plaintiff had not appeared the summons must be dismissed. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. .Mary Ann Smith, between 16 and 17 years of age, was charged before the Lord Mayor with having at tempted to pass two counterfeit pieces. The town is, as appeared from the statement made by Robinson Webb, of the City police, to the Lord Mayor, swarming with the most ingeniously made counterfeit crown and half-crown pieces, and a num ber of shopkeepers, who have long been considered excellent judges, have been, within the last week, imposed upon by persons em ployed to make purchases with them. It is believed at the Mint, that the base coin which has thus been staking its way has been electrotyped by some very able hand, and the Lord Mayor thought it necessary to put the public upon their guard against such skill, as might be expected at a time of extraordinary mechanical improvement. The prisoner went, in the first instance, on the 6th of January, into a public-home in Houndsditch, and handed a counterfeit crown piece to the proprie tor in payment of three-pennyworth of brandy. The counterfeit was detected, but as the girl did not appear to be known in the character of a smasher, or to have any more bad money, she was allowed to depart. The landlord gave the bad coin to Webb, who followed the prisoner from professional instinct, which proved to be correct, for she went into the shop of a perfumer in the Minories, and, asking for a pot of bear's grease, tendered another counterfeit five shilling piece, the counterpart of that which she had unsuccessfully tried upon the publi can. The perfumer had had so many lessons upon the subject, from people of all kinds (as he said), that he was obliged to be a judge, and he gave the prisoner into custody, being determined to prosecute in every case of the sort. The prisoner said her poverty had placed her in a condition wnich prevented her from being very par ticular as to the parties from whom she received the means of support. The LORD MAYOR said he should rigorously carry out the law in all cases of the kind. There might have been ground for the defence if the one instance had not been followed up by the other.—Committed. Alexander Ingram was charged with having picked the pocket of Mrs. Elizabeth Lerman, on Sunday evening. Robert Lee, a City policeman, who is employed frequently in watching the well- dressed thieves who are in the habit of mixing with the congregation in the Chapel in Bishopsgate-street, turned several of the fraternity away from that place of worship on Sunday evening, soon after which the prisoner was given into custody for having robbed a lady who had just come from divine service. It happened that a Mr. Wagstaff and his wife, as they were walking along in Bishops gate-street, at eight o'clock, observed the prisoner whip the purse out of Mrs. Larman's pocket. Mr. Wagstaff immeiliately collared the prisoner, wh o made a hard shag& to escape, and no doubt lung THURSDAY the purse away, for it was not found upon him. The lady who had been robbed knew nothing of the mat ter, so neatly was the business executed, till informed that she had no purse, which she soon found to be the case. The purse contained about ten shillings. As Lee was conducting the prisoner from the station house, one of his associates walked up and asked the prisoner whether he had got the purse ? " No," said the prisoner, " I rigged that, and no mistake." The Loan MAYOR—Do you wish to say anything, prisoner ? The prisoner—Anything ! No, not I. Committed. _ _ LONDON, -EVENING, JANUARY 11, 1849 GUILDHALL. Kenneth Sutherland, a collector, formerly in the em ploy of Mr. Wace, meat salesman in Newgate Market, was brought up for final examination on the charge of embezzling the sum of 2641., the property of his master. From the evidence taken on the last occasion, it appeared that the prisoner was in Mr. Wace's service for seven or eight years, until the latter end of the year 1846, when he was discharged on account, of Mr. Wace discovering some discrepancies in the ac counts. On the 3d of November, 1846, a letter was received wherein the prisoner acknowledged his de falcations, and regretted that it was not in his power to make them good, but hoped that at some future period he might be able to du so. At the same time a list of all the parties who had paid was inclosed in the letter. Since that period Mr Wace declared that he had not set eyes upon the prisoner until Sa- turday morning last, when he gave him into custody. The first witness called was Miss Ann Stubbins, of Charing-cross, carrying on the business of a butcher, who stated that the prisoner usually called for various amounts of money, and on being paid he signed her book, which was regularly kept either by herself or her sister. On the 18th of August, 1846, she paid him 4/. 6s. Bd.; on the 26th of the same month 31. Bs. ; and on the Ist of September, in the same year, 31. more, for which amounts he always signed his name in her book. Susannah Stubbins (the sister of the last witness) deposed to paying the prisoner the sum of 41. Os. 6d. on the 9th of September, 1846 ; also 21. Bs. 7(1. on the 23d of September ; 21. 4s. 8d on the 6th of October ; 51. 9s. 9d. on the 14th of the same month ; and 21. 03. 7d. on the 28th of October. Ann Stubbins, in answer to a question from Alder man LAWRENCE, said that Mr. Wace, about that time, called upon her for his account, when she at once showed him her book signed by the prisoner, and he was satisfied the money had been paid. She always paid the money to the prisoner on behalf of , Mr. Wace. Mr. Charles Wace deposed that he had never re ceived the above sums, nor were they entered in his books. On the 6th of October he received from the prisoner a sum of 141. 15s. 2d., which he represented was from Stubbins, in part payment of the amount due. All the signatures in the book produced by the last witnesses were in the prisoner's handwriting, as well as the bills, which must have been made out after he (witness) left the shop, and were not true to the entries in the sale-book. Mr. Druce, another customer of Mr. Wace's, said that he paid the prisoner, on the sth of July, 1846, 3/. 95.; on the 25th of July, 21. 17s. 8(1. • on the 2d ' of September, 71. 53. 10d. • on the 22d of September, 21. 11s. 6d.; on the 7th of October, 1/. 18s.; and on the 28th of October, 41. 14s. 4d. Mr. Wace was again called, and referred to his books, and said that none of those sums had been paid. He certainly received the sum of 51. 16s. 4d. from the prisoner, on Mr. Druce's account, leaving a balance of 171. odd. The witnesses were severally cross-examined by Mr. Games, who attended to defend the prisoner, but nothing was elicited materially to alter the chief fea tures of the case, particularly as there was his own letter acknowledging his guilt. He was committed to Newgate for trial, and Mr. Young, who conducted the prosecution, inti mated that previous to the prisoners trial he should be ready with heavier charges, some of the bills amounting to as much as 321., of which he should give Mr. Games notice BOW-STREET. _ _ .. The Rev. Henry Charles Seller, curate of Send, near Guildford, was charged, before Mr. Henry, with indecently assaulting a private in the Fusilier Guards. The defendant, a sickly young man, was accom modated with a seat in the dock. He had refused his name and address at the station, and, when first brought into Court, stated that his name was Sadler; observing, that the disclosure of his real name and occupation, in connexion with the mere idea of such a charge, would ruin him. It appeared that, at about half-past ten on Tuesday night, the complainant, Samuel Cooper, of the Scots Fusilier Guards, was posted on sentry at the residence of the Duchess of Kent, in Palace yard. While standing under the portico, out of the rain, the de fendant (who was smoking a cigar) crossed over to him, and said, " It is very wet," and asked witness " who he was keeping guard over." He replied, the Duchess of Kent; upon which the defendant, using a disgusting expression, committed the assault com plained of. Witness took him to the guard-room, and gave him into the charge of a constable. It was stated by the police that the defendant de nied the assault, but said nothing in reference to the indecent language imputed to him when at the guard room, although he denied both afterwards, when at the station. The defendant said he was completely at the mercy of the soldier, who had perjured himself. He merely spoke to him about the weather, and that was all that passe d . H e was going at the time to call on a friend in Piccadilly, or he should not have been out so late. Mr. HENRY offered no opinion on the case, but committed the defendant for trial, consenting to take bail, himself in 5001., and two sureties in 2501. each. [ADVIIIRTISEDIENT.J --CARRIAGE FREE.--Families and economists residing in the country will derive con siderable advantages by purchasing their Teas and Coffees at the wholesale warehouse of Mansell and Co., 2, Bucklersbury, Cheapside, an establishment expressly devoted to the interests of large consumers, who are supplied at the lowest wholesale prices. Six pounds and upwards delivered free of expense to any part of Eng land. Lists of prices and samples forwarded free on application. Where parties are unknown to the firm, a reference expected. CHOLERA AT HERTFORD.—A meeting of the visit ing magistrates was held at the Shire-hall, Hertford, Tuesday, to take into consideration the state of the gaol, in which the cholera has broken out to an alarm ing extent. The Government Inspector, Captain Wil Hams, attended from the Secretary o f St a te's office. It appeared that the disease had originated from a person committed, three days before it broke out, for a trifling offence. Thirteen cases of cholera and premonitory diarrhoea had occurred; but, from the vigilant attention of the surgeon and officers of the gaol, only four cases have hitherto proved fatal. The magistrates resolved to send a statement of the circumstances to the Secretary of State, and in the meantime have taken every possible precaution to prevent any further extension of this for midable disease. ADVERTISEMBICT:]--THE CHOLERA AT TOOTING. the Editor.—Sir, — According to the evidence of the medical attendant reported in the Times of yester day, the Bth, it appears that chloroform (a deadly poi son) and opium (another p o i son ) we re the remedies amongst others employed to cure the children said to be attacked by cholera. We can only say that after such treatment we are not surprised at the mortality which occurred —a mortality which we have no doubt would occur with equal certainty in any large establish ment if the same poisons were used for the cure of any supposed disease. We should like to know what ex perience the medical attendant has iu chloroform (which has sent so many to premature graves) and opium, thus to give them to children? It does not appear that any of the inhabitants of Tooting have been attacked by cholera; and suppose that s ome o f these children were attacked with bowel complaints, proceeding from bad nourishment or a change in the weather, was it neces sary to administer to them right and left such poisons as chloroform and opium—of themselves quite sufficient to cause death? No wonder that, after being dosed with chloroform and laudanum, the poor children should go into an everlasting sleep. So it was in the case of the two sailors, John Abbott and Robert Scott, a few months back. In that case it appeared that they had been drink ing hard; after which they, of course , felt ver y unwell. Forty drops of l au d anum were' administered to each of them, and they also went to sleep, never to awake. We noticed this fla gran t case a t the time. The inquest on these two men was held before Mr. Baker on or about the 15th of October last, w h e n the deaths were , of course , ascribed by the medical attendant to oholera.—We are, Sir, your obedient servants, ,‘ The Members of the British College of Health," New-road, London.—January 9, 1849. [Apvewrisicateetee] —Au Effectual Cure of a Severe Cough and Asthma, by Holloway's Pills.—Mr. John Davies, of Lion -street, Milford , was afflicted for more than seven years with a most inveterate asthmatical cough, which several eminent surgeons, under whose care he had been at various times, could not eradicate; he then resolved upon trying Holloway's Pills, and fortu nately he did, f or thi s superior Medicine has effected a perfect cure, the cough has ceased, the asthma is re moved, and his respiration is as free as that of the healthiest person. Old coughs, recent colds, wheezings on the chest, an d s h o rtness of the breath , may also be cured by H o ll owa y' s Pills. Sold by all D r uggists, and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Str an d , London. THE IRON TRADE.—WOLVER HAMPTON, WEDNES DAY EVENlNG—Yesterday the first of the quarterly meetings of the iron-masters was held at Walsall, but there was little business transacted. Tu-(lay the second meeting was hold at the Swan Hotel, and was nume rously attended by the representatives of the large houses. It was reported that some good orders had been received, a nd that there was increased grounds for be lieving that the spring trade would be goo;?. It is fully expected that when the length of the days and state of the weather will permit, some of the railway works in this locality, which have been suspended, will be re sumed, and afford an additional demand for railway iron. To-morrow the third meeting will be held in Bir mingham. The cotton market at Havre continues to be well maintained, but the amount of business is not so great as previously. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. CAMERON'S STEAM COAL AND SWANSEA AND LOUGHOR. An extraordinary meeting of this company was held yesterday at the offices, Moorgate-street, for the purpose of considering a letter addressed to the di rectors by Mr. W. B. J. Cameron, and of ado . pting such resolutions as might be determined in respect thereof ; Mr. N. P. Cameron in the chair. The proposition in the letter was that a sufficient sum should be raised to effect the Great Winning and a junction with the Llaneliy Railway, and to com mence and continue workings from present openings; to allow Mr. Cameron to superintend the completion of the winning and the railway; that he was willing to forego all dividends on the shares he holds until other shareholders shall have received five per cent. on theirs for seven years, by which time the sum to be borrowed would be paid off; and after the first seven years to pay the shareholders ten per cent. until their subscribed capital has been refunded, and when refunded the property to revert to Mr. Cameron. _ _ Mr. Beam handed in a protest, signed by him s:•lf and others, against the proceedings, on the ground that the meeting was illegal: that Mr. NV. B. Cameron was in this matter disqualified to vote upon it, and that the lease of the mine was invalid in law and in equity. Mr. BARHAM moved a resolution, accepting the proposal of Mr. Cameron, and that the contract he prepared and submitted to an adjourned meeting to be held on the 25th inst., which was seconded. The CHAIRMAN stated that the board had accepted the proposition, but that did not at all bind the share holders. Mr. Bunts objected at considerable length to the proposition of Mr. Cameron. He did not think there was anything in it to induce persons to become jointly liable for 30,000/. With regard to the proposed ar rangement he believed it to be most preposterous. lie stated that Mr. Cameron had every chance of managing the concern for three years and nine months, and yet the property of the shareholders, to the extent of between 50,0001. and, 60,000/., was ab solutely gone for ever. Their own solicitor told them their lease was valueless. They were no parties to the lease. The parties who had the lease were three directors, two of whom were not present, and the other was dead. These parties were friends of Colonel Cameron, and were the only parties inte rested in the stipulations of that lease. He contended that the lease was not for the benefit of the sharehol ders. He believed the money he had invested in the property was of no more value than if he had thrown it into the Thames. He called upon the proprietors not to sanction the resolution. _ _ . Mr. HART entered into an explanation of the cir cumstances respecting the lean of certain sums of money by himself and friends to the company. Mr. ELDERTON then entered into a counter state ment of the proceedings between the company and the three gentlemen with regard to the loan. He stated that they held 32,0001. security for 10,0001. to he advanced; but they never advanced more than 1,9001. He then gave an account of the subsequent law proceedings. Mr. CHALMERS moved an amendment peremptorily rejecting the proposition of Mr. W. B. Cameron, which was seconded. Mr. Fur recommended the shareholders to throw away all the money they had spent, and give up the mine to Colonel Cameron. After considerable discussion and several proposi tions, it was proposed to adjourn the meeting for a week to allow time for coming to terms. Mr. BURLS strenuously opposed an adjournment as being useless. The CHAIRMAN said it would he understood that all propositions were withdrawn in favour of the adjournment, and proceeded to put this question to a poll. The shareholders insisted on its being decided by a show of hands. The SECRETARY announced that 1,332 votes were given for the adjournment, and 250 against it. The CHAIRMAN anounced that the meeting was adjourned to that day week. M. BURLS observed that if the shares of Mr. W. B. Cameron, who, as a party interested, was not entitled to a vote, were deducted, the adjournment would have been negatived by 117 votes against 250. The meeting then separated. WATERFORD AND KILKENNY. The adjourned half-yearly meeting of this coin pany was held yesterday at the London Tavern, for the purpose of receiving the report of the committee of investigation ; Mr. P. S. Butler, M.P., in the chair. The CHAIRMAN, in the course f some preliminary observations, adverted to a letter on the Waterford and Kilkenny Railway which appeared in a morning paper. He attached great importance to anything which appeared in that extensively circulated paper, from its high political and commercial influence ; but he regretted that there were several inaccuracies in the statements contained in the letter referred to, and was proceeding to enumerate them, but the meeting objected to it, as being out of order. The secretary was called upon to read the report, which stated, that the capital of the company was originally fixed at 250,000/., in 12,500 shares of 201. each. That 8,421 shares are in the hands of solvent proprietors ; and that the arrears amount to 46,0891., and of this they expect to receive 20,000/. The con tract for the use of Prosser's patent was the forerun ner of all the embarrassments ; its abandonment for the substitution of iron rails, at an enormous cost, led to an additional amount of engineering expendi ture ; that 15,0001. was paid to induce the patentees to abandon their contract. The report objected to the contract entered into for Burnett's patent, which hinds the company to pay at the rate of 2001. per month till the end of 1849 for Burnetizing, whether the timber be subject to the process or not; that 3,0111. has been paid under this head, leaving 2,6001. still owing. The contracts for iron rails and for engines and carriages are stated to be unfa vourable Ito the company, and that a loss accrued on the former of 6,8511. The com mittee regret that 1,250 shares were taken in the Galway and Kilkenny Railway, to the extent of 2,5001., which may be considered a total loss, without taking into account the liability to further calls ; that 31,0001. as been expended on the Kilkenny station, chiefly to accomodate the traffic from the South- Eastern Company, who are to pay an annual per centage on the cost as rent. The sum expended on the purchase of land for 14 miles is 22,540/. The engineering expenses are 12,883/., which they consi der to he excessive. The solicitor's bills amount to 22,500/. They complain of the cost of management generally, and, amongst other things, recommend for the future management of the company the extension of the line to Knock William ; that the funds from the next call, payment of arrears, &c., be devoted to this extension ; that arrangements be made re specting the liabilities of the company, amounting to 50,0001., so as to admit of the extension to Knock William. They recommend the payment of interest to be suspended, and when the 10,000/. now due has been received, the full amount of 83,0001. agreed to be advanced by the Government, the interest at 5 per cent. will amount to 4,150/. per annum ; that appli• cation should be made to induce the Government to forego the above interest for the present. Mr. BATES, the chairman of the committee, said, it devolved upon him to move the adoption of the re port. He then entered into a statement respecting the principal parts of the report, and proceeded to show the necessity of extending the line to Knock William, in order to secure the existing traffic be tween Waterford and Kilkenny. The present ter minus at Thomastown was situated a distance of five miles from the main road ; and, being out of the line of traffic, it was impossible that the present portion of the line open could do more than pay its working ex penses ; but by extending the line to Knock William, they thought they could effectually compete with the carriers and cars for the carriage of goods and pas sengers. The saving to third class passengers would amount to ls. 9d. each ; to second class passengers, ls.; and to first class passengers, 3d. each. The present fare Was 4s. ; that for a third class passen ger would be 2s. 3d. when the extension was made. He had no doubt the saving of time and money would induce all the passengers to travel on the railway. The charge for goods would be reduced from the present low rate of 10s. to 6s. 6d. per ton from Kilkenny to Waterford. The existing traffic would give them about 2201. per week, and he estimated the working expenses at about 60/. per week, which would leave 160/. per week, or 8,320/. per annum to divide among the shareholders. He thought, after paying the interest on the Government loan, they would obtain about 3 per cent. per annum on the capital expended. This estimate was exceed ingly low, and did not include expected traffic from the opening of the lines of other companies now in course of construction. He was anxious that every member of the board should feel a personal respousi • bility for every act of the board, and not seek shelter under the cloak of the board. He had no doubt that with prudent and economical management their under taking would become profitable. Mr. Fstesuousi, on seconding the resolution, con gratulated the shareholders on the prospect of having something for their outlay. He could not help think ing that the allowance for working expenses men tioned by Mr. Bates was considerably underrated, although he had no doubt the amount of traffic would exceed the estimate of that gentleman. A long discussion ensued respecting the former mismanagement of the undertaking, the purchase of Prosser's patent for wooden rails, and an engagement to pay 6,000/. for the use of Sir W. Burnett's patent to prepare the sleepers. Mr. CARVALIIO, one of the committee, addressed the meeting at considerable length with respect to various matters contained in the report. He called the attention of the meeting to what he considered, under the circumstances, to be an extravagant expen- diture in various departments. He contended that the purchase of Prosser's patent was an illegal act, on the ground that two of the three directors who then constituted the board were personally interested in the patent. The price given was 5,0001. in money, and 500 shares of 201. each, considered as paid up.' He strongly urged the necessity for appointing anew board, who should pledge themselves to conduct the affairs of the company in future with the strictest economy. In answer to questions, it was stated, that the ar rears on calls amounted to 26,0001., and that the solicitor was perfectly willing to have his bills taxed, or to come to any equitable settlement. The report was then unanimously adopted. After some discussion it was agreed that the ob servations of the directors, in reply to the report of the committee, should be circulated. The meeting was then made special to confirm the forfeiture of 1,770 shares; which was partly objected to on the ground that some of the defaulters were well able to pay the calls, and it Ras eventually agreed to refer the examination of the list to the new directors. It was stated that the directors would convene a meeting in the course of a month for the election of five English directors. The meeting then separated. SUBMARINE TELEGRAPHIC WIRE. Should modern science ever succeed in its bold design to throw an electric wire across the French Channel, it is probable that the South-Eastern Com pany, from the proximity of their termini so the French shore, will have the honour of accomplishing this achievement, or that at any rate theirs will be the profit of the undertaking. It is perhaps premature to talk of connecting the two countries by the electric telegraph when the railways between the French capital and the ports of Calais and Boulogne are yet unprovided with this indispensable appendage of the railway system. At present all that would be gained in point of time by a submarine telegraphic communi cation across the straits of Dover would be the two hours occupied in the sea voyage, an advantage that would scarcely be compensated by the expense and difficulty of the undertaking. But something was done yesterday towards proving the practicability of carrying a wire across the Channel, and the directors of the South-Eastern Railway Company have also shown that their attention has been practically di rected to the subject. The experiments which we are about to describe were tnade yesterday, at Folkestone harbour, under the direction of Mr. Walker, the superintendent of the South-Eastern Company's telegraphic system, and on board the Princess Clementine, one of the com pany's fleet of steamers. Among the scientific and distinguished visitors present were Sir Howard Douglas, Colonel Tylden, R. E., and other engineer of from Dover, Colonel Beresford, R.A., Major Spiller, R.A., Captain Jackson, R.A., Captain Al derson Bailey, Lieutenant Essell, R.N., Mr. Weeks, of Sandwich, Mr. Renshaw, a director of the South- Eastern Company ; Mr. Hatcher, Secretary of the Electric Telegraph Company ; Dr. Bachhoffner, &c. It was stated that among the residents of Folkestone who were upon the pier was M. Caussidiere, ex- Prefect of Police, who appeared to regard the pro ceedings with great interest. It was intended, if the sea had been sufficiently calm, to have taken the wire for two miles out to sea, but the wind having risen in the night, and a smart breeze in the morning having caused a swell, it was considered that the steamer would h"ve pitched and and rolled so much that the safety of the wire would have been endangered, and that it would also have been impossible to manage the instrument so as to have kept the needles upright. Upwards of two miles of wire were, therefore, carried out in a small boat, and submerged in the sea along the mouth of the harbour and at the side of the pier. One end of the wire was connected with a telegraphic instrument on the deck of the steamer, and the other end with the telegraph wire communicating with London. The arrangements having been completed, about half past 12 the telegraph was placed in communication with London, and a message was sent by Mr. Walker to the chairman of the South-Eastern Company (Mr. Macgregor) to apprise him that the experiment was entirely successful. A private message was than made from London to Mr. Walker, on board the steamer. Both messages passed through the couple of miles of wire " payed out" at sea and in the har bour. A continued correspondence was then kept up between the Princess Clementine and the stations of London, Ashford, and Tunbridge, which was con tinued with the most perfect success at intervals for three or four hours, messages being interchanged be tween the steamer and all those stations. The bells at the electric telegraph offices at Tunbridge and London-bridge were vigorously rung by the instru merit on board the Princess Clementine, and no greater difficulty was experienced in making the signals with the submarine wire than with the ordi• nary wires on land. The wire employed was of the total length of 3,600 yards, and was made in accordance with a suggestion front Mr. Walker, in order to obviate the difficulty experienced in working the telegraph wires in tun nels, where they are exposed not to the effects of damp and water merely, but to water impregnated with earthy matters and with acid vapours from the engine, causing a communication with the wires, and allowing portions of the current to escape to the earth. The size of the wire used is No. 16 cop per kwire, and its thickness when covered with gutta percha is nearly a quarter of an inch in diameter. The wire used is to be employed in the Merstam tunnel, and a similar wire will be placed in all the tunnels on the line—the Shak spere, Abbott's Cliff, and Martello tunnels being al ready provided with wire of this kind. The defective insulation of the wires against which this new wire was intended to provide has been the only serious practical difficulty which has had to be overcome in working the electric telegraph. Hitherto the work ing of the wire, as covered with gutta percha in the tunnels, has been very satisfactory, and its durability, and the complete insulation which it effects, appear to have suggested its applicability for the purposes of submarine telegraphic communication. The wire is patented by Mr. Foster, of the gutta percha manufac tory at Streatham, who assisted at the experi ments. Three or four specimens of wire were exhibited on board, one or two of them being probably better adapted to the experiment of a communication across the 30 miles of channel than the wire actually used. Among them were specimens of No. 8 and No. 14 galvanized iron wire, a three-twisted No. 16 copper wire, and also the single copper wire used in the experiments to day, but all of these being coated much more thickly with gutta percha than that actually used, some of them being in the whole nearly three-quarters of an inch in diameter. One of these Mr. Walker proposes to lay down permanently across the Folkestone harbour in place of the wires now carried at the back of the Pavilion Hotel, in order thereby to connect the har bour station with the through communication by the mainland. We understand that the coil of two miles of wire used in the experiments yesterday will be in the library of the Royal Institution on the 19th of January, the first Friday of the session of that learned body. The power used on board was 72 plates of the sand battery with weak acid and water, one part acid to fifteen parts water. A needle telegraph fitted up with lightning cone ductors and moveable coils, upon a plan invented by Mr. Walker, is deserving of a brief explanation. It is well known that the aurora borealis, as well as certain states of the atmosphere, affect the needles, and cause them to hang many degrees out of the perpendicular,. The deflection from these causes is generally so great that the needles are brought up close against the stops and cannot be moved further in that direction. By the simple mounting of the galvanometic coils on moveable wheels the needle is easily brought to a perpendicular state by turning a stud and causing the coil to pass in a direction opposite to that to which the needles bad been deflected. By this means the power of making telegraph deflections in both direc rections is regained, and the instrument may be worked without difficulty. The lightning conductor in Mr. Walker's invention consists of a vertical wire furnished with radiating points, and a bobbin of finer wire than any used elsewhere on the instrument. This is surrounded by a small brass cylinder connected with the earth, by which arrangement the lightning charge has the best possible course to the earth. Any overcharge would burn the little coil of wire, and escape to the earth without injuring the instrument. This actually occurred at Tunbridge Wells during the last thunderstorm. About four o'clock the submerged wire was drawn in and wound up without having sustained the least damage. Mr. Renshaw expressed himself highly gratified with the perfect success of the experiment, and congratulated Mr. Walker on the result, which he said he should have great pleasure in reporting to a meeting of his brother directors to-day. Every one on board appeared to be equally satisfied with the experiments so far as they went, and which may be taken to establish the practical value of a submerged telegraph wire insulated by gutta percha. With respect to the practical bearing of these ex periments upon the possibility of establishing a tele graphic communication with the opposite coast, there appears to be no greater difficulty in running out and communicating along thirty miles of such wire than along two miles. All that would be requisite would be to determine the kind of wire proper to be used, which would be most likely a twisted iron wire coated with gutta percha, as in some of the larger specimens exhibited yesterday. We hear that Mr. Foster expresses himself so confidently respecting the complete insulation gained by his preparation that he is willing to find the gutta percha necessary for coating a wire of sufficient length to stretch across the Channel whenever the railway directors consent to supply the wire. The chief dif ficulty would probably be, not in effecting the cora munication, but in maintaining it, and we were therefore anxious to learn Mr. Walker's views respcc , ing the probability of the fracture of the sub merged wire by the dragging of ships' anchors, the bites of the larger sea fish, and other casualties. Div. Walker would provide against these accidents by' having two or three wires between each port, say Dover and Calais, or Folkestone and Boulogne. These wires he would run out in different tracks across the Channel, and by this means, and by not making the communication dependent at either port upon a single wire, the probabilities would be greatly against their all being broken on the same day. In the event of one of the wires being fractured, the South-E.lsterr Company in their powerful fleet of steamers re: tdy at their command at both ports possess great far.;ilitiez for promptly discovering and fishing up the broken wire, when its ropair would be the work of a, very short time. When we remember that by connecting the two greatest capitals of Europe by means of the electric telegraph an instantaneous communication would be effected between London and Paris, without in the least degree abridging the s!rength and ;secu rity which Great Britain has derived from her insular position, we may look forward with some confidence and few misgivings to the ultimate success at' the attempts of cur men of science to send the electric current on its wondrous mission through the "sad sea waves." THE CiPUNTRY MARKETS. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, JAN. 6.—The weather con- tinues of a season...hie character, with fros!s and, occa sional falls of snow, which will prove very beneficial to the corn in general. The trade during the present week h n , suiri , d !nor. firmn,,,s, rind is fair extent of business has been done in wheat and flour, at prices that were not previously obtainatne; 0111,r grain remaining compara tively unaltered. Our foreign arrivals are exceedingly abundant, and are mostly placed in bond to await their release on the Ist of February. At our market this morning we had a model ate show of wlleAt from the growers, and having wry 1it7,10 offering from the coast, fresh threshed parcels were taken off readily at an im provement ut 1, to 2, per quarter, whilst the little south country on sale sold at an ataendm nt of is per quarter. Bonded samples are generally withdrawn from sale for the present, out where sales are made an enhancement of fully 2s per quarter has been established. Flour being now within a mod,rate compass, an advance of Is to 2 , per sack was requirtid, which, in most instances, was complied with; households being now saleable at 33s to 355, and wlite, from 35s to 37s per sack respec tively. Rye nominally unaltered. Fur the bet descrip tions of malting barley our top quotations are realized, but other sorts rm et a languid demand; the low rates at which foreign is offered interfering with the sale of se condary qualities of British growth. Malt must be quoted Is to 2s per quarter cheaper, and in moderate re quest. Beans and peas rather firmer. With oats we were liberally supplied by our growers; and, notwith standing our receipts coastwise are to a fair extent, the market closed with more firmness, the turn being rather in favour f the seller. WispEcu, JAN. 6.—The supply of wheat is lees to day than we have had of late, and the condition is im proved by the frosty weather. The trade is firm for all descriptions at the full prices of last week, and on the finer qualities a small advance is paid. A good supply of oats, anti but tew of beans; both articles sell at late rates. Whetlt, new red, 591 b to 621 b, 40s to 465. extra, 475; white, 59tb to 621 b, 41s to 475, extra 495; old red, 6114 to 631 b, 44s to 48s; extra 495; white, 611 b to 631 b, 47s to 495; extra 50s per quarter; oats, old, 391 b to 401 b, . , 11-id to 12d; new, 9d to 10J per stone; beans, old, 38s to 40s per quarter. EAST LINTON, JAN. B.—To-day's market was small, with more inferi wheat than usual. Top of wheat, 525, weighing 65 lb per;bushel. „ Barley, 27s 54} ditto „ Oats 21s 6d 46 ditto Beans 00s 00 ditto New ditto 00s 00 ditto AVERAGES PER IMPERIAL QUARTER. Wheat... ... 21 2s 11 I Oats ... I/ Oa 51 Barley ... 1/ 6s 4 Beans ... 0/ Os 0 DUBLIN, JAN. 9.—There was a moderate supply of grain, which met a heavy sale, and in most instances a reduction of 6d per barrel was submitted to. Foreign wheat and Indian corn are held nominally at last day's quotatit.us. Flour and meals are also dull, and little doing but tor present use. BELFAST, JAN. s.—Grain—We had a good supply of grain at this morning's market, which sold free ly at yesterday's quotations. Monday, Jan. B.—Grain--We had a moderate supply to-day, which met a slow saje, at a reduction of 2d to 3d on barley and oatmeal, whilst wheat and oats sod at about former prices. Wheat, 85 6.i to 10s 3.i; barley, 5A 6,1 to 7s; oats, 5s 3d to 6s 3d; and oatmeal, 9s 6d to lOs 6d per cwt. Indian corit sells Ire. ly at last week's prices —say 71 lOs to 71 15s per ton. Pork is not in as good condition as it was last weel;, and although ws> continue the former extreme prices, yet, in general, a decline of is was submitted to, 37s 6d 1;0 470 61 per 120 lbs., being the range. COAL MARKET.—.YESTERDAY. Carr's Hartley Jonassohns New Tan&ld l3s 6d D3rwentwatcrilartley 14s 6d l'antield Moor ranfield Moor Butes l3s 6d Howard's W. H. Neth. 14s 6d Wylam ......... Thornley RIILWAY Sti ARE. MARKETS. BRISTOL, jAN. 10. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The, market remained in much the same state. There was no alteration in prices, , and but very little business doing. Li VERFOOL, JAN. 10. STOCK EXCHANGE.—We have had few sales to-day. The market, however, is firm, and prices supported. The sales are—Bolton, Blackburn, Chtheroe, and West Yorkshire , No. 1,3 3 A ex int.—Great Northern, 101. 18s. 9d. dis. ex int. —Lancashire and Yorkshire (late Manchester and Birming ham), kifths, 31. 3s. 9d. dis.—London and North. Western , 12514—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Eighths, dis. ex int.—Midland Stock, 86—Ditto, New Halve , 71. 3s. 9d. dis. ex int.—North Union (A), 210—Shrewsbury and Chester (late N. W. M.), 5/. Is. 3d. dis. ex int. —YOI I4 Newcastle, and Berwick (G. N. E. Purchase), 3s IL dis. ex int. MANCHESTER, JAN. 10. STOCK ExcnArtax.—The sales are—Grimsby, 201. Shares , 10 dis.—North Staffordshire, 3 dis.—North•• Western, 8% dis.—Macclesfield Canal, 42—Grimsby, Quarters, 6 Sheffield, Preference, 11 1-16—Caledonian, Preference, 11-1 6 p.—Leeds, Preference, 1 1-16 p. YORK, JAN. 9. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The business transacted to-day va s as follows :—Eastern Union, Class B (late I. and B.), 6-- Great Northern, B%—Ditto (London and York Extension) , 1/2—York, Newcastle, and Berwick (Extension, No. 1), 143(1 —Ditto, No. 2 (late New Berwicks), I47 B —Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), 71. 16s. 3d. GLASGOW, JAN. 9. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Caledonian, Pre ference, 8 1 / B —Dundee and Perth, 26—Edinburgh and Glas gow, 82—Edinburgh and Northern, 12 1 4—Ditto (Newport' , 71. 4s.— Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, 41. 19s.—Glaagoict Kilmarnock, and Ayr, 45—Ditto, Halves, No. I, 5 Glas gow and Greenock, Preference, 74—Great Northern, 8%. BIPRESENTATION OF TUE CARDIGANSHIRE Bo t B o r o ughs, and it being understood that it is not the ill' a ßO v Er a G c ll an S. o — y l i s n he t d h t e .at r h ep o r f es P en ry u s it e io P n r ) :f e, tention of his eldest son ( M r. Pryse) to come forward E h e ' (l ja Cardiganshire for the honour, it is the general opinion that there will be a contested election. The late Member for Coven try, W.Williams, Esq., is generally spoken of in Aber) s' twith as a likely man on the Liberal interest. Th e candidates on th, Conservative side are named as being Miles Harford, Esq., of Bristol, and W. H. Lewis, Esq . : of Clynfiow. The latter is considered to be the most likely person; the former was defeated by Mr. Pryse ag the last contested election. Nothing certain is known a g yet of the movements of the parties, no gentleman hair' ing announced his intention of coming forward. The Smyrna letters of the 22d ult. speak of firm' ness in the export trade. The operations in wool, opium madder, and valunia had increased. The sale of mann; factored goods was improving, owing to diminishe d stocks. On England the I ate of exchange was 119. BIRTHS. On the 6th inst., at Upper Tooting, the wife of R. g' Lloyd, Esq, of a son. On the 7th inst., at the Vicarage, Chesterford, the Lady Harriet Harvey, of a son. On the 7th inst., at Holbrooke-house, near Ipswich, the lady f F. D. Fryer, Esq., of a son. At Byrvile-lodge, on the 7th inst., the wife of J. D. NV? Russell, Esq., of a daughter. _ On the tfili inst., the lady of E. R. Clark, Esq., of Dray' ton-villa, Old Brompton, of a son and heir. On the Bth inst., in Bernard-street, Russell-square, M: l3. T. B. Young, of a daughter. On the Bth inst., at Clapham; Mrs. Alexander Bevingtolb of a daughter. On the 9th inst., at Greenwich, the lady of W. J. Woo d ' Esq., of a daughter. On the 9th inst., Mrs. George Whiting, of Norland-squa re ' of a daughter. MARRIED. On the 9th inst., at St. Andrew's, Holborn, William Pitt Draffen, Esq., Lieutenant Royal Marine Artillery, son of Draffen, Esq., Lieutenant R.N., to Elizabeth, only daughter of J. Cockle, Esq., of London. On the 9th inst., at St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, John Usig il Scott, Esq., of Wadham College, Oxford, to Anne JO Holford, only oaughter of the late W. Holford Watts, E 5 9" of her Majesty's 2d West India Regiment. DIED. On the 7th inst., at Worcester, aged 83, John Goldinghsr°' Esq, F.R.S., late in the Hon. East India Company's Serv ice at Madras. On the 10th inst., in the Albany, Piccadilly, the Righ t Hon., Anthony Richard Blake, late Chief Remembrancer ° Ireland, aged 63. On the 10th inst., at Gray's Inn-road, Mrs. R. Cook, af ter a severe illness. On the 31st ult., at Upper Baker-street, Miss Stewart , ° t Hampton Court Palace, eldest daughter of the late Genera James Stewart. On the 6th inst., aged 79, Charles Edward Clarke, E g an formerly Assistant-Surgeon in the G ldstream Guards, an late of Lower Grosvenor-place, Pimlico. role - On the 7th inst., at Rvdal, near Ambleside, Hartley -- ridge, eldest son of the hue S. T. Coleridge, aged 52. - r d On the 7th inst., in Cambridge-street, Hyde-park, Ed e Owe:t, Esq., Lieutenant R.N. On the 7th inst., John Easthope, Esq., only son of Sir 1. East hope, Bart. On tne 7th inst., at Woolwich, Colonel R. F. Clevela • .- Royal Horse Artillery. et, On the Bth inst., at Notting-hill terrace, William B o y Esq., aged 6 t. On the Bth inst,, at Cadsden-cottage, Bucks, Charlett* the wife of Welter F. Robinson, Esq., R.N „ - „- L on don: Printed and Publi s hed by MURDO Y (1 ;,! ,1 "71,2 f NO. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun of Strani, in the PrTcinct of' the Savoy in the 0011!1''' Middlesex, Thursday, January 11; 1849.