The Sun. — London, England, 1849-11-30 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. SOUTH S I'AFFORDSHIE.E. An extraordinary general meeting of this company was held at Walsall yesterday for the purpose of con sidering a proposal for the lease of the line, and, if deemed expedient, to authorize an application to Par liament in the ensuing session for the necessary powers to grant such lease. The Secretary read the terms of the proposed lease. The CHAIRMAN, as an individual shareholder, not as a director, moved the adoption of the proposition. He believed it a fair offer, and equal to any remune ration which could be derived from railway under takings during the next twenty years. The resolu tion was to the effect that an application be made to Parliament to sanction the leasing of the line. Mr. E. BULLER said the question was a simple one, and could be as well understood by any share holder as by any director. Railway property was depreciated, and, as the line was not completed, they had no means of estimating the property they pro posed to lease. Mr. JOHNSON thought the meeting would not sup port the proposition unless the names of all the con tractors were made known. He (Mr. Johnson) pur chased shares at a considerable premium, and he thought the shareholders would not be content with any lease which did not guarantee to the shareholders the full amount of their expenditure. Now, it appeared to him that the lease was an extremely absurd one; for, if it was a good one it would be retained, but, if it was bad, it would be rejected by the contractors. He was totally opposed to the granting of the lease. Mr. T. B. PATN (of Birmingham), said he also was an original shareholder, but although opposed to the lease, he thought the directors had done right in sub mitting the proposition- to a meeting of the share holders. He objected, however, to the constitution of the present board of directors, thinking as he did, that the line would not be successful under their pre sent management. Mr. HORNRY, on the part of the London and North- Western Company, which held 15,000 shares in the South Staffordshire, declared that the proxies of that company would not be used. He, as an individual shareholder, should, however, support the proposition. Mr. BOOTH, director of the London and North- Western, entirely concurred in the declaration of Mr. Horaby. Mr. BEALB (Vice• Chairman of the Midland) made a similar declaration on the part of that company, which also held a large stake in the South Stafford shire. He said, that although he should vote as an individual shareholder, he begged to state that the proxies belonging to the Midland would not be used either one way or the other. Mr. SCOTT, who held 3,000 proxies on the part of the Birmingham Canal Company, said, the other public companies having declined to vote, he also would not use the proxies in his possession on the part of the canal interest. After arguing against the lease at some length, he said they had not yet been favoured with the traffic of the line for the last month. The CHAIRMAN-It is now on the table. It amounts to about 8001. for passengers and 200/. for goods. Goods had been conveyed for only one month. Mr. SCOTT said that the traffic was evidently in creasing, and when the line was opened to Dudley there was no doubt it would increase. He argued that at some short time hence they would be able to make more advantageous offers from the great corn panies. Mr. M‘LBArt, the proposed leaseholder, said he should be sorry to accept the lease if only fifty share holders objected to it. The CHAIRMAN said if the majority of the share holders accepted Mr. M'Lean's term of lease he was bound to fulfil them.: Mr. R. F. DOUGLAS said the proposition, in his opinion, was very ill timed, and thought no man of common sense would grant a lease. lie believed that 1 t would be found in a few years one of the best short lines in the kingdom ; and he would rather give up his interest and his shares for half-a-dozen years, than be a party to the granting of a lease upon such term s . After a few observations from Mr. D TO T T , of Lichfield, Mr. SCOTT, and others, The CHAIRMAN said, he would interpose but a few observations before a division. He called their attention to the fact, that unless the lease was granted they should have, for the purpose of completing the line, speedily to make another call. A contest then ensued as to the mode in which the votes should be taken. The opponents of the lease contended that the sense of the meeting ought, in the first place, to be taken by a show of hands. The CHAIRMAN, on the contrary, resolutely main tained that such a course would be mere loss of time, inasmuch as, whatever might be the number thus polled in the room, he was compelled, in justice to absent shareholders and according to the terms of the Act of Parliament, to receive the proxies tendered. The various shareholders present then proceeded to tender their papers. During the time the votes were being taken, and alter the proceeding had lasted for a considerable ti,,tne, Mr. Scott e ntered a protest against the voting. NU scrutin eers h a d b een a pp o i n t e d, and, whatever th e Sall e might be , the whole of the proceedings would biz, illegal. This objection appeared to take meeting by sur- Prue. The CHAIRMAN, who contended that the meeting /7 a 3 not dissolved, so far admitted the validity of the o bjection that scrutineers were immediately appointed and the voting recommenced. I t Was then moved that powers be granted to the director s to borrow on mortage on bond. that PROPRISTOR objected to the proposition ; he hoped a t the proprietors would never contract a debt ,of i nch a nature. He had much rather that a call of 11. Per s hare was made. The granting of powers to the directors to borrow be money was carried by a show of hands, proxies not trig demanded. SELCRIMOLDER observed upon this fact, proxies " ease ng been demanded in the vote with regard to the '. Contrary to the expectation of many gentlemen Interested in the affairs of this and adjoining com p ie; the result of the poll with regard to the leasing followsine to Messrs. M'Lean and others was as ue For the lease Against it 1,509 2,253 Majority against the lease 744 RUGBY, WARWICK, AND WORCESTER. Yesterday the Master in Chancery (Richards), ap- Pointed to wind up this company's affairs, proceeded W ith the fi na l settlement o f t h e li st o f con t r ib u t or i es it abl e to a pro ra t a p a y m ent t o discharge outstanding la bilities, and decided that all those original allottees l' t. ho had paid th e d epos it an d s i gne d th e d ee d, an d a ll ( r ed ose who had p a id th e d e p os it an d no t s i gne d th e n , were to stand u the list. The er of th e f ormer is about 816 p on ; and of the latter, 4. numb After 'Be list is thus settled by the Master, no person affected thereby is allowed to dispute it without leave on the C our t o f Ch ancery. A long argument ensued the consideration of the third class of contri butories on the list, namely, of those who b ut appli e d f or s h ares an d h a d th em a ll otted t he who had neither paid the deposit nor signed .„„wle deed, a n d in which Messrs. Daniel, Valiance, 'lozburgh, James, and other counsel took part. It Wag agreed upon that the decision in the case of Mr. 'ilium, a holder of 25 shares, should rule the others ` ll Similar positions. The prospectus, form of appli 'nation for shares, and letter of allotment, were put in Rs evidence. It appeared that the form of application Wagthe addressed to the provisional committee ; but that Bletter of allotment was signed by the secretary on ehalf of the committee of management, and that the P a sit of the shares was to be paid by a certain day, Whint.h Was not done. The Master decided that the na me should be struck off the list, on the ground that, athe evidence, there was no privity of contract be- T i erl the allottee and committee of management. T• names of other allottees upon the list, amounting ab ? to about 190, will also be struck off as n ot et unless th ere are spec i a l c i rcu mstance s attending farth e r pre r n , in which case they shall have notice of ceeding. , Ye a) , Lerch NORTH MIDLAND RAILWAY.—Yes va 'Y an adjourned meeting of the above company i to s held. at York, at twelve o'clock, in the De Grey, Abr lt a ; Mr. Thompson, of Moat. hall, in the chair. ti. seventy gentlemen were present. A long and ti c r o discussion took place on the question of the a _ e li ion of the report; but, after a poll, the Chairman 'cietleiliter.ed it to be carried, subject to the decision of a vaii t i., n n which was raised on the subject of the jou rn i "Y of certain proxies. The meeting was ad a:zeidtt,eaend the shareholders resolved themselves into Meeting, when the Chairman moved that a should be appointed to confer with the di• I. Nv e a ct : i rs as to the purchase of the Hull and Selby Rail the",,, W hich - was agreed to; the committee to report to or teteareholders at the adjourned meeting of the 21st Itid eot en .nlher. A resolution that any person not re direct:ll or within seven miles of York might be a cUnsir if properly quali fi ed, was also carried. The tilettiuneration of audit was put off until the summer fil v g, on the understanding that the board would la.hi et ; ~8 much as possible the passing of the Bill, of tout...the heads have been submitted by the g apdi eneral of directors, and meantime there will be no the n hel d of the accounts. The adjourned meeting was e n held mitts e at which M r . Swann, chairman of the coin te the investigation, moved another adjournment d isc -e ebruary meetine• A very lively . and warm .. 11 % ,"i0n took lacep on the proposed retirement of Meek from the board, Mr. Meek declaring it was 11Z141111fidteretire n if ot x t io retire. Mr. Rowntree stated he on r. Meek did not retire, and Mr. C. eln i a ll e itt me ll la , Hied the committee of investigation to ' oo urs, as they had don, more harm than rUTe e d tC Tone' y p 0 r efer ( en tC ay b er NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. It is confidently stated that a new expedition in search of Sir John Franklin is to be fitted out imme diately, and is to proceed westward, through the Straits of Magellan. The promotions for service in Sir James Ross's searching expedition will in all probability be deter mined this day. APPOINTMENTS. Engineers—Andrew Douglas, Richard Cattew, John A. Ritchie, Robert Moore, John Oliver, R. 11. Alvin, assistant to the Terrible steam-frigate. We regret to announce the death of an old and much-esteemed surveying officer, Commander James Wolfe. In his decease both the royal navy and the country have sustained a great loss. The buoy boat and another dockyard lighter, that went out beyond the Naby light-vessel at Portsmouth to creep for the anchor and chain lost by the Con stance on Friday night last, returned into harbour yesterday, not having been able to find it. There was a buoy on the anchor, but it is supposed it did not watch. The Britannia, 120, advance-ship, at Portsmouth, was taken under the sheers and dismasted, prepara tory to going into the covered dock, which will be vacated to-day by the Princess Charlotte. The Sidon is taking in her muindeck ordnance, 16 68 pounders, 84-feet guns, of 60 cwt. She is nearly rigged, having her lower and topsail yards across, and her topgallant masts up. The Fire Queen, steamer, to be fitted for Holy head packet service, will be taken into dock when the Bloodhound comes out. The former was payed over with a composition, the invention of Mr. Wylam (the patent fuel gentleman), on one side, and on the other by Mr. Hay, about four months since. She has been for a long time since lying in the dirty water of the steam•basin at Portsmouth, and is supposed to be foul. The Argu3 steamer will be launched the 15th of next month, when the Sovereign, 120, will be laid down on the vacated slip. The Sovereign was origi nally to be on the same lines as the Prince of Wales, but she is to be altered, and will now be built on lines sanctioned by the surveyor of the navy, Sir B. W. Walker. She will no doubt be a good ship. The Arrogant and several other vessels designed by Mr. Fincham, the master builder of Portsmouth yard, having turned out so well, and having been so much approved of by competent judges, it would be only fair if the Admiralty would allow him to try his hand at a large first class-ship. THU COAST or AFRICA. SQUADRON. PORTSMOUTH, TUURSDAT.—The Adventure naval transport, Master-Commander Peter Wellington, ar rived at Spithead last night from the above station, having sailed from Ascension on the 20th ult.—an nnprecedentedly quick passage. She left the Centaur steam-frigate, Commodore Fanshawe, C. 8., and the Tortoise store and guard-ship, Captain Hutton, at the island. The Centaur arrived at Ascension on the 12th of October from Loando, and took one empty prize on the passage, and nearly captured another with 700 slaves on board. The Pluto steam-vessel, Lieu tenant-Commander Joliffe, arrived at Ascension on the 9th of October, and sailed on the 18th to relieve the Firefly at the Congo. Commodore Fanshawe having minutely inspected the ships in port, the store houses, and marines in garrison, had proceeded on the 18th to inspect the Mountain Farm Hospital, and other improvements. The Mountain Hospital is now in all respects quite complete ; the site, which is 2,000 feet above the level of the sea, appears to have been well seliicted, and answers the purpose of restoring the convales cent to health from the lower hospital, the average difference of temperature being about 12 degrees. The labour of constructing it must have been very great, and it reflects the highest credit on Governor Hutton and others under his directions. The crews of the ships and garrison were generally healthy, and the island bids fair to yield an abundant annual moun tain produce. The sweet potato is, from the expe rience of Captain Payne, unquestionably the best vegetable to cultivate with profit and success for the benefit of Government. As usual, the Governor's hospitality to officers of all classes is unceasing; at the same time there is no lack of work, and the vari ous duties of all kinds were minutely inspected by him in person from early dawn to the sitting of the tropical sun. Any person who recalls what Ascen sion was a few years back must be struck by the im provement since made in this neat and well ordered establishment under the direction and un- tiring zeal of the present Governor, ably sup ported, as he expresses himself to have been, by the persevering industry of Captain Payne and the fine body of marines under his command. The disposition of the African squadron, under the command•in•chief of Commodore Fanshawe, C. 8., was as follows when the Adventure sailed : Northern Division, under the command of Com mander Dunlop, of the Alert, 6, consisted of the Spy, Teazer, and Adelaide. The Bight Division, under the command of Com mander Harvey, of the Kingfisher, consisted of the Rattler, Bonetta, Heroine, and Phcanix. Southern Division, under the command of Captain the Hon. C. F. Hastings, of the Cyclops steam-frigate, consisted of the Water witch, Ranger, Star, Cygnet, Sealark, and Firefly. The Snap, tender to the Tortoise, Lieutenant Hall commanding, left Ascension with stores on the 2d of October, for the Bights. Commodore Fanshawe was expected to leave Ascension immediately after the arrival of the August mail from England, to settle some " war palaver ' in the Gambia. The Adventure has brought as passengers Captain G. B. Payne, Royal Marines, and servant, having served the usual period and been relieved on the 10th of October by Captain Miller, R.M.; Mr. Smith, midshipman of the Hydra steam-sloop, with two petty officers and eight seamen of that vessel, prize crew of the Fidelgo, a slaver, captured by the Hydra and sent to As cens i on for adjudication; Mr. Carr, master's assistant of the Dart, as prize master to the Albertina slaver ; Mr. Morris, boatswain of the Tor toise, after four years' service ; two petty officers and eight seamen, invalids from the squadron ; one boy, and one woman from the island of Ascension, who gave birth to a male child on board, on the 9th inst., which was named, by the mother's request, "Ad venture." The Adventure sailed from Plymouth on the 22d of August with supplies for the African squadron, to be landed at Ascension, and took the eastern medium passage in the South Atlantic, crossed the equator in 8 W., and made the passage out in forty three days, and home in thirty-three days. This track was suggested by Mr. William Walker, liar- bour-master of Plymouth, and found practicable at all seasons of the year. This ship has supplied the South American and African squadrons since the 22d of April this year, crossed both North and South Atlantics four times from 11 deg. N. to 25 deg. S. in 186 days at sea, and traversed by log 26,700 miles. On the 29th of October, in lat. 7 deg. 12 min. N., long. 22 deg. 11 min. W., she spoke the barque Briton, of Kirkaldy, twenty-five days out, all well, bound to the Rio de la Plata. On the 31st, in lat. 8 deg. 56 min. N., long 23 deg. 7 min. W., spoke the French barque Granby, all well, from St. Malo, bound to Coromandel. On the 4th of November exchanged colours with the English ship Daundon Castle, No. 2,938, in lat. 14 deg. 41 min. N., long. 26 deg. W. The Myrtle steam tender, Master Commander Maddon, landed her invalids this afternoon, and the Adventure sailed afterwards to Plymouth, to refit. Extract of a letter from her Majesty's ship Plum • per, Commander Nolloth, dated Port Royal, Jamaica, October 24 : " We have just returned from Truxillo, where we were very likely to have had a brush with the fort, as we visited that place with hostile intentions. I must tell you that the Honduras Government owe to our merchants upwards of 100,000 dollars, and have for a long time been fighting shy of the debt, and ulti mately have refused to pay it. Complaints having been made to head-quarters at home, the result was that we were sent to demand immediate payment, and if force was necessary to use it. We, accordingly, shortly after arriving at Tru x ill o (their most im portant town on the sea coast) and after we had made known to the Governor the object of our visit, landed our sailors arid mar:nes, who marched boldly up to the fort, the Plumper at the same time having her guns ready with shot and shell, and pointed at the fortress to cover her men if any opposition had been made. Great credit is due for the able and judicious manner in which the expedition was conducted, for although the batteries were well mounted and filled with soldiers, and the inhabitants surrounding them at least 4,000, they one and all surrendered to us, thereby preventing a shot being fired. We then pos sessed ourselves of the fort, and placed our own sen tinels around it, and after our captain had settled the point to the best of his ability, or, in other words, compelled the liquidation of the debt as far as it could be met, the fort was given up again to them, and having re-embarked our men, we sailed for Port Royal. I am sorry to add the Plumper is very sickly, being so ill adapted for a tropical climate on account of her internal arrangements or fittings as regards the engine -room and the lower deck, where it is when steaming generally 120 deg. Fahrenheit. Although we have been on this station only three months, yet half of the ship's company and officers (at least) have in their turn been laid up with the fever, and two men have died, besides invaliding about 12. We have now several at the hospital here, and each day fresh cases break out. God only knows what the result will be if we are kept: here much longer." PLYMOUTH„ Nov. 28.—The Constance, 50, Capt. George W. G. Courtenay, under her topsails and top- THE SUN. good. It wts finally resolved, at half•past five o'clock, that the meeting should adjourn to December 21, to receive the fourth and final report of the committee of investigation. LONDON, gallant sails, entered the Sound by the Western Channel at 1 o'clock this afternoon. The Constance is from the Pacific and Rio Janeiro, but L►st from Portsmouth, arid is come here to be paid off. This day (Wednesday) week 'she was off the port, and within two hours easy sail ,of Plymouth Sound. On Friday night, according to a contemporary, she was in a " position of much danger" in thick weather, when some of the lights on the Wight could be dis cerned. At 9 o'clock she anchored in 10 fathom water, when her chain parted ; another anchor was let go, and soon after the light on the Nab and Owers was seen. The distress guns which she fired were not heard at Portsmouth. She arrived there on Saturday, and on Monday landed her rich freight of specie, which was delivered in London on Tuesday last. We are aware that it is the usage of the service to go to Portsmouth fur orders, and to land specie at that station. Could it have been otherwise arranged, greater economy and dispatch might have been ob served. A whole week's wages and provisions for the officers and crew, and wear and tear of the ship, would have been saved ; the specified risk of loss of ship and cargo avoided, and the valuable freight, via South Devon and Great Western Railways, delivered in London last week instead of Tuesday. Her Majesty's steam-vessel Stromboli, Captain Lord A. W. Beauclerk, arrived on Tuesday, from Portsmouth, with seamen for the Indefatigable, and sailed the same day for Queenstown. The Gladiator steam vessel made a trial trip round the Eddystone on Friday. The lower yards and topmasts of the flag-ship Impregnable were struck, on the 23d inst., for the winter season. The steam-vessel Lucifer was placed in dock on Monday, to have her copper examined; the next day, it being found that she required calking, her copper was ordered to be taken off. The brig Hound is in the Sound, nearly ready for sea. The brig Philomel is ordered to be commissioned, and is to take the January mail to the coast of Africa, Wind S E. ; strong breeze. APPOINTMENTS. WooLwicff, Nov. 29.—Assistant Engineers— Andrew Douglas, Richard Cotten, John A. Ritchie, Robert Moore, John Oliver, and R. H. Alvin, to the Terrible steam-frigate, at Woolwich. Tha Terrible steam-frigate, Captain James Hope, C. 8., has taken a number of able seamen on board— fine fellows who had kept back from a desire to serve in this vessel. Lieutenant Miller remains in charge of the frigate until the arrival of Captain Hope. The fifty non• commissioned officers and men of the Royal Marine Artillery, under Lieutenant Meade, who came round from Portsmouth to join the Terrible, went on board to-day for service, and she will soon be reiay for sea. The Niger steam-sloop is ordered to be navigated to Devonport. Commander James Wolfe—of the Fisgard flag ship of Commodore Henry Eden (1843)—borne on the books since October, 1847, for surveying service on the coast of Ireland, died yesterday, at Wood street, Woolwich. ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY. WOOLWICH, Nov. 29.—The private examination of the gentlemen cadets at present studying at the Royal Arsenal, preparatory to their examination before a board of officers, about the 18th of December, when they will be recommended for commissions if they pass satisfactorily, commenced to-day, and will be continued until their final examination before the Board. An examination of 30 candidates for admission as gentlemen cadets took place during the present month, and the result is given in the following list of the successful candidates, approved by the Master- , General : " November 20, 1849. " Memorandum.—The Master General, by letter dated the 19th instant, appointed the twenty-four under-mentioned candidates (lately examined) to be gentlemen cadets, and the twenty-one who stand first have been directed to join on Tuesday, the 29th of January, between nine and two o'clock. The three last have been informed that the day of their joining cannot be fixed at present. ",1. Mr. William B. E. Ellis. 2. Mr. Morton P. Eden. 3. Mr. Lonsdale A. Hale. 4. Mr. Robert Biddulph. 5. Mr. John Edwin Cornea. 6. Mr. Gustavus N. Kel sall. 7. Mr. William M. Somerville. 8. Mr. William P. Haigh. 9. Mr. George John Young. 10. Mr. C. J. Hope Johnstone. 11. Hon. Cameron Wrottesley. 12. Mr. Edward C. Johnson. 13. Mr. William R. Lluellyn. 14. Mr. Peter H. Scratchley. 15. Mr. George R. R. Fitzmaurioe. 16. Mr. Henry W. H. D. Dumeresq. 17. Hon. Hussey C. Vivian. 18. Mr. William Stirling. 19. Hon. Augustus H. A. Anson. 20. Mr. Robert A. Dobbin. 21. Mr. Charles E. Gore Browne. 22. Mr. Francis W. de Winton. 23. Mr. Henry P. Tillard. 24. Mr. John M. Kerr." Die whole of the candidates were from private academies ; the students at the Carshalton Academy are not expected to be brought forward before the expiration of another year. PUGILISM. THE NO-FIGHT OF WELSH AND GILL FOR 100/. A SIDE.—Most people have read or heard of " Colebs in search of a wife," " Japhet in search of a Father," and " Punch in search of a Policeman ;" but all and each of these were yesterday cast in the shade by the utter blank, the complete disappointment, the " story without an end" that could be told by those who confidingly en trusted their corporealities to the South-Western Rail way as the means whereby they could be witnesses of the contest for the championship of the light weights between Jemmy Welsh, of Southwark, and Wm. Gill, of Coventry, better known hitherto in the fighting circle he has so strangely deserted as " Paddy Gill." We do not deal in dry chronology, or much space might easily be filled with the doings of the men here spoken of ; suffice it to say that they were matched to meet on Tues day week, and their day was postponed to Monday last, with the understanding that they should settle their difference of opinion in the same arena as the two " big ones," whose performances on Monday last we have already chronicled. How that day was "cut to waste," and how the voyagers were entrained and die trained, till two of the clock had seconded, has been al ready told. Daylight, in these dark days before Christmas, forbidding the second encounter on Frimley Green, it was mutually agreed to refer to the stake holder the nomination of day and place for the deferred meeting, and accordingly Woking, between the hours of twelve and one, and Thursday, were the time and locality decided on. Whispers, loud as those on the stage, were heard that there would. be "no fight ;" and the condition and conduct of Gill were liberally com mented upon. At the hour of twelve the stakes being pitched, and the ropes " all taught," Welsh showed, attended by his seconds and friends. Of the Coventry hero, however, not oven " Peeping Tom" could get a sight. Rumour, with her busy tongue, spoke of his abiding place being hard by ; he had come from Kingston by an early train, had breakfasted, with his trainer, " contagious," as Mrs. Malaprop says, to "the common." Where was he then ? And to this question Paddy's oeho answered, "By my sowl, I don't know." At a few minutes to one—" the stage yet waiting"—a Surrey justice of the peace slowly walked into sight, and, after declaring that he was sent for to do a duty which he was determined to perform, was told that there was not only no intention to commit a "breach of the peace of our Lady the Queen," but an impossibility of doing so. His Worship, who though firm, possessed the suaviter in mode), patiently waited (we don't know how he could do otherwise) till the time " the wee short hour avont the twee" had expired, when the representative of the stakeholder announced that Welsh being the only man present, and there being no proof of magisterial interference baying prevented his showing at the appointed place, Welsh was enti t l e d t o th e s t a k es with the proviso of an unanswerable impediment being proven on the part of the Coventry champion. At a later period, Broome, who had backed Gill, came forward, and publicly stated that he had searched in vain for that individual, and that he himself must frankly admit, though at great pecuniary sacrifice, that the battle- movey was the right of the man there present. With the head•stakes of course go such bets as have been re newed since Monday's postponement. We could en large on the mischief thus done to fair-play, and the re putation of pugilism; but forbear, till time, which clears most obscurities and solves even the riddles of the ring, shall make plain who were the wrong-doers in this shuffling transaction. BUILDERS' BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. — The above institution, established in 1827, for the granting pen sions to the decayed members of the building trade and their widows, held its first annual election yesterday, at the London Tavern, %hen, from a list of eleven can didates, four males and one female were elected, the former to receive 241. per year each, and the latter 201. per anima,. _ _ GUIDALCANAL SILTER MINING COMPANY. -- The ordinary half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday at their offices in Broad street-buildings, but no reporter was admitted to the meeting. Man's knowledge is but as the rivulet, his ignorance as the sea.—Elizet Cook's Journal. FIRES IN THE CITY•ROAD AND GOSWELL • STILEXT.— Last night, between eight and nine o'clock, two alarm ing fires broke out. The first was at the Albion, No. 23, Macclesfield-street, City-road, the property of Mr. Bats will, by which the upper part of the house was burned out, and the lower rooms much damaged. The other fire happened on the premises of Mr. Graves, a stay maker, carrying on business at 81, Goswell street. The flames were confined to a workshop in which the fire commenced, but great damage was done to the lower portions of the premises by water, and the contents were seriously injured by hasty removal. Mr, Graves was insured in the Sun Fire-cffice. FIRS AND PROBABLE Loss OF LlFE.—Yesterday morning, about ball-past eleven o'clock, a fire broke out in the private resichnce of MI s. Mary Pewtner, a lady of independent property, situate at No. 40, White Lion street, Pentonville. The flames originated in the back parlour, at which time Mrs. Pewtner was lying in the room asleep. The cries of the poor lady brought assist. ante, and by dint of great exertion the fire was sub dued, but not until nearly the whole of the bedding and wearing apparel in the room were destroyed, and Mrs. Pewtner so frightfully burned that little hopes are entertained of her recovery. Sir Thomas Fremantle, Chairman of the Customs, had an interview, on Wednesday, with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. FRIDAY EVENING, JULLIEN'S PROMENADE CONCERTS, DRURY-LANE THEATRE. The too short season of these delightful concerts is, we are sorry to say, drawing rapidly to' a close. The performances last night were for the benefit of Herr Kuani.;, who pox formed a trumpet obligato in a most perfect manner, end alio the duet from Norma with his brother Herr Adolphe Koenig, on the cornet piston. This duet was most exquisitely given by these brothers in talent as in blood. A new polka by Herr Koenig, entitled La Chatelaine, was performed for the first time, and elicited rapturous applause The house was, as usual, exceedingly well attended. HAYMARKET THEATRE. Mr. Morris Barnett's admirable comedy of The Serious Family continues to draw crowded houses on the off nights at the little theatre in the Hay market ; and it would be a matter of surprise were it otherwise, for not only is the comedy excellent in itself, hitting, and hitting most effectively, one of the most disgusting of the follies of the day, but it is acted after a manner as nearly approaching to per fection as possible, containing in the same cast Webster, Wallack, Buckstone, Mrs. W. Clifford, Miss Reynolds, and Mrs. Fitzwilliam. It went off ad mirably last night, eliciting shouts of laughter and applause. At the conclusion all the principal artistes were called before the curtain. The comedy was fol lowed by the farce of the Laughing Ilycena, in which Webster was admirable. The performance concluded with the Guardian Angel. COURT CIRCULAR. OSBORNE, THURSDAY. The Queen and Prince took their usual early walk this morning in the grounds of Osborne. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wale:l, the Princess Royal, and the younger members of the Royal Family, walked and rode in the Park. Captain the Hon Dudley and Mrs. Pelham are ex pected to dine at Osborne this day. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary, attended by Baron Knesebeck, returned to their residence at Kew, on Wednesday, from Brighton. Mr. J. H. de Castro, Mr. Robert Smith, and Mr. J. Atherton, a deputation from the Manchester Com mercial Association, had an interview with the Chan cellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official resi dence in Downing-street. Sir James Duke, Bart., had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday, at the Home-office. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had a general meeting yesterday, at their office in White hall-place. Mr. R. Birley (Manchester) and Mr. Morley had an interview yesterday with Sir George Grey. Dispatches from the Governor of Canada, and from the Governors of the other North American colonies, were received yesterday at the Colonial-office. Dis patches were also received yesterday at the Colonial office, from the Governer of West Australia. Mr. Hodges, M.P., had an interview yesterday with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. HEALTH of the QUEEN DOWAGER. (From the Court Circular.) " The Priory, Nov. 29. "The Queen Dowager slept for several hours during the night. " Her Majesty's symptoms remain without any improvement. " DAVID DAVIES, M.D." FRANCE and the SANDWICH ISLANDS. The arrival of the Empire City fromCh7greshad brought to New York the extraordinary and startling news of the capture of the Sandwich Islands by the French. This event, if officially confirmed, is likely to lead to wry embarrassing relations between France and more nations than one. The California corre spondent of the New York Tribune says— " An arrival from the Sandwich Islands has brought the startling intelligence of the islands having been taken by the French. It is the same old quarrel broken out again. The story, as I have heard it, is this: —The Island Government placed a heavy duty on various arti cles, such as wines and liquors, which constitute the principal exportations from France to the Pacific. The commander of the French fleet at Honolulu demanded that it should be revoked, and on refusal opened his guns on the fort, which finally yielded. He then occupied it, and took possession of the island. An express came here in sixteen hours from San Francisco, 130 miles, with the nows. What the course of our authorities will be everybody conjectures, but nobody knows." The intelligence has created considerable sensation in the Unit4States, and the common inquiry is— " What will the French do next?" The subjoined extract from the Pacific News, of Sept. 29, some what modifies the above : " In our paper of Saturday last we announced that a rumour was in circulation that a difficulty had arisen at the Sandwich Islands, between the French Consul-General and the Hawaiian Government. Since that time the French frigate the Poursu viante, under the command of Admiral Trcm melin, has arrived at this port from the Sandsvi.h Islands, which place she left early in the present month, bringing, as wo learn, Mr. Dillon, the French consul, and his family as passengers. It is said that Mr. Dillon has finally closed his mission at the island, and that he proceeds to France through the United States, taking passage in the steamer about leaving for Panama. " The Poursuviante brings dispatches, we believe for Commodore Jones, and for the State Department at Washington. The contents of these are, of course, not yet made public ; but we learn from the re ports in circulation about town, and which, so far ss we know, are not disputed, that the transactions which took place at the island before the French frigate left were, in general, as follows :—The demands of the French Consul—the most important of which related to the importation of French brandies into the islands, at reduced rates of duty, and to the sale of ardent spirits by French whalers visiting the ports of the islands for refreshments—were refused by the Hawaiian Government, on the ground that its existing regulations on those subjects were in conformity to the text and spirit of the treaty con cluded between the French Government and that of the islands. There were, however, several other matters in issue, and the Hawaiian Go vernment, we understand, was desirous to submit the whole case for decision to the Cabinet of Paris. This mode of adjusting the matter Mr. Dillon and the Ad iniral did not see fit to accept. It is also understood that the Hawaiian authorities were willing to avail them selves of the offered mediation of the British Consul- General in the premises—and that this also was de clined by the French Consul and Admiral, who insisted upon a definite compliance with their demands by the Hawaiian Government, within a brief specified time. " Such compliance being refused on the part of the islands, the French Admiral, against the protest, as we understand, of; the American Consul (the diplomatic . _ intercourse between the Islands' Government and Mr. Ten Eyck, the American Commissioner, not having been resumed, we believe, since its suspension some months ago), proceeded to forcible measures. The Ha waiian fort was seized, disarmed, its ammunition destroyed, and the Hawaiian filig lowered for about three days, 'when the French occupa tion of the fort ceased, and the Hawaiian flag was again, raised. One of the public vessels of the Hawaiian Govern ment was also seized by the French, and sent off, under French control, to Tahiti or Valparaiso. The French authorities then left the islands. "It appears to us difficult to understand upon what grounds this course of action on the part of the French au thorities can be justified, and equally difficult to see what good or useful result of any kind has been accomplished by it. If the Hawaiian authorities were in the right in the controversy, under the treaty stipulations, then the course of the French was plainly an unjustifiable aggres sion upon the weak and defenceless. If, on the other hand, the Hawaiian Government was in the wrong, why, even supposing the British Consul's mediation unsuit able, could not tho case have been submitted to the French Cabinet for decision, as the Hawaiian Govern ment is understood to have desired and proposed?" :SENN'S BlND.—Letters from New York state that Mr. Bennett has offered Jenny Lind 1,000 dollars per night for 200 nights, and made a further offer to place a carriage at her disposal, and to pay every description of expenses attending the concerts or operas. He has also proposed to place 10,000/. in the hands of her bankers in London to secure the fulfilment of his proposal. GRAY'S INN.—The election of a preacher to the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, is fixed for Wednes day, the 16th of January next; already nearly thirty candidates are in the field, amongst whom may be men tioned, Dr. Homey, head-master of Merchant Tailors' School; Dr. Kynaston, high master of St. Paul's School; the Hon. and Rev. S. Best, Dr. Wilson, Rev. W. Gleig, Rev. Mr. Jackson, president of Battersea College; Rev. W. Brogden, rector of Deddington ; Rev. Mr. Cowie, principal, Putney College, together with many other very eminent divines. Experience has taught us little, if it has not in structed us to pity the errors of others, and to amend our own.—Eliza Cook's Journal. SYMPATHY WITH THE FAMILIES OF THE DECEASED CHARTIsTS, WILLIAMS AND SHARPE.---On Wednesday evening a-public meeting was held at the City School rooms, Cowper-street, City-road, for the purpose of making a provision for the widows and families of Wil liams and Sharpe, who a short time since died at the Westminster House of Correction while undergoing their sentence of imprisonment for sedition. Luke James Hansard, Esq., in the chair. It was stated that a number of subscriptions had been already received. Amongst the contributors were the Chairman, 51.; Baron Rothschild, 51 55.; Sir Joshua Walmaley, 21. 25.; Messrs. Harmer and Bell, 31. 35.; Lord Dudley Stuart, 21. 25.; Mr. Williams, late M.P., and Mr. Prout. Reso lutions in accordance with the proposed object having been adopted, tho meeting, after subscribing liberally, separated. AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. — An Englishman told me that he was travelling with his younger brother, who was deaf, through Massachusetts; after staying all night at an inn, in the murning the " help" who had cleaned their boots, went to the younger brother and asked him for something: he directed him to his elder brother, who carried the purse: the " boot-clean" went to him and stood before him. " What do you want?" was asked, " I'm the gentleman who cleaned your boots, and the deaf man there told mo to go to you."—Sir J. Alexander's "Acadie." NOVEMBER 30. 1849 , CHEMISTRY OF THE KITCHEN. ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE DIET. (From Eliza CoJk's Jourhal) Nol the least important of a human - being's daily functions is that of eating. Physical man cats to live, and lives to eat. The summary definition of the use of eating is, to supply the waste that is constantly going on in everybody. Before, ho wever , any correct notion can b e formed - as to the nature of the food best calculated to nourish the system, one must first know of what elements the body is composed, and of what the waste materials consist that have to be replaced. The chief constituent pay is of our frame are certain animal substances termed fibrine, albumen, gelatine, mucus, and osinazome ; and the principal elementary matters which escape from the system are carbon, azote, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and lime. To rc place this waste man must have a regular supply of food, the elements of which, it will be found, mainly consist of those just named; and the digestibility of such food will generally be in a ratio to its containin g those elementary 'natters in a simple uncombined form. On this account, animal substances are more easy of digestion than vegetable products, and vege table products than inorganic bodies. Condiments contain few or none of the elementary matters above named, but they act as stimulants to the organs of digestion, and are thus of essential service. The materials for the support of the system are derived from the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms. From the first are derive azote, and a portion of the other elements; from the second, carbon and hydrogen ; and from the third, lime, .salt, and water. Articles of diet :may be divided into three great classes :-1. Those whist conta'n azote, carbon, hy drogen, an d oxygen. 2. Those which c on t a i n car b on , hydrog en , and oxygen. 3. Those which contain neither carbon nor azote. The following substances are contained in the first division :—Fibrine, albumen, gelatine, mucus, osma zonae, and gluten. The second class contains starch, gum or mucilage, sugar, oil, and fat. The third con tains water, various earths, sea-salt, Sze. The three principal elementary substances are—the saccharine, the oleaginous, and albuminous, which are represented by sugar, butter, and the white of eggs , Fibrine is very nutritious; the great mass of the solid matter of the muscles of animals is composed of it. Albumen is contained in the white of eggs, carti lage, oysters, mussels, &c. It is highly nutritious, and easy of digestion. Gelatine forms the principal ingredient of bones, tendons, membranes, &c. It is also nutritious and easy of digestion. Osms,zome is found principally in fibrous organs. The flesh of game and old animals contain a large proportion. Gluten exists in the vegetable kingdom, in all fari naceous seeds., wheat, flour, fruits, roots, leaves of cabbages, &c. Starch, which belongs to the second division, is principally found in the vegetable kingdom, in fari naceous grains, rice, barley, and maize. Gum is a vegetable product, furnished by many trees, particularly the various species of mimosa; and mucilage is derived from the esculent vegetables. Sugar is extracted from the sugar-cane, maple tree, beet-root, &c., and is highly nutritious. Salt, which belongs to the third division, is an in dispensable article of food ; and though earthy mat ter Corms no part of European c ating, there are some uncivilized tribes with whom it forms a principal article of diet. The point is still much discussed, whether man is naturally designed to live on animal or vegetable diet, or on a mixture of both. There is a large, and we believe an increasing portion of society, who have altogether eschewed animal food, and confine them selves to vegetable products. There are certainly numerous instances on record of persons who have prolonged their lives by abstaining from:animal food; of these we may name Colonel Thompson, the present member for Bradford, who for some years past has lived entirely on vegetables, greatly to the improve ment of his health, as he himself has assured us; Mr. Brotherton, the Member fur Salford is also a strict vegetarian. Still, it is possible that these are only the exceptions to the general rule, and that the principle deduced from the consideration of their cases, may not be applicable to mankind generally. Very much depends on the nature of the climate in which a person lives, as well as on the kind and ex tent of his physical labour. In tropical climates, men are led by their natural tastes to prefer a vegetable diet ; in cold climates, again, they prefer animal food, and they seem to require it. The nearer the Arctic circles, the more animal food do men consume. This seems to us an exceedingly wise provision of nature, enabling man to inhabit all climates, and to adapt him self to the condition of all countries. The structure of man's digestive organs also, we think, points out very clearly that his nature is essentially omnivorous, and that he has been created so as to be capable of subsisting on aliment of every description. Those who are compelled by their avocations to work hard in the open air, and to take a large amount of physical exercise, require a large amount of animal food to sustain them. Those who spend much time on horseback, generally eat largely. The natives of the Pampas, who almost live upon the saddle and ride great distances, are in the habit of eating what is called jerked beef, which consists of the muscular parts of cows or oxen, which, after being cut into thin slips, are dried in the sun. This is said to form a highly nutritious kind of diet. Sailors, who are compelled to work hard and are often up all night, require a large allowance of food. The less sleep men take, the more food do they require. 11r. Mott gives the following as a fair estimate of the proportion of food requisite to support human life in a sound and healthy state :--Ist. For a person of moderate health and constitution. but using little exercise or exertion, the daily allowance of food should be from 12 oz. to 18 oz., in nutritive matter equal to a daily average of 10 oz. 2d. For persons of good health, accustomed to moderate labour, as sailors or soldiers on ordinary peace duty, or agricultural labourers, or mechanics at their usual work, the daily allowance should be from 18 oz. to 24 oz. ; in nutritive matter equal to a daily average of 16 oz. ad. For persons subject to hard labour, or other violent exertion, in good bodily health, from 24 oz. to 30 oz. of food, equal to about 22 oz. of nutri tive matter. Generally speaking, persons in comfortable circum stances in this country, eat too mach. The wealthy classes cause themselves a large amount of pain and disease by overfeeding. The perusal of a Lord Mayor's bill of fare reminds one of gout and the doctors. A celebrated physician, inquiring of a person who was remarkable for the health which he enjoyed at an advanced period of his life, what regimen he followed, was answered, " I make but one meal a day." " Keep your secret," said the doctor ; "if you publish it to the world you will utterly ruin the practice of medicine." It has been facetiously observed by some one, that there exists an alliance between the cooks and the physicians. Indeed, another physician, when visiting his patients, rarely , failed to pay his respects to the cooks. "My friends,' he would say to them, "accept my best thanks for all the kind services which you render to us physicians ; were it not for you and your pleasing poisons, the faculty would soon find themselves inhabitants of the workhouse." There is reason to believe that many of our best dishes are overcooked, and thus rendered unwhole some. Believe us, reader, that cooking requires sense and discretion like other operations. In poor men's houses, for want of early training, there is also a great deal of unnecessary waste. The preparation of food, neatly, unwholesomely, and economically, is really a matter of such importance in every household, whether rich or poor, that it ought to form part of the education of every young woman. The happiness and health of a household are far more affected by the way in which the mistress thereof dresses the family dinner, than by the manner in which she dresses herself; yet, most young woman are perfectly competent to do the one, who, up to the day on which they assume the management of a household tbr themselves, have not given the slightest considera tion to the other. how many are the couples, whom God has joined, but whom family dinners have put asunder ! Let our female readers look to this! Food, well and properly cooked, is half digested. On the other hand, many severe cases of indigestion have ensued from eating meat improperly prepared. How much are our domestic comforts thus at the mercy of those who preside at the kitchen fire. All over-done meats are indigestible. Boiled meat is easy of digestion, but not so nutritious as others. If too long boiled, however, it becomes very indigestible. Over-roasted beef or mutton is much less digestible than when moderately or rather under done. Veal and chicken are more wholesome and nutritious when roasted; this may be said of all meats. With reference to poultry, it may be observed that the flesh of chickens or young fowls is more easy of digestion, but not so nutritious as that of old. Fish is easy of digestion, but not so nutritious as the flesh of animals. Its nutritive property, and digestibility, are in proportion to the oleaginous matter it contains. Owing to the absence of all stimulating properties in fish, it forms a good article of diet for invalids and persons of weak stomach. The least heating, and more nutritive of the fish species, are turbot, cod, whiting, haddock, and sole. If, after being cooked, the fish have an opaque and flaky appearance, it may be pronounced to be good. Salmon is the most nutritive of our fish, but it is heating and oily, and does not agree with persons of weak digestion. We are surprised that fish, which forms so whole some, and might be so cheap, an article of diet, is so little used. There is, we believe, a prejudice against it among the people generally. The Irish will only eat fish when they cannot get seaweed. Yet their coasts are swarming with fish, which they will riot take the trouble to catch. As the English railway system has become developed, fish has become more an article of diet in the inland towns, though the working classes still decline to make uss of it to any large extent, except in a salted state. The trade is, however, rapidly increasing, and we trust before long to see it as general an articla of food as bread or butcher's meat. Gentle exercise before meals is salutary, but too much exercise will not only destroy all inclination for food, but weaken the powers of digestion. Cheer fulness at meals should be encouraged. " Better is a dinner of herb 3 where peace is, than a stalled ox with contention." All depressing or engrossing thoughts should be banished from the mind ; there is so direct a nervous communication beta ern the brain and the stomach, that if the former be effected by any mental excitement, the latter is sure to suffer. KEN TISI-1 TOWN LITERARY INSTITUTION. On "Wednesday evening we had the pleasure of being present at the first concert of the Choral Class, held in connexion with this institution, on v, hich occasion Itaydn's famous oratorio, The Creation, was performed by a band and chorus consisting of up wards of fifty individuals. The principal vocalists were Mrs. Temple, who sang some of the solo parts with admirable taste and feeling ; Mr. Wilkins, and Mr. Harper; and the band was composed chiefly of young men, most of whom were amateurs connected with the institution. Mr. E. Noyce acted as conductor of the orchestra, and evinced considerable skill and judgment in its management. The whole piece was gone through in a manner highly creditable to a company of performers principally young ama teurs, and was listened to by a respectable and nume rous audience, members or friends of the institution, or living in its vicinity. We avail ourselves of this opportunity of noticing this promising institution, which was established at the beginning of the present year in a populous suburb of this metropolis, with the laudable object of facilitating the intellectual and moral improvement of the working community, through the medium of classes, lectures, and a library and reading-room. The lectures, embracing matters of science, literature, and the fine arts, are delivered at intervals. Already twenty-five have been given on various interesting topics since the institution was begun. These included, among others, an " En- tertainment," by the celebrated actress, Miss Clara Seyton ; o ne on " G ermany and the Germans," by Mr. B. Dawson ; four on "Heraldry," by Mr. Part. ridge; one on " Electricity," by Mr. Sansome; two on "Pneumatics," by Mr. Geary; one on "Fossil Shells," by Mr. Sowerby ; one on the " Life of John Howard and Prison Discipline," by Mr. Elvyn ; one on " Greece, and its Influence on the Civilization of the World," by the Rev. Mr. Red path ; one on the " Botany of the Bible," by the Rev. James Hamilton, of the Scotch Church, Regent• square ; and one by the Rev. Dr. Jenkyn, of Coward College, on " Mind, and its Powers." There are six evening classes in operation, namely, for writing (for adults) ; discussion ; vocal music (elementary) ; choral music (vocal and instrumental) ; French (elementary and conversational, conducted by M. Arokues) ; and drawing. A manuscript magazine, composed of contributions from the members, and of from fifty to eighty pages in length, is produced monthly, and circulated among the supporters of the institution. The number of members now amounts to nearly 350; and the library, which is a circulating one, contains nearly,9oolvolumes, amongst which are several valuable standard works. The reading-room is also supplied with the principal morning and even ing newspapers, thus lending an additional attraction to the institution. Books and discussions on contro versial points in religion and politics are expressly prohibited by a rule of the society. The institution, as we have said, was set on foot principally and avowedly with the view of diffusing knowledge among the working classes in the district, and affording them the means and facilities of an innocent and rational recreation. But we were sorry to learn that as yet but a very small proportion of that class—not more than half- a- dozen—are found availing themselves of the privileges of the institution, though the cost of doing so is so inconsiderable as to be within the means of most of them. We fear that this is not owing so much to any want of disposition or means towards joining the society, as to a deficiency in that elemen tary instruction necessary to enable them to appreciate and use its advantages. The society seems to have anticipated that circumstance, for we observe they have wisely established a class for adult instruction j in writing and other elementary learning, which such of the working men in the vicinity as feel themselves deficient in these respects would at least do well to join, though they might not in the first instance be in a condition to avail themselves of the higher bene fits of the institution. MR. DOVER'S PLAN FOR PRESERVING THE THAMES FROM POLLUTION, AND FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRITISH GUANO. On Tuesday evening a meeting was held at the Western Literary and Scientific Institution, in Leicester-square, for the purpose of listening to n lecture delivered by Mr. Richard Dover, of New street, Spring gardens, ex pl ana t ory o f hi s plan for preserving the Thames from pollution, by intercepting and deputrifying the sewage, and for converting the residuum thus obtained from the sewage into British guano. The chair was taken at eight o'clock by J. Bamfylde Daniell, Esq., M.D., Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. Among the scientific gentle men present we observed, G. Wells, Esq., of the Admiralty, S. Richards, Esq., M.D., A. C. Ross, Esq., M.D., Edward Murphy, Esq., M.D., Thomas Cahelle, Esq., M.D., G. Grindle, Esq., the celebrated chemist, and Hopgood, Esq., of the City Commis- sion of Sewers. After a short address from the Chairman, Mr. DOTER proceeded to deliver his lecture. In his preliminary observations he called attention to the fact that 120,000 persons died annually in this country of consumption, and that, of the 125 who died daily in London, only 9 died of old age. He was prepared to prove that the great majority of lives were sacri ficed in consequence of the filthy and pestilential accu mulations which found their way to the Thames— accumulations, be it remembered, which, according to the plan he proposed, would be converted into guano to fertilize the farms of the agriculturist, after the water from which it had been taken was purified. That process would not only be without expense, but it would yield a revenue sufficient to keep up a system of proper sewage in the metropolis, and afford its inhabitants an abundant supply of water, without any additional taxation whatever. Having glanced at the statistics of cholera, Mr. Dover proceeded to exhibit his experiments. He poured a quantity of sew age taken from the Northumberland-street sewer into a receiver, into which he had previously poured a small quantity of his disinfecting agent ; after a short time a precipitate was thrown down, and the super natant fluid was allowed to flow off by a glass tube communicating with the vessel, the discharge being controlled by means of a cock ground into it. The tube is bent into the form of the letter C, with square corners, and terminates in a small filtering apparatus, containing animal charcoal, closed at the bottom, where the tube is connected with it, and open at the top, over which a pieces of canvass is firmly stretched. The fluid descending from the receiver above perco lates through the canvas, and filtration takes place by ascent. The matter precipitated in the receiver by the action of the disinfecting agent, is collected upon a cloth, and after undergoing a process of ex siccation, or drying, yields a dark-coloured granulated substance, to which the name of " British guano" has very properly been given. The above experiment, which was satisfactory in the extreme in producing the results above mentioned, exhibits on a small scale the operations of actual prac tice, which is this :—The contents of a sewer, at any convenient point, are diverted by a dam, revolving bulk-head, or partition, capable of falling down when a greater hydrostatic pressure is exerted against it than that which would be produced by a high tide, so that there can be no danger of an overflow. They then fall into a well or cistern, whence they are pumped into a series of tanks by means of a steam engine, the fluid filling them successively. Here the disinfecting agent does its work, the residuum is collected at the works, and the floating fluid escapes into the river, deprived of all those impurities which at present render it a source of disease. If the sewer be a large one, several of these works may be so constructed as to carry off from the first works the fluid which it cannot act upon, and send it to the second. From the second the excess would flow to the third, and so on, until it would finally enter the river. The works required to take up and disinfect this sewage were neither complex or large, and could be established at the exit of each sewer into the Thames ; or in any other part of London or its environs more convenient. The sewage should be pumped up by steam power into tanks, or vats, of from one to three thousand gallons each, and disinfected progressively while filling; so that by the time the tank was full its contents would be ready for filtering ci l'Egyptien. The residuum should then be removed from the premises for conversion into an inodorous guano. Thus all the offensive and putrid, or putrifying matter, now running into and polluting the Thames with so many fearful and fatal results, could be made available for agricultural purposes, with vast sanitary benefit and national profit. With regard to the best method of carrying out the plan, Mr. Dover observed, that model works (belonging to the Government of course) at the exit of a sewer, on a small manufacturing scale, would be the most satisfactory, because they would demonstrate not only the pecuniary profits this system of working the sewers could produce to Government and the country, but afford instruction also to all patties making tenders for them. Such " model works," judiciously constructed, might require the advance of one, but could not need two thotp.and pounds, which they would more than repay in a very few months, with all incidental expenses. By the Sanitary and Sewers Commissioners placing before the public a proper system or prospectus for the manufacture of guano from the 15,000 tons of sewage daily discharged into the Thames, " they could restore its natural salubrity of chara c t er ." Wi t hi n t h ree mouths " model works" could be put in advantageous de monstrative operation ; and this system of treat ing the " sewage of London" will produce the greatest and most valuable benefits, at the smallest cost, and without charge to Government, or tax, rat-, or assessment to the public ! It will also be found the most expeditiously efficacious system for annihi lating the cholera yet published. The chemical agent to deputrify could belong to the Government and the Sanitary and S ewer C ommissioners had thereby the power of. requiring every sewer in these kingdoms to be cleansed for national, sanitary, as well as local pecuniary benefit. And from this several gains would result, as he would show by tables, with which he intended to trouble the meeting. Mr. Dover then proceeded to read a number of tables, showing that within the range of the late Westminster Sewers Commission alone the revenue and income-tax to the Government would be at once upwards of 50,0001. a year. The tables proved also, he said, that there would be a net profit of 200,0001. a year to the parties or companies working these twelve sewers, besides the additional revenue and profit from sales of disinfected water ; all of which advantages were now wasted with such fatal consequences. Mr. Dover exhibited several specimens of British guano, manufactured according to his plan, and read letters from several eminent agriculturists and horti culturists who had tried his British guano, and spoke in the highest possible terms of its fertilizing proper ties. But it is not the guano alone which is a source of profit, the " super -natant water" of the disinfected sewage is available and of value for sundry purposes, viz., bleaching, washing, and purifying floors and rooms in houses or hospitals; also linen and clothes used in cases of typhus and other fevers, or where cholera is or may have been raging, as well as for washing slaughter-houses and injecting daily into every drain, in every house, street, city, or populous place, having sewerage, in Great Britain and Ireland, where the cholera is, as many hundreds of gallons of this disinfected super. natant water as would fix awl precipitate every noxious gas now escaping therefrom so offensively, and too often fatally. And if sold for one shilling only per ton, it would yield many addi tional thousands of pounds sterling per annum profit to the companies, as well as income-tax to the Govern ment. The experiment was most successful, the guano was deposited, and the supernatant fluid filtered in a very short space, and the water hus filtered off was to all appearance perfectly pure—it was as clear as the purest spring water, was perfectly inodorous, and perfectly tasteless, and bore a greater resemblance to distilled water than to any other fluid, and we under stand that, like distilled water, it will keep for any length of time without undergoing decomposition or becoming offensive. This plan of Mr. Dover's ap pears to us the most feasible that has yet been pro posed for preserving the Thames from pollution, as while it retains the use of the present sewers, it does not require any very great outlay to bring it at once into practice. At the conclusion of the lecture, Mr. Hop , good, of the City Commission of Sewers, put several questions to Mr. Dover, the whole of which were answered satisfactorily, and pledged himself to do his utmost for procuring from the City Commis • sioners of Sewers an opportunity for Mr. Dover to carry out his plan. A vote of thanks was then proposed to Mr. Dover for his interesting lecture, and another to tho Chair man for his conduct in the chair, after which the meeting separated. THE WELSH CHURCH. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUS. LETTER 111. SlR,—The following facts may tend to illustrate the pernicious system of ecclesiastical government which has for many generations been practised by the successive English bishops of our four Welsh sees : In the diocese of St. David's there are 419 bene fices, and 297 of them without habitable glebe-houses. In the diocese of Llandaff there are 247 benefices, and 126 of them without habitable glebe-houses. In the diocese of St. Asaph there are 149 benefices, and 42 of them without habitable glebe-houses. In the diocese of Bangor there are 128 benefices, and G 2 of them without habitable glebe-houses. Mr. Lingen, one of the Commissioners of Welsh Education, in the Appendix to Part 1., pp. 40G-7, states of the county of Pembroke and hundred of Themess—" In the whole of the country between Fishguard, on the north, and the Preielly mountain, on the south, . . . the state of the churches exlmplifies the neglect in which the population of these parishes is left. Churchwardens are never appointed. The churches of Llandulo and Maen chlochog are in ruins," &c. Of Llanychlwydog he says, at p. 407—" There were no Church people in the parish." Of Ilasguard he adds, at p. 444—" There had been no churchwardens in the parish for the last ten years, nor, it was believed, for a much longer period." To the Second Report Mr. Symonds appends the following particulars, ascertained by his assistants, concerning certain Brecknockshire parishes. Of Llanafan-fechan it is said, at p. 131—" Divine ser vice is very seldom performed here, unless there are banns to publish, or a wedding or a funeral to take place." Of Llanfihangel Abergweissin it records, at p. 135 —" There is no service performed in the church during five out of six Sundays, for want of a con gregation." - Uf Llanfihangel Bryn Pabuan, also at p. 135 " Divine service is not often performed here, ex cept a wedding or a f unera l t a k es p l ace. The vicar rides by on the Sunday afternoon, but seldom has occasion to alight and do duty, from the paucity of the congregation." The same Commissioner's notes on Candiganshiro testify, at p. 163, concerning Llanfair-tref-llelygen, that—" The parish church was in ruins many y ears ago. The oldest inhabitants in the neighbcurhocd did not remember it standing." An additional circumstance, which I am about to mention, rests upon excellent, although private au thority. Not long ago, the incumbent of one of these desolate parishes having requested a clerical friend to publish banns for hint in the church, that friend, a pious and active Welsh parson, drove to the place in a gig, accompanied by his wife, on the Sunday specified. Finding the churchyard gate fastened up, and no person being within call, the clergy man secured his horse to a railing and walked to a neigh bouring cottage. A woman, whom he met with, looking earnestly at the strangers, instantly inquired in IVelsh, whether they wanted to be married ; and after the clergyman had explained matters, and waited for the breaking up of a Dissenting congregation, a few of them kindly consented to accompany him to the church, for the purpose of legalizing by their presence his announcement of the banns ! The gross neglect of parochial ministers, of rural titans, and of other officials is manifested in there things. It is likwise notorious that the four arch deacon! ies of the diocese of St. David's have long been held as sinecures, and still continue virtually such, in spite of legislative enactments to the con trary. Thus is the 'Welsh Church neglected, misgoverned, and corrupted by her English prelates ! A remarkable case, in which the lapse of the whole population of a large parish into schism can be directly traced to a single act of episcopal power, shall be noticed in my next letter. I am Sir, &c., GORBONIAN. NATIONAL BENEVOLENT SOClETY.—Yesterday the annual general meeting of the members of this institution was held at Freemasons' Hall, Sir James Duke, Bart., M.P., in the chair. After some prefatory remarks from the chairman, the report was read by Mr. Lateille, the secretary. It stated that the institution was founded in 1812 by the late Peter nerve, Esq., for granting pen sions to aged tutors, governesses, artists, and other worthy but distressed members of the middle classes of society, of whatever country or persuasion. At Christ mas, 1848, the number of persons receiving peusions of 201. or 30/. a year was 232, of whom 14 were males and 218 leznales, their average age being upwards of 72 years. The total sum disbursed in pensions since the formation of the society was 119,685/. 11s. 7d. The entire receipts trim September 30, 1848, to September 30, 1849, it cludit.g a balance from the previous year, were 8,775/. II s., and the total disbursements 7 535/. 4s. Id., namely, pensions, 5,021/. 55.; investments, 1,6861. 18s. 9d.; and expenses, 827/. Os. 4d. The report was adopted, and 21 aged persons were elected pen sioners. A vote of thanks to Sir James Duke for his couitcsy in presiding, and the officers of the society, closed the proceedings. TILE FIRE AND Loss OF LIFE IN WILD-STREET. . —Yesterday an inquiry was made by the brigade autho rities with a view of ascertaining how the calamitous fire occurred which destroyed the greater porti.,.n of Mr. Sullivan's premises in Great Wild-street, Lincoln's Inn-fields, and which was attended with fatal conse quences to one of the inmates. The result of the in vestigation went to show that the disaster originated in one ut the rooms on the first floor, but not in that occu pied by the pour awn who unfortunately peri.ihed in the flames. AFFRAY WITH POACIIERS.—On Tuesday a con filet tuoli place between three gamekeepers in the service of Mr. Leche, of Carden-pack, and Mr. Aldersey, of Aldersey hall and a band of poachers, supposed to be six iu number, in the course of which one of the latter lost his life. An inquest has been summoned to sit on the body, end the inquiry is adjourned. 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