The Sun. — London, England, 1849-12-10 00:00:00

NOTES OS METEOROLOGY. BY LIEUTENANT MORT - i,ISON, R.N., PRESIDENT OF THE METEOR' , LOGICA.L SOCIETY OF LONDON. (Read before the Society at their last meeting.) In the present highly cultivated state of the sciences, no excuse can be required for introducing for popular notice the numerous topics which are embraced by meteorology. Its importance is not surpassed by any other science, whether we regard it in respect to the merchant, the navigator, the agriculturist, the astro nomer, or the philosopher. To the merchant it is essential to have the means of forming a judgment of the probable effect of the season on the crops, in the produce of which he speculates, whether of corn, fruits, sugars, cottons, oils, drugs, wines, and a ihoussand other substances; the navigator is pro verbially dependent on the alternative of fair and favourable gales, or destructive and desolating storms; the agriculturist relies on the regularity of the seasons for his very existence, and while he prays for the " early and latter rains" to instigate the soil for his seed time, he no less earnestly desires the solar beams to satisfy his hopes in the harvest. These are practical men, who with one accord will declare that to them a foreknowledge of the state of the atmosphere would be of the highest value. Bet not less does the man of science, tke astronomer, look to the meteorologist for as sistance in his noble speculations. The celebrated Professor Airy, in his recent splendid re port on the astronomy of the age, says, " The effects of radiation have been till lately little understood, and scarcely recognised among astrono mers," and he adds, " I think that astronomers would be glad to receive simple directions for placing a thermometer so as to indicate correctly the tempe rature of the air at the place of observation ;" and he asks, " Doss the refractive power of air depend simply on its density without regard to its tempera ture ?'' &c. These and other similar questions can only be answered by the aid of meteorology. As to the general philosopher, whether he apply himself to medical investigations, to the multifarious ramifica ti-ans of chemistry, to the important problem of the causes of the tides and their attendant phenomena, to the nature of radiant heat and all its practical con ssquence3, to the laws of optics, to the mysterious researches of geology or botany, the wonders of the aeitnal economy, or the stupendous arcana of electri cal science, he feels himself at every step compelled to consider the numerous phenomena of meteorology. If we refisct on the uses of the atmosphere to man, we are compelled to admit that the first necessary of life is the air! we find health in the breeze, and pleasure in the varying scenery of the skies. Without the air were just what it is all would he dull and insipid, no winds, no clouds, no rains, not a boat could sail, or a bird could fly ; not a sound would be transmitted, not a fire could oe maintained, not a vegetable grow, or an aninal exist. It must then be reasonable to study the nature of a substance so important, so essential to mankind. 11L3TORY OP METEOROLOGY. Some of the earliest records of attention •to the causes of atmospherical phenomena are to be found in the writ.ing., of Aratus, a Greek poet, who flourished nearly three hundred years before the Christian era, enik tly in his " Diosemia." But the principles he describes were those to which Diodoru9, the historian, alludes in his accounts of the Egyptians ; and they ha l been imitated by the Grecian poet, as was the case with everything the Greeks observed among other nations. In Egypt a certain class of persons were set apart for the express purpose of observing the state of the atmosphere ; these persons were not shepherds, as it is often erroneously imagined, but the suns of the pfests. They enjoyed large revenues, and rec4ived an education to fit them for the undertaking. Owing to their observations and discoveries the agriculture of Egypt (an art so highly dependent on a foreknowledge of the state of the atmosphere) made advances unknown to other countries, as testi fied by Diodorus hitnsfAf. The results of the Egyp• tian's meteorological knowledge were embodied in the " Tetra•biblos," of Claudius Ptolemy, in the second century ; the man who, of all others, was most con spicuous for a knowledge of optics, geography, and astronomy. Among the Romans there were several who wrote on the subject, especially Matnlius, also Virgil in his " Georgics ;" but he (as did Phing) made the works of Aratus the basis of his doctrines, nor did the cause of meteorology derive much benefit froth she masters of the world. In the middle ages science fled to the colleges of Arabia, and not only do we owe the figures of arith metic and the basis of algebraical analysis, but also all the improvements in the science of meteorology, which it could boast previously to the sixteenth cen tur;•, are due to .Alchindu3, Albarnazer, and other fanous Arabian philosophers, whose works have been too much neglected, because of a prejudice apainst tinir opinions on other subjects. During the last two centuries, Bacon, Kepler, and other master minds turned their attention to the subject, and many valuable observations were made, in Germany especially by llvriander, in Italy by Tualdo and Becaria, and in England by Dr. Goad, who was phy sician to Charles the Second. It is well known that d.ring the last century the subject languished in the feeble hands of would-be meteorologists, such as the editors of ilfoore's Altnanack, whose gross cor ruptions of the original doctrines of the Egyptians, as contained in the works of Claudius Ptolemy, have spread a worse than Egyptian darkness over the land as to the plainest facts of meteorology; and it is only at the present era that the British Association is engiged in making obs?rvations to determine facts, which have been recent:y observed, but have no claim to novelty. I m3y instance particularly the pointing out, at page 250 of their " Report on Meteorology," the curious fact, that more rain falls or may be caught near the ground than at a higher point, which it is said " has met with no satisfactory , explanation," while not only was the fact well deter mined, but a most simple and (to ray mind) satis factory explanation of it given above thirty years ago byDr. Rutherford. - The result of all this is that I believe I am war ranted in observing that very few principles are as yet determined in the modern science of meteorology. And as reg trds the present state of meteorology, I may say that the only facts well attested in modern digs are, first, that no change whatever has:taken pla2e in the clircate of Europe since ancient times. This point has been sltisfactorily determined by M. Schonw and M. Arago. Secondly, that the mean temperature at the equator is about 81 deg. F., and that there are certain isothermal lines, or curves of mean temperature, pretty well determined, and that at the pole the mean temperature is about nine or ten degrees below v?ro of F., or forty-two degrees below the fi.ezing point. Independent of the above, the whole mass of modern meteorological science consists of isolated facts, which, though connected in nature, await the discovery of any known bond of connexion. In short, the observa tion of Professor Forbas, that " with regard to the course of the honorary oscillations of the barometer we are very much in the dark," may undoubtedly be extended to the causes of many of the phenomena of the atmosphere. OF TUE CONSTITUTION AND PROPERTIES OF THE AT NIOSPIIERS. Meteorology teaches us that the portion of space which surrounds the body in which our benevolent Creator has placed us consists of several strata of r.seous compounds, of various qualities, the most im portant of which is atmospheric air; which, by charnical operations, has been repeatedly decomposed and discovered to consist of oxygen, nitrogen, car bonic acid ,:gas, aqueous vapour, and electric fluid. These substances (excepting the latter, which is im ponderable) press upon the earth in the ratio of their volumes, their proportionate pressure being equal to the weight of a column of mercury, its base hying one square inch in measure, as follows : Nitrogen, 23.7 inches ; oxygen, 6.3 ; vapour, 0.4 ; carbonic acid gas, 0.03. The leading qualities of the air may be thus ex pressed :--It is a transparent, elastic, ponderable, gaseous fluid, capable of resistance, variable in its temperature, density, and humidity, and a conductor of sound only when dense, and of electricity only when rarified. It is transparent, as being the medium of vision; it is deltic, or capable of expansion and compression, as hewn by the action of heat upon confined air, and by the removal of heat being followed by its condensation ; also by the air-pump forcing an addi tional quantity of air into a given space, we see that its particles they be compressed, or made to occupy a smaller space. That it is ponderable is shown by its hearing up solids immersed in it, as do other fluids, and by its being weighed in a balance. It is found to be a gaseous fluid, consisting in chief of 79 parts in 100 of nitrogen, 21 of oxygen gas. The force of a strong wind which propels ships, overthrows trees, &c., shows it to be a s u b s t ance , an d cap a bl e o f resist ance. The temperature of the air is found to vary continually i n al most all situaaions, being very r are ly stationary for a single hour. Its density also varies continually, being afF . eted by t emperature, b y dis tance from the level.ot the s ea , an d other causes nn of v Lich is the directio n of the wind. Thus, Dr. Pewit found that 100 cu!:ie inches of dry air, at the te-orature of GO df-grees,. weighed about 1:1 grains ),.a. than the slime cro,ntity at the temperature of degrees ; and that the same . quantity o f a i r weighed about 1.500 th of a g rain when !nor° when tt wind was from the wast. T he difference of th e weight of 100 cubic inches of air at different times amounts to over 1-20th of a grain. The humidity of the air varies continually also, as vhe proved by several simple experiments. That when the air is not dense it will not convey sound, is shown by pla c i ng a b e ll w i t hi n t h e rece i ver o f an air pump, which hell may be shaken, without emitting any sound when the air is exhaustld; and it is also proved by the fact that sound is conveyed with difficulty in the upper and more rarified regions of the air. J..astly, the air is known to be a non con- 4 moor" - THE SUN, ductor of electricity in its ordinary state, bu‘, wh.n rarified, the electric fluid passes freely through it. I.XTENT OF THE ATMOSPHERE. The height of atu.ospheric air (which must always be distinguished from the atmosphere itself) has been variously estimeed, the general opinion being that it extends about fifty miles from the outface; 1. think, however, erroneously. sistant Quoz!leirzastor , (l:.neral et Cork, 11 , ..:s resigned his iii. , pointrLint, ontiLinci Pennefati.er, from ci onine i, i s l o ,vaccced him RAILWAY RETURNS IttiswAlt TRAY/IC.- •The following, are the Total ItecelptS of Rail wa; s for the past •weel—that is to say, up to the date to which the respective returns are made, together with the receipts of the same week hi the previ ORD; YeAr THE DENSITY. The law of the decrease of temperature, or, rather, of density in ascending, is so little known that its hives tigation has been expressly recommended by the British Association. It is thought to be nearly this :—when the heights increase in arithmetical pro gression, the densities decrease in geometrical pro gression, so that, if air at seven miles high occupy four times the space it does on the surface, then, at fourteen miles high, it would occupy sixteen times the space, and at twenty-one miles high sixty•four times, and so on. At this rate, at the height of forty two miles, it would occupy four thousand times the space ; but then the cold counteracts this, and leaves the question to be settled only by experi ment. There are reasons to believe that the air extends at least five hundred miles high in a state cal pable of maintaining combustion. OTHER GASES AND COMPOUNDS IN THE ATMOSPHERE. There is evidence of other constituents of the atmosphere beyond the boundaries of the air, properly so called. Hydrogen gas—atnmoniacal gas, produced by twenty-five of hydrogen and seventy five of nitrogen, lighter than air ; phosphorus also may be in the atmosphere, by the light given out by snow in the night time, and by the fact of snow falling in Argyleshire in March, 1813, when the light was so great as to make the bodies on which the snow fell seem to be on fire. Hence the possibility of phosphoretted hydrogen gas, which inflames spontaneously when in contact with air, and produces water and phosphoric acid, which latter forms white cloudy rings, which enlarge as they ascend, &c. NI. Izard, in his work on " Atmospheric Litho logy," published in Paris in 1803, says on this sub ject (after remarking on the vast quantities of hydrogen gas which rise continually into the atmo sphere, since it is continually disengaged by the decomposition of water, and all dead vegetable and animal substances)—" It appears, then, that if there are formed in the atmosphere combinations of oxygen and hydrogen, which produce us water, they are affected in quite another manner than is generally thought. Ist. They may be made molecularly, as it were, by the presence and contact of small globules of hydrogen spread abroad in the atmosphere while they traverse it in their way to unite in the superior regions. In this case the combination takes place without detona tion or light, but solely with a change, more or less sensible, of the temperature of the air, and the water which results, falls like that which is only aqueous gas condensed." This accounts for rain without clouds, &c., mentioned by M. Arago, and is, therefore, extremely probable. "2ndly, says M. Izard, " this combination may take place instantaneously, by the combining of a great quantity of hydrogen, amassed spherically and isolated by other neighbouring gases. This is made with detonation, more or less violent, and produces hail and heavy rain, which fall rapidly." " 3rdly. Without the globulous mass of hydrog en coning immediately into contact with the sphere of common air, the combination of the two gases, oxygen and hydrogen, may be determined by a mass of intermediate fluid, which should have a great affinity for both those gases. It is this combination which is ordinarily the effect of the electric fluid ; it is made with detonation and light, and has nothing in common with the phenomena produced by the shock or electricity of clouds, since it often takes place in stormy climates, when the weather is calm and the sky serene." In my opinion the pher.omenoa of " falling stars" is more satisfactorily accounted for by this latter ex planation than by any of the hypotheses at present known. The above "Notes on Met4orology" are offered to the society with a view to remind the student in this science of the many salient and very beautiful points it offers to his attention, and as an inducement to its better study and appreciation. FRAN CE. M. de Falloux has received at Nice the reward which he has so justly merited for his endeavours to deliver over Italy and France to the tender mercies of the parti-pretre. No sooner was it known that the destroyer of liberty in Rome, the apologist of the massacre of St. Bartholomew's, the patron of the Inquisition, the wily Jesuit M. Alfred de Falloux had arrived in Nice, than the inhabitants assembled under the windows of his hotel mid greeted him with a cicarivari of so energetic a character that he was forced to give way before this unmistAkeable, but pacific, expression of popular indignation, and to quit the city. From this it would appear that the Italians are not so priest-ridden as the French. TURKEY. Letters from Constantinople of the 19th tilt. state that the dispute between the Austrian and Russian Cabinets and the Porte concerning the refugees has been settled to the entire satisfaction of the Sultan, and on the basis which he himself had propwed. In consequence of this arrangement the British fleet had left the Dardanelles for Beshika Buy, forty miles dis tance from its former station, but it WAS said at Con stantinople that the British and French Governments will keep a force in the Levant for some months. THE ARMY AND NAVY. (From the United Service Gazette.) DECCAN Peizs MONEY.—The rolls of the final di6tribution of this prize-money, due to the 65th Regiment, have been received from India. SMALL ARMS.—We are happy to hear that Colonel Anson, who has now the control over the small arms department of the Board or Ordnance, is using every exertion to obtain the best kind of musket for our service. Three specimens were taken to his office on Thursday, viz , one by a Brussels gunsmith, another by a German, and the third by Colonel Hawker, on his return from Birmingham. A REGIMENT IN IRELAND.—An irregularity of rather aserious nature has occurred in the instance of a Captain of a corps of the Irish establishment, when on duty as a member of a court-martial, which will possibly lead to ulterior proceedings of investi gation. KILKENNY GARRISON.—We regret to state that several soldiers of the 434 Light Infantry have been recently attacked on several occasions by cowardly mobs, who uniformly take the opportunity of mal• treating soldiers when alone, and apart from their comrades. There is not a better conducted set of men in the service than the non-commissioned officers and privates of this distinguished and admirably conducted corps. CONVICT GUARDS FOR AUSTRALIA.—CirCUIars have been forwarded to the several staff districts for returns of pensioners who are disposed to volunteer their services to form Convict Guards for this colony. They are to assemble at Tilbury Fort, and one ship will be immediately dispatched. PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND.--ItAS said that pen sioners will be enrolled and formed into local companies, under the command of an experienced officer, for service in this colony. This arrangement if carried into effect, will completely put a stop to the desertions which are continually taking place from the detachment stationed in the island. THE NEW ARCTIC EXPEDITION.—We understand that there are several volunteers for the command of, and for other portions in, the new Arctic Expedition to be organized to proceed, via Behring's Straits, in search of Sir John Franklin ; but the whole affair is in the hands of the Treasury, and nothing, it is expected, will be done before April next, or until intelligence is received from the Plover, now in Behring's Straits. THE PRISONERS or rue " CRILDERS."—We stated last week that Messrs. Graham and Elliot, the im prisoned officers, late of the Childers, had been re raoved from Exeter county gaol to the Queen's Bench Prison. We understand that they were removed on their petitioning the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Admiralty approving the transfer. There is, however, very little doubt that they will remain there during the remainder of the full time fur which they were sentenced to be imprisoned. COURTESY TO FRENCH NAVAL OFFICERS.—Lieu• tenant Messelgry, of the French navy, on a visit to this country, has received Admiralty permission to visit all our dockyards and victualling yards. At Deptford, especially, it has been ordered that every facility is to be afforded to the Lieutenant in acquir ing information with reference to provisioning the navy. NEXT SHIP FOE THE COAST OF AFRICA.—We are enabled to state that her Majesty's ship Contest, to the command of which Commander the lion. John Spencer has been appointed, will proceed to the Coast of Africa station on the Ist of January. TUE THREATENED COURTS MARTIAL ON THE OF. FICBRS OF H.M.S. CONSTANCR.—An Officer of the Constance, 50, C:sptsin Courtenay, assures us that neither Captains Sir B. W. Walker, Captain Fre mantle, nor any other officer, had anything to do with settling the misunderstanding between Captain Courtenay and the Captain of Marines, as reported. lie, moreover, asserts that matters of difference and etrence between them were amicably adjusted a fortnight before the ship arrived in England. C ip ' fain Courtenay had no intention of making any charge affair pe n di ng itvain s t a s i ngle - officer, and the only disagreeable was between the First Lieutenant and the Gunriery Lieutenant, which Captain Courtenay had nothing to do with, having been on the Sick List at the time of dispute or breach of discipline, but that Captain Courtenay had completely tried to arrange matters between them. Finally, it is stated that a court-martial was avoided by the junior making an apology to the senior. STAFF OF IRELAND.—CoIoneI Spink, A,s. ei 9 Week Last §, '. 24 ... ~> . ending NAME OF RAILWAY. week. ci) ' „..„..._, e.".)" .5.: - - - --- Nov. & £ £ Dec. 1 Aberdeen .. •• • ..... •• • • ...... 767 520 2 Amiens and Boulogne . •••• ••••- .. -1,30 G 1,088 1 Belfast and Ballymena .. •••••• • • • • •• 438 341 2 Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire 756 641 2 Bolton, Blac%.burn, Clitheroe, and W. Y. 376 251 2 Bristol and Exeter • • ... • - 25 .. Ca1ed0nian............. 2 Cheater and Holyhead ..... ...... •• 29 Dublin and Drogheda• ••• - - ••••• • • •• 667 615 4 Dublin and Kingstown 1 Dundee, Perth, and Aberdeen ........ 925 1,004 2 East Anglian.... .... . ..... .......... 623 637 1 Edinburgh and Glasgow .• • • •••• • • •• 3,167 3.0.7 1 Edinburgh and Perth .. • • ........ 2,169 1,570 2 Eastern Counties and North Eastern• • 13,834 12,668 25 ' East Lancashire • • ••- - - .. - - •• - 2,711 1,522 2 Eastern Union ••••••••• • • . - . . - - - 1,513 1,237 1 Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr ••• • •• 2,766 2,420 I .Glasgow and Greenock •• • •• •• 970 854 25 Great Northern and E. L.... ..... .. 2,927 - 1 ' `Great Southern and Western .. - .• .• 3,685 3.018 2 Great Western, &e . ... .. .. .. .. .. 16,605 17,316 2 Lancashire and Yorkshire.... •••• - .. 11.078 9,450 25 Lancaster and Carlisle .••• .. .. ...... 2,878 1,831 3 'Leeds and Thirsk .• - 2 i Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport•• • • 75 58 1 Londonderry and Ennisk dien •••• .. •• 118 105 2 London and North Western, &c. ..••• 37,741 35,599 2 London and Black wa11............... 529 549 1 Londen and Brighton .. . 2 Loudon and South IVestern ......... 8.564 7 ,653 2 Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire 4,753 2,618 2 Midland, Bristol, and Birmingham...• 20,049 20,061 2 -Midland Great Western (Irish) ...... 1,151 1,119 1 Monklands ......• ...... •• .... ••.. •• 824 833 2 North British •... ••.••••••• • • • • .• •• 3,111 2,274 1 Pails and Rouen ................... 5,378 5,227 1 Rouen and Havre .. .. .. .... .... 2,134 2,109 2 Scottish Central ••.•••••.. . • • • • • • • 1,144 904 IScottish Midland ...... • • .... .. .. .. 364 268 2 Shrewsbury and Chester 2 Shropshire Union .. • ............... 359 -- 1 - South Eastern and Branches ........ 8,403 7.075 1 26 South Devon.... • ... . • I ....... 1,128 1,039 1 Taff Vale ............... ...... ..... 2,029 1,756 749 729 - Waterford and Limerick..............- 271 25 Whitehaven Junction ............... 204 183 2 York and Newcastle . •............. 12,033 13,827 2 York and North Midland .. .. ... 6,134 7,029 MINING IN TELLIGEN CE. (From the Mining Journal.) More than an average amount of business has been transact< d this week; the market continues firm, with a tendency to advance, sellers seeking for higher prices, which buyers are unwilling to conform to; consequently, there are several negotiations on the tapis, which are likely to come off next week. South Basset, Condurrow, Trehane, Trelawny, and West Wheal Jewel, have continued in request. Mary Ann, South Tamar, and Bedford United shares have been sought for, and several transactions effected at advanced prices. In Tie croft several transactions have taken place. Chappell's lode, reported last week to have improved, is further increased in value, and becomes of vast im portance, inasmuch as it is entirely in new ground. At Wheal Basset account for September and October, a profit of 1,471/. 9s. 53. was made ; a dividend of 1,920!. being 151. per share, was declared, and a balance of 270.! 10s. ad. carried to next account. The mine is stated to be in a very productive and p:o;perous position. The following mines, under the management of Messrs. Taylor and Son, have declared dividends within the last few days, and all of them are represented to be looking remarkably well :—Lisburne Mines declared 101 per share ; Goginan, 5001., or 5L per share ; and the United Mines, I,OOOL, being 5/. per share. At Great Work quarterly account, ending September, a profit of 7501. was made, which, added to our balance left from previous account, allowed a dividend of 71. 10s. per share, carrying to credit of next account 276 L 12s. 2d. At the Wellington Mine meeting the accounts for the four months, ending August, showed a laalaia!e la hand of 163/. 16'. Li. At Herodsfoot meeting the liabilities em - ,'unted to 1 7921. the 103., which appears principally to have ac crued by omiseians on the part of the former manage ment, in not bringing all the costs forward. The proposition made at the neceting is such that all share hoLders will, no doubt, immediately respond to, and place the mine, now making a profit of 150/. per month, in a position capable of paying continuous dividends. At Bwleh Consols meeting, held on the 6th, a new committee was appointed, and the whole of the new issue of shares were stated to have been taken up. The reports from the mine were highly satisfactory. Wheel Vincent is represented to be in a very satis factory and encouraging position. Some splendid spe cimens of the tin h a v e been recently received in town, which affords positive evidence of the richness of the lode. We learn the mine is now working to a profit. Camborne Consols is about to sell a few tons of silver ore, which will enable a fair calculation being made of the value of the lode. The back of the 20 is still pro ducing good silver ore. The first general meeting of the Trethevy Console (late Caradon Copper) was held on the Ist, when highly-respectable gentlemen were named as a corn eal tee of management, for effectually carrying out the objects of the meeting. The reports of some well-known practical agents, and the options of mini re who have recently worked in the mane, were Isid be'Ore the meeting, all agreeing us to the value and importance of the sett, and measures adopted for the immediate resumption of operations. Not more Oise 50 512th sharee remain unappropriated. Wheal Russell account meeting was held on Monday, the 3d inst., when Captain Barret, the superintenAing teAent, aseured the shareholders that the call of 10e. per share would be the I.st required from them. The mine is represented to be in a most gratifying position. The following 0 - litres have changed hands since our last: —Devon Great Consols, United Mines, East Wheal Rose, Treviskey and Barrier, West Wheal Providence, South Basset, Devon and Courtenay, Bedford United, West Basset, East Tamar, South Tolgus, Tincroft, South Tamar, Daren, West Wheal, Jewel, Stray Park, Condurrow, Tamar Consols, Heienston Downs, Mary Ann, Trelawny, Tregorden, Herodefoot, Trehane, Trethevy, end Bwleh Console. In foreign mines there has been a fair proportion of business traneected, especially in United Mexican, jopiapo. St. John del Rey, Imperial Brazilian, Austra lian, Linares, North British Australasian, and National Brazilian shares have also been done. Considerable business has been done in the United Mexican shares this week at advanced prices, arising from the improved aspect of this property; and great hopes are entertained that the new mine, called Jesus Maria y Jose, situated on the same vein as the mines of La Luz and San Lucia, now yielding such extraordinary returns to the adventurers, will equal those in produc tiveness when fairly opened out. FAST TRAVELLING IN 1752.—We have before us a copy of our venerable contemporary, the Salisbusy Journal, of January 20, 1752, in which there is au ad vertisement which curiously coatraats with the time bills in the pages of Bradshaw. It sets forth that for the better convenience of gentlemen, travellers, and others, the Exeter fast coach starts every Monday from the Saracen's Head, Friday-street, London, "dines at Egham, lies the same night at Murrell green ; dines on Tuesday at Sutton, and lies the same night at the Plume of Feathers in Salisbury ; on Wednesday dines at Blandford, and lies at the King's Arms in Dor chester ; and gets into Exeter every Friday at one o'clock." We are not told where the weary travellers take their repose on Thursday night. The journey from London to Exeter by the fast trains on the Great Western Railway is now, we believe, accomplished in five hours.—Hunts Independent. TUE ROYAL MALS , ,LEUAL AT ST. GEORGE'S CHAPEL, WINDSOR.— Che royal tomb- house, aitusted at the east end of St. George's Chapel, in which will be deposited the la mains of her late Majesty the Queen Dowager, on Thursday next, contains the rem tins of the following royal and illustrious personages :—Ceeorge 111. and Queen Charlotte; George IV., William IV., the Duke of Kent, the Duke of York, the Princess Amelia, the Princess Charlotte, the Princess Augusta, and the Princess So phis of Gloucester. The bodies of the infant Princes Octavius and Alfred, the children of George 111., which were interred in Westminster Abbey, were removed to the Royal Mausoleum, at Windsor, immediately after its com pletion, upwards of half a century ago. The royal tomb house, or Cardinal Wolsey's Chapel, by which name it is so well known, was erected by Henry VIII., as a burial place for himself and his successors. Upon his subse quent preference of Westminster Abbey for that purpose, the building remained neglected until Cardinal Wolsey obtained a grant from Henry VIII. With the same pro fusion of expense which marked all the public acts of his life, he began to prepare it as a receptacle for his own remains, but at the confiscation of his property it reverted to the Crown. Charles I. intended to fit up the structure as a royal mausoleum, but the civil wars inter posed, and in 1646 it was plundered by the Republican army. On the accession of James 11., that monarch had it converted into a chapel, and Antonio Verrie was employed to execute a rieMy ornamental ceiling; but in a popular commotion that soon after ensued, caused by the Kin publicly entertaining the Pope's Nuncio, the windows and internal decorations were deqroyed. It thus remained till the reign of George 111., when it was determined to construct a royal cemetery beneath it. For this purpose an excavation was made in the stratum of chalk forming the foundation to the depth of 15 feet, and corresponding in length and width with the dimen sions of the building. On each aids are the receptacles for sup p the or t n g le e n d r i e a s t: g e fo o r f m f ed ou rby' shelves.h c T o h c e t sgo recess nal next to that in which the body of the late King is deposited has been left vacant, exp,-,t.sly by commend of his late M,jesty, for the remains of his glenn. The entrance to the mausoleum is in tile choir of St. George's Chapel, a shirt di,tance f..one the steps of the altar, from which a subterranean passage leads to this last resting-place for the illustrious deceas e d. • IMPORTATION or TIN.—An importation of 2,300 slabs of tin htt t,lien place by the vessel John Bibby, arrived in the (1,,ek3 from Canton. The importation of tin from the Chinese empire is not of common occur rence, and the arrival is of some interest and import une-. The vessel Fortitude, since arrived from Wham pea, has also brought 1,216 slabs of the article as part of carp. BUI;STING OF A MILL•DAM.-0a Monday morning last, about two o'clock, the Cat-hole dam burst and washed away the gable end of the f4ctory belonging to Mr. Williatn Helliwell, of Kitson. Wood, near Tod►nor den, together with the goods and machinery, which were quite now and in good working order. The damage sus tained by Mr. Helliwell is about 1,4001. ONDON MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 10 1849, LA W IN TEL LIGENCE. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Dec. 9. (Sittings at Nisi Prius, at Westminster, before the CHIEF BARON and a Special Jury.) TURNER V. UNION BANK. Mr. Crowder and sir. Henniker appeared for the nd Mr. Gurney, Mr. Ryland, and Mr. Ogle for the defendants. - Mr. CROWDEIt stated the case to the jury. The plaintiff, Montague John Merewether Turner, was a gentleman residing at Woodgate Lodge, in the neighbourhood of Croydon, and the defendants were the trustees of the Union Bank of London, in Ar gyll-street, Regent-street, and the action was brought to recover compensation in damages for a breach, on the part of the defendants, of an engagement which is always implied between bankers and their customers, viz., to answer a cheque of a customer, provided they have suffieient funds in hand to meet it at the time the cheque is drawn. Tnis was a question of the unnos: importance, because strictre-ss and punc tuality in observing the payment of cheques by bankers materially added to the facili ties which were required for the transaction of business. Tne plaintiff in this case had to com plain that a cheque which he had drawn for the pur pose of paying his yearly subscription of 51. to Mr. Simpson, the Secretary of the Reform Club, to which he belonged, was refused payment, it being alleged that he had no effects at the time in the hands of the defendants. This subjected the plaintiff to very con siderable annoyance and inconvenience, as they might easily understand, because a gentleman could not but feel very much aggrieved to have a cheque for so small an amount returned upon him as if he had drawn upon a bank with which he had no account. It was perfectly obvious that at times the best of bankers might commit errors, but then it would naturally be expected that when the mistake was discovered, the bank would imme diately express their sincere regret that it had taken place. In the present instance he was sure the jury would think that Mr. Turner was not only jus. tified but bound to bring this action into court. The ordinary bankers of the plaintiff were at Croydon, but coming from time to time to London, and belong• ing to several clubs, he kept for his convenience a small account with the defendants, and at the time the cheque was refused he had about 601. in their hands. The cheque was drawn on the 12th of Msy, 1848, and on hearing from Mr. Sin:pion that it was dis honoured, he wrote the following letter to Mr. Clack, the manager, on the 16th of May, 1848: " Sir,—ln case you should not know the severe injury which has been done to myself by the non payment of the cheque drawn on the 12th instant, and paid to the secretary of the Reform Club, I think it right to apprise you of the circumstance, and I trust your explanation will be such as to obviate the necessity of any legal proceedings which I am advised I am justified in adopting for the severe injury which has been done to me.' TO this letter the following reply was returned:— The only explanation I can offer in reply to your letter just received is, that at the time the cheque wag presented here there were not sufficient funds et your credit to pay it. The balance at your credit since the 29th ultimo appears to be only 1/ 115. 5d., and as the directors of the bank have several times expressed their disapprobation at my permitting your account to be overdrawn on pre vious occasions, I had no alternative but to act in the manner complained of. Your pass book was made out and deliverel on the 15th ultimo, at which time the balance in your favour was 741. 19s. 3d. As you have not apprised me of any error therein, I presume it to be correct, and as I have since paid a draft of yours for 731. 7s. 101., the balance is now what I state. Taking into consideration the courtesy and liberality which has been shown to you on our account, which has scarcely remunerated the bank, I beg to remark that the tone of your letter appears to be hardly justified, even had your draft been erro neously refused payment. I can only say if you think it right to adopt legal proceedings, or to withdraw your account, I am prepared to meet your wishes." Mr. Turner thought it right to exp!ain to Mr. Clack how the error had occurred, and his reply was in these terms : " Since reading your letter I have thought it well, though the first time I have ever thought it neces sary, to look over my return cheques, and it appears that your house is anything but accurate. On the 14th of December, 1846, there is a cheque for 101., which is signed William Lewin Turner,' but which any one with half an eye would not take for my signature. To show further the inaccuracy of the account, lam debited with a bill of exchange for 51/. 10e. 2.1, which is not accepted by me." Some further correspondence passed between the parties without the plaintiff obtaining any apology or receiving any intimation that the balance which he alleged was due to him should be paid, and the consequence was that an action was commenced in July, 1848. The defendants, in August, took out a summons to stay proceedings on payment of debt and costs, they having found out, in the meantime, that the entries made in the plaintiff's account were inserted by uniAake, but as no written apology was offered the plaintiff objected to this course. The case was then entered for trial, and the defendants pail 631 into Court, which they found was the true balance due, and as to the damages sustained, had paid one shilling, which they contended was amply sufficient to compensate him for the alleged breach of engagement. The only issue which the jury would, therefore, hove to determine was, whether, under the circumstances of the case, that sum was sufficient. The plaintiff contended that it was not, and only added insult to injury. Mr. GURNEY, in defence, said, the mistake in the account had arisen from confusing the names of the plaintiff's brother and another person with the plain tiff's name, but the bank endeavoured to reoiry it by paying the proper balance into court ; but they were not altogether to blame, for it was the plaintiff's duty to look over his pass-book and to communicate at once with the bank if he discovered any mistake. Instead, however, of doing this, he had allowed them to remain under the impression that the entries were correct. The plaintiff kept a very poor account, and had only been a customer of the bank for a short time ; and as he had been frequently under great obligations to it, he might have exercised a little more leniency towards the defendants. The Learned JUDGE summed up, obser►ing that the plaintiff had not only omitted to allege any special damage, but he said not a single syllable about his having suffered any loss by the non-payment of the balance. The jury found a verdict for the defendants. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GUILDHALL. Mr. Edward Nairne, late of No. 3, Warnford court, stockbroker, was brought before Sir James Duke for final examination, charged with not surren dering to be examined as a bankrupt in the Court of Bankruptcy at the time notified in the London Gazette. Mr. Lucas appeared on behalf of the creditors ; and Mr. Humphreys, solicitor, defended the prisoner. Thera were two charges against Mr. Nairne—that of not surrendering; and also his having, as an agent, unlawfully disposed of certain Exchequer-bills which had been intrusted to him for safe custody, and with• out authority to sell or negotiate them. The facts, as proved at the different examinations, are shortly these :—The prisoner carried on the busi ness of a stockbroker in Warnford-court, and while so doing ,a Mr. Spurgin, from the neighbourhood of Hounslow, was recommended to him by a friend, as a person who could lay out some money fur him to advantage. Mr. Spurgin came to London, and was recommended to invest 1,0001, which he had brought with him, in Exchrquer•bills, at 48i. That advice was followed, and the Exchequer bill deposited with Nairne for safe keeping, who said he would place it in his iron safe at the Exchange, where he had property to the amount of thousands of pounds. A few days after Mr. Spurgin placed 7001 more in the prisoner's hands, who purchased two Exchequer bills, one for 500/., the other for 2001. These were likewise left with Nairne to be deposited with the 1,0001. bill, all to he kept safely, and not to be nego tiated or transferred in any way. However, it ap peared that the prisoner suddenly disappeared, and it was then found out that be had. resold theExchequer bills shortly after they were left in his care, to Messrs. Brown and Co., dealers in Exchequer•bills, on the Stock Exchange. A warrant was issued under the Act which lately came into force against absconding bankrupts, and was placed in the hands of Daniel Forrester, who apprehended the prisoner at Boulogne sur-Mer, and brought him to London. The two charges were clearly established against the prisoner (who reserved his defence), and he was fully committed for trial. • Mr. II Hoary, solicit sr, observ.3d to Sir James Duke, that as his client, the Rev. Mr. Muntz, was obliged to return to his duties in the country he could not call any evidence respecting the 1,800/. %%Lich that gentleman hid sent to the prisoner to be invested in Russian bonds, and which he had made use of, but should, at the next sitting of the Central Criminal Court, prefer a bill of indictment before the grand jury. Mr. Humphreys was surprised that a re3pectAle solicitor should be so indecent as to advise his client to pursue such an objectionable course when he could so easily come before a m igistrate and let the prisoner hear all that was said against him, instead of taking him completely by surprise as to the neture of the charge. Sir JA - MES DUKE thought the prisoner wou!d get a copy of the depositions. Mr. Humphreys said that was not the case. A person, or a set of persons, might go before a grand jury and prefer a bill of indictment ; notes of the evi dence were not taken, or, if taken, were not sent to the court below, but destroyed, so that any one might be sent for trial for murder without knowing one word of the evidence he Was to be prepared to meet on the day of his trial. Not only was a pH ' saner entitled to hear the whole that the witnesses had to say against him, but he was entitled to cross examine those witnesses—advantages he was deprived of when the case went at once to the grand jury. Mr. Ili!leery, so far as reg;r,led himself, would, if' the matter was so serious as Mr. Humphreys seemed to think, have brought it before the magistrate ; but this was a charge of the prisoner getting money and transferring it to his own benefit, which was only a misdemeanour, and quite a different case to that which Mr. Humphreys had alluded to. The prisoner's legal adviser could expect no commiseration when it was considered that his client had made away with upwards of 30,0001. Mr. Humphreys did not want commiseration. He onl v wanted Justice. Mr. Hilleary should most certainly do what the law ern r )owered him. Mr. Humphreys thought the proceeding a very in decorous one, and he protested aguinz.4 it as it was rarely resorted to in these times. The prisoner, having heard the depositions read over to him, was conveyed to Newgive. An Irishman, namel George Hetherington, who gave his address as 3, Mitre-court, Temple, barrister at law, was brought up for final examination, charged with.obtaining goods under false pretences, and 1-.lso with getting money on pretenled cheques. The prisoner has been remanded five or six times, and during those examin.stions it appeared that he had represented himself as a barrister, solicitor, agent to the Duke of Richmond, and, in fact, any characrer that suited his convenience. He had taken lodgings and houses in different parts of London, rurini,g away before the quarter was due, and duping all the tradesmen in the neighbourho.)ds where he located himself. his versatile genius knew no bounds, and the latest of his achievements, which was the principal cause of his being at present in trouble, was his trying to become the lessee of the Theatre Royal, S,alth ampton, but the landlord, not liking his customer, and ascertaining that he was not worth a farthing, refined to accept him as a tenant. It was to go down to Southampton to effect this object that he borrowed the money and gave a cheque on the firm of Messrs. Harris and Capper, of Cornhill, who said there was no account there, nor did they give the prisoner any authority to write orders upon them. When taken into custody he had three sets of chambers. There were a number of persons in the court who had been dupsd, but their cases all resolved themselves into debts. Sir J. Duals committed him for trial, and the de positions being made out, were about to be read when it was found that Mr. Harris and his brother had left the court, upon which Sir J. DUKE remanded the prisoner urtil Thursday next, and told the officer to be sure to have all the witnesses in attendance. BO W-S Mr!: A woman named Mary Davis, of 19, Frances place, Blackfriars road, and a man named John Pike, of no settled address, were brought before Mr. Henry, by Perry, a policeman, charged as follows : It appeared that Perry was on duty in plain clothes, on Waterloo bridge, at seven o'clock on Fridty even • ing, when he saw the female prisoner, who was well dressed, coming from the Surrey side of the water, followed by two men, one of whom was the male prisoner. The woman walked into different streets, followed by the men, occasionally speaking to them, during which time she accosted several gentlemen who declined going with her. The policeman then took the two prisoners into custody, but the other man escaped. The woman was well known to the police as having lived with thieves for some time past, and both parties had been seen together and followed by the police on a previous occasion, and were suspected of having committed robberies upon gentlemen. The two prisoners were fined 403. each, or three weeks to the House of Correction. A young woman named Mary Ann Phelps, who stated that she was formerly a servant, but now obtained her living in the streets, was charged on sus picion of being concerned with others in manufact.:r ing base coin. The prisoner occupied a room opposite the Mode] Lodging•house of St. Giles', in the house 48, Charles. street. Sergeant Thompson, of the detective force, having occasion to suspect her, ascended the roof of the Model LodAing-house, from which he could see into her room, and thence saw the prisoner, with two men and another woman, actively engaged in melting down Britannia metal spoons, &c., and pouring the mater into moulds, apparently of halfcrow ns, shillings, and sixpences. Before he could reach her room (which he entered at the window by means of a ladder), her associates had let the apartment, doubtless with the base coin in their pos session, some of which he had seen them filling and rubbing up after taking them out of the moulds. Ile, however, succeeded in capturing the woman and all the melting apparatus, moulds, ladles, &c., which had been used for the purpose. The prisoner declared that she had no hand in bringing the things to her room, which was visited by the men, who knew her, and said it had been done by a well known 0 smasher," who had quarrelled with her in order to " fix a plant upon her." She was committed for trial. 111AltYLE Li ON R. John Frewin (alias 12ainy) and Edward Crewe (alias Mitchell) were charged before Mr. Lang with having burgiariously entered the lions° of Co!miel Robert Anstruther, 7, Monmouth-road, Bayswater, and stolen property to a large amount. It appeared from the Colonel's evidence that, on the preceding morning, about a quarter to six o'clock, he was awoke by one of his servants, and from what he said he hastened down stairs, an I found, upon entering the drawing-room, that six drawers had been taken from a wardrobe and placed on the carpet. Upon making examination of the room, he ascertained that from various parts thereof there had been stolen a silver snuffbox, made in the reign of James 1., another richly carved Indian one, which belonged to his uncle, General Anstruther, and a third, enamelled and gold mounted, having on the lid a miniature portrait of tie Duchess of Hamilton, all of which he set a great value on; and, in addition, he missed a Scotch mull, silver mounted, a powder horn, a dirk, some silver spoons, candlesticks, wearing apparel, &c. He afterwards discovered that an entry had been made by the back kitchen window, the bar of which had been forced, and the sash thrown up. He immediately gave information of the robbery to the police, who, suspecting the prisoners, succeeded in apprehending them in William-street, Lisson grove. A third party was with them, but be instantly made off as fast as he could. As the prisoners were being taken to the station house, and when near to it Frewin was beard to say "Ding it," and Crewe threw something away. On Frewin there were found a box, a knife, and some duplicates. The box proved to be the one which had belonged to the colonel's uncle. The prisoners were remanded to Thursday next. WORSHIP-STREET. Peter Young and Henry Dickenson, two deter mined-looking fellows, both recognised by the police as convicted thieves, were placed at the bar before Mr. Arnold, charged with burglariously breaking into the premises of Mr. Frederick Biglin, proprietor of extensive wine stores in Old Swan Brewery-yard, \Vhitechapei. The evidence given in the cilse proved that the pro secutor's premises had been forcibly entered upon a second occasion, only about a fortnight previously to the present, when property to a considerable amount was carried off by the thieves, and, information of the burglary hiving been communicated to the police, they made inquiries after the perpetrators, but unsuccessfully until the preceding night, wlaen Sergeant Kelly and Gifford, two detective officers of the — El division, received an intimation that the burglars intended a second attack upon the same premises, and 'they therefore went to the neighbour hood at 10 o'clock, and secreted themselves in an out- house which commanded a full view of the yard leading to Mr. Biglin'a stores. They remained so concealed fur more than an hour without anything occurring to arrest their attention ; but at length they heard the sound of footsteps approaching, and immediately afterwards saw the two prisoners and another man stealthily creeping up to the side en trance of the wine stores, with a hamper, apparently empty, on each of their heads. On reaching the trap loor leading into the cellarage, the third man threw down his hamper and returned to the. street, to keep watch whilst his associates committed the bur glary, and almost at the same instant the officers heard a loud report, resembling the discharge of a musket, succeeded directly after by the sound of glass and bottlei rattling in the cellar. They now thought it high time to make their appearance, and on hastening from the outhouse where they had lain concealed to the cellar, it became evident that the report they had heard had been caused by the violent forcing up of the iron bar which secured the front of it, and on descending into the cellar, the flip of which was wide open, they detected the priso ne r Di c k easun in the very act of removing a hamper of claret from the hack of the store to the front, in readiness to be carried off. Before he had time to attempt an escape or give the slightest intimation to his confederate, he was pounced upon and flung to the ground by Sergeant Kelly, who held hira down to preclude resistance, and the second man (Young) was secured immediately after by Gifford, who found him crouching down upon his hands and knees behind a pile of hampers at the back cf the cellar. Upon getting ti:e men up and searching them a heavy life-preserver was discovered upon the person of one of them, and on examining • the cellars a box of lucifer matches, a crowbar, a • hammer, and other housebreaking implements, were found in different parts of them, which, together with the prisoners and a claret bottle, nearly the whole contents of which they had poured down their throats in the short time they had been there, were se fely transferred to the station. Mr. ARNOLD directed the depositions to be taken, and the pri7,oners, who il,clined offering any defence, were fully committed for trial upon this charge, but were ordered to be brought up again on that day week, the officers expressing their conviction that they should be able to substantiate other charges against them if an opportunity were afforded them for the Furpose. LAMBETH. Mr. James Wilkins Russell, a gentleman well known in the musical world, appeared to answer to a summons taken out by the overseers of the poor of the parish of Lambeth, and caging upon him to show cause why he refused and neglected to support his wife, by which she had become chargeable to the parish. The pirties had been before the same magistrate about twelve months ago, when Mr. Norton made an order upon the husband for the payment of 63. a week, and this sum had been paid for some time, but was latterly discontinued, and its non pa) merit led to the present proceedings. The defence now set up against the wife's claim was that of her being guilty of adultery, am.d therefore not entitled to any main tenance fr,an her husband. To prove the adultery three witnesses were called —two on a former day an 1 one on Saturday. A re spectable couple named Powell deposed that in the month of August last Mrs. Russell took apartments in their house, wht-n sne represented herself as a widow, and said that had it not been for her son, a youth of 17, she could soon, and most favourably, change her condition. She soon got rid of her son, and after this had been constantly visited by Mr. Webb, a musician. a former friend and companion of her husband's. This person, it appeared, had been in the habit of calling on her three or four times a week, and sitting with her in her bedroom for several hours, and staying to one and two o'clock in tho morning; and on one occasion he was supposed to have remained all night. The witnesses spoke of a circumstance which took place on a particular night, when the parties had an oyster supper, which left no doubt on their minds that Mrs. Russell and Mr. Webb had been to bed together, and that the act of adultery had been committed. To disprove this Mr. Webb was called into the wit ness box and sworn, and though he admitted that he had been in the frequent habit of calling in and smoking his pipe in the room of Mrs. Russell, yet he swore in the most solemn manr.er that no act of adultery had been committed. In reply to Mr. Norton, he said that the room in which he visited and sat with Mrs. Russell for several hours at a time was one in which there was a bed, and no third party was present. Mr. NORTON told him he should have found some other room to smoke his pipe in than that of the bedroom of a married woman. A respectable witness named Rose was, on Satur day, called, who flatly contradicted a part of the statement made by Mr. Webb on the former day; that per.on having denied that he had ever visited Mrs. Russell while living at Mr. Rose's house, whereas he had been in the constant habit of calling on her. Mr. Salomons, on the part of the wife, contended, that though acts of considerable indiscretion were proved, yet that no proof of actual adultery had been given. Mr. Benett, for the defence, argued contra, and Mr. NORTON, having no doubt that in an action fur damages a jury on the testimony adduced would infer criminality, and give a verdict for the plaintiff, refused to make any order on the husband, and dis missed the summons. THAMES. James Hall, a man about fifty years of age, by trade a gun-finisher, and employed in the small arms department of the Tower, was charged before Mr. Ingham with stealing eleven pieces of gun steel plates, the property of her Majesty. It appears that for some time a great number of gun-makers and others have been employed in the Tower breaking up muskets, &c.. and other warlike instruments, the materials of which are reserved for various purposes. It having come to the knowledge of the authorities that an extensive system of plun der was going on, policemen were stationed at the gates to watch and search the labourers on leaving the place, and many have been already convicted of making free with the Government pro perty. On the prisoner being stopped by James O'Connor, 177 11, coming out of the eastern entrance with the above stated property in his possession, the prisoner immediately said he had been made the dupe of others, and he would take the officar to a place in tba gun factory where gun•springs, locks, and other things were concealed in a box. The constable went with him, when he pointed out the stolen property, and implicated four other men, who were discharged immediately, and a special report sent to the Board of Ordnance. The prisoner, in bis defence said, that a fellow workman, whose name he mentioned, gave him the pieces to take out, and give them back to him outside the Tower. Thatman had got his Wellington boots made large for the purpose of concealment. He then give the names of other persons who were concerned in the plunder. Mr. INCHIAIt said, it was clear there was a whole sale system of plunder going on in the Tower, and he had no doubt that the prisoner and his companions thought that as the property belonged to the Govern ment there would be no notice taken of it. In con• sideration of his previous good character he would not commit him for trial, hut fine him 41. for the unlawful possession, and in default commit him for four weeks. FOREIGN Hors.—The importations of hops which we have recently been called upon to notice as having taken place from the United States of America, and also from Belgium, hare just been followed by. we believe, the largest arrival of the kind which has taken place from abroad this season, the first of such importations to any rt cult' kable extent. The American line-of-packet ship Hendrick Hudson, arrived in the docks from New York, has brought 78 bales of hops to order, and also 50 bales of the articles cansigned to an eminent house, the growth and produce of the United States of America. The duty leviable on foreign hops on importation into this country from abroad is 21. ss. per cwt., which would argue well for the value and quality of these hops from America to bear an impart duty of so heavy a nature. The supplies from Belgium continue to take place to some extent. The vessel Fanny, since arrived in the docks from Boston, has also brought 26 bales of hops, con-igned to an eminent house as a portion of her cargo, the produce of the United States of America. ACCIDENT ON THE NOTTINGHAM ♦ND LINCOLN RAILWAY.—On Thursday, when the mail train, which passes through the Newark station at 4 A.M., had pro ceeded about three miles down the line towards Coiling ham, the brickwork abutments of one of the numerous wooden bridges in that neighbourhood gave way under the weight of the engine, and caused the coupling chains connecting it with the carriages to snap asunder. The extreme velocity with which the train was travelling at the time enabled the engine to get clear of the frightful chasm which had been so suddenly created; but the violent breaking of the chains causing the carriages behind to rebound, each was driven with a crash upon the other, and after rocking fearfully fur a second or two, the whole fell into the vast sea of water which the late floods had collected in the valley of Trent. Hap pily there were no passengers in the train, or the effect would have been very distressing. The stoker was seriously injured about the head, and the guard some what injured about the hip, but the engine-driver and post•oflice guard escaped with a fright. It is scarcely necessary to explain that the accident was caused by the flood sapping the foundation of the bridge. UliS OF GUTTA PERCHA. 1N HOUSE REPAIRS. Hitherto the remedy to make good defects occasioned by shrinking, &c., as in fluor boards, has been to let in be tween the joint slips of wood, putty, &c.; but this can not be depended upon, as in case of further shrinking it drops through, neither is it waterproof. I propose that gutta, percl.a be used. Thus : Warm the gu:ta percha till it become glutinous, then with a heated iron or chisel point all along the joint, and it will be found that the adhesiveness of gutta percha is such, after two or three minut' s, that the whole surface becomes as one board, the great merit being that there is no occasion to use any solution or cement to make the gutta penile unite to the woodwork, as is the case when al:plied to leather and other purposes ; but there exists such an affinity between the two, that, for example, supposing a hole six inches square were cut in the flooring, with nothing underneath for support, and to make good the same a new piece were let in, well set all round in gutta percha, it will so unite with the boards as to enable that portion to bear as great a weight as any other part. What has been said of making good the space between the floor boards will equally apply to all joiners' work, as in the panels of doors; and a shake in them has hitherto b •en without any effectual remedy. Also to the skirting running round the rooms, which is often to be found le Lying the 11 tor boards, Sce. The great teature gained is, that gutta percha not only fills up the space, but, at the same time, hardens and unites the whole.— Correspondent of the Builder. APPALLING EFFECTS OF DISSIPATION,-..0H Satyr. day, Mr. 11. M. %Vakley held an inquest in Foley-place. Marylebone, on Emma Lovesing, an unmarried female, aged thirty-fow. It appeared that, although most re spectably connected, she gave herself up to such habits of dissipation that she was seldom sober. She had been drinking the day previous to her death, and on the morning of her death one of her companions left ber,as she supposed, asleep on her wretched pallet, but she was then insensible and dying. When her companion re• turned deceased was dead. One of the jury, horrified at the wretched rppearance of deceased's room, w he: her body lay on some planks, asked her cotnpanion whether that was the bed on which deceased lay ? She rep!i-d, " No; and that she had a few rags that form d her bc:d." Deceased's mother, addressing the coroa r, sni.l, "My daughter, but for her dissipated habits, might have had her carriage." Verdict—Natural [ A DVELTISEM ENT.]—The following extraordinary Cure of a Swollen Leg by Holloway's Pills and Ointment is published in the Adelaide Observer, South Australia : " Gemge Mundon, a settler in the colony, had been suffering for many months with a swollen leg, and the pain was so intense as deprive him of sleep. He was recommended to try Hollo way's Ointment and Pills, and by using theist as directed for about a fortnight, a cure was so far effected as to permit him to walk to Adelaide, a distance of twenty miles, to give this state ment to the editor of this journal, for the information and bene.. fit of his fellow• creatures."—Sold by all Vendors of Medicine, and at Professor Holloway's Establisissneat, 244 Strut London. 'FITE COUNTRY MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, DEC. B.—The trade to-day is inanimate, wi•hout change in prices. MANCHESTER, DEC. B.—Although rather more busi tees has been passing in flour during the present week, owing to some of the dealers and bakers being compelled to purchase, all whose stocks enabled them to do so hare continued to act on the reserve, and the transactions collectively were only to a limited amount, some reduc tion on the previous currency being generally conceded by factors. Oatmeal has met a languid demand, without change in value. The imports of oats, oatmeal, and flour fr,im Ireland, at Liverpool and Runcorn, are only to a moderate extent, and of other articles thence the supplies are very scanty. From abroad the chief arri vals consist of 7,553 barrels of fl ,ur and 5,384 quarters of Indian corn. No material alteration in the state of the trade was apparent at our market this morning; ell articles met a slow sa!e, and (with thd exception of flour, which must be not4d rather lower) we do not vary the (potations of this day se'nnight. COLCHESTER, DEc. B.—The markets of this district hare been dull and declining again this week.. The price of the best white wheat in our market to day was only quoted at 495, and the finest r(d at 495. Barley was also the turn cheaper. On Friday, at Chelmsford, sales o! wheat could not be ffected unless a reduction of I s to 25 Der quarter was con►ented to. Barley was is lower. White wheat 444 to 47•; red. 40s to 444; malting barley, 27s to 295; grinding., 23s to 245. At Witham the best white wheat realised oply 455. In the markets of Suffolk the supplies have ht .en good; in some iu.tances very huge; and prices have every' where declined. At Womlbridge wheat was 2s; the best barley 25; and iuferior samples, 3s per qutArter. cheaper. At Bury the wheat trade was heavy, and beans and peas were cheaper. A t Stowmat ket, on Thursday, wheat was reduced 15. and barley Is to 24 per quarter. GLASGOW CATTLE MARKET, DEC. 6.—At our market to-day the numbers ware—i.xeb, 581; sheep, 2 916. The supply of cattle being small, prices had an upward ten• dency. Best ox be.•f realised luily 50s per cwt, second quality from 45. to 48.4 per ditto, inferior from 344 to 405, per ditto, sinking the offal. A good clearance wsl effec.ed. B.st mutton brought 51d per lb, current frost 4d to 4i per ditto, of 1 ewes 3d to 3id per ditto, sinking the offal. A few turned ~t it unsold. DALKEITH, Due. 6.—The relative weight per four bushel of the three prices of wheat were 18st 51b, 17st 91b, and 161$ lllb. Oats, 12st 121 b, list 9lb r and lOst 51b. Barley, 16st 01h, 15st 91b, and 13st 131b2 Peas and beans, 18st 121 b, 18st 51b, and 16st I.olbs. ' Qrs. Best. . . Current. Inferior. 278 Wheat ... . . .... . Z. 2 4 0 £1 14 0 £1 1 0 1520 Oats 1285 Barley 1 3 6 0 19 6 0 15 0 39 Peas and Beans 110 6 15 6 018 0 Avetage of wheat 33. W. AzzantzN, DKc. 7.—Grain—Oats 131 to 13s 6d, 401 b per bushel; oats, new, 00s Od to 00s; foreign oats, 00s Od to 00s od per qr.; barley, 19s to 00$ Od, 521bs per bushel; bear, 19s to CO., 52Ibs per bushel ; wheat. 40s - to 451 ; oatmeal, 11. 6d to 12s 6d per boll ; flour, 34s to 38s per sack. Provisions—Beef, 5d to 7d per lb ; mutton, ditto, 5d to 7d ; veal, ditto, 54 to 7d; pork, per stone, 4s 6d to ss; lamb, per lb, Ed to 7d; tallow, per stone, 45 to 4s 61; potatoes, per peck, Is to Is2d ; hay, l e r cwt, Os to Os ; rabbits, each is to ls2tl; hares, each, if to Is 3d ; grouse, per bra ce , Os to Os ; butter, per lb, 7d to 8d; eggs, per doz, Is to h 2d • cheese, per s t one , O s t o O s ; b ens , per pair, 3s Od to 3s 6cl; chickens, ditto, 3s Od to 4s Od ; ducks, ditto. 33 4d to 4s Od ; ducklings, ditto, Is tid to Is Isd; turkeys, each, 4 ! to 4s 6d; geese, ditto, 3s 6d to 4s; butter for exportation (prate!: cure), per cwt, 50s to 525; eggs, wholesale price, per dozen, lig to 10d; 41b loaf, 6d; 2lb loaf, 3d ; pork, per 'toile of 14Ibiti 3s 6d to 41 3d; pock fine, small, 5s 6d to Os Od ; pork lug*. 3s 6d to 4s 3d; ship pork per barrel of 204 lbs, Os to oi. Meal—Oatmeal, Is 2d to is 3d; barley dust, 7d to Bdl peasemeal, Is 8d to Is Ilti; sids t ,6d to 7d ; beermeal, is tid to is 3d , flour, is 10d to 2s; barley, per lb, lid to 2d; barley flour, is :.!d to Os Od. DUBLIN, DEC. 7.—We had a small supply of all de' scriptions of grain at our market to-day, and we have no alteration to report in the currencies of Tuesday; W e therefore report that day's quotations. The sale of Indian corn continues in retail, but holders are rather firmer as to price :—White wheat (new), IBs to 225; Red ditto, 16e to 20a; barley, lOs to 14a; oats, old (per brl). 8s 6d to 9s 9d; Oatmeal, 103 to lls 61; second flour (per owt), 12s to 16s; Indian corn (per 4801 b), 25s to 28s. CORY, DEC. 7.—We have to report a few arrivals of foreign grain. Those of home growth continue mode rate, the receipts for the week being: —N9 heat,2,780 ban at 15s to 21s 9d per brl; barley, 3,400 brls at 7e Od to lls 8d per brl ; oats, 5,997 brie at 6s 6d to 9s 6.1 per an. In the green market, whether for wheat, barley, or oats* we have little change to notice, the prices obtained being much the same as those of last week. In prepared Irish wheat we know of one sale of 500 barrels having taken place at 225. I's ime foreign wheat, however, is scarcoo and in demand, and if to be had, would fetch high prices* the greater part of what is offering being of inferior quality. In prepared barley we have no transactions W record. Malting samples are still scarce and sot after. In oats little, it any, business has been done* while prices continue nominally the same as last quoted.* In fact, as regards the prepared ma r k et — an d the reutri‘ applies to all descriptions of grain —holders are unwilling to give way in value, while purchasers, deterred by the poor prospect of realising at the other side the paces asked here, are equally unwilling to enter into engege . meets. Irish flour continues a very dull sale. Foreign; and foreign mixed flours, however, are in goo" demand, and sell readily at full prices. Coosa descriptions continue to be inquired for. Indian corn meets a very slow and restricted sale at the cur' rency of last week. Indian meal is totally neglected. Flour—First 12s 6d to 135 6d ' • extra 14s di seconds, I Is to 12r 6d ; households 9s t o 10. 61; thirds, 6s toil' per cwt. Oatmeal 9s 6d to 10s; Indian meal es ed toes etl; wheat' meal, 9s 6d to 10s per cwt. Indian corn 125 e Od to 130 s Od per tea. Bran 3/ i Os to 3/ 1 /a 6d per ton. Hay—Farmers 26s to 40s; average 345; dealers 31s to Ws Od; average 38s per ton. Straw—farnse_ra Ids Od to 25. Od; aver age .0 s; d ea l ers 2 7 s 04 to 005 00 average 001 Od per ton. Bread—Whesten loaf dd to 6i1 41. / household loaf 5d to bid per 41b. Fresh batter, 8d t o 9,1 per lb. Eggs - Ers 6,1 to 6s 8d per hundred. Coalel Newport 14s; Lydney 16s ; Landore 14s ; Best Nest' Calm 13s per ton. T a ll ow 39. Od to 00 8 p e r 0 Y .. . b. ' Whisky, 25 o. p., 5s 9d per imperial gallon. M e n —Beef 3kd to sd; mutton 4d to bd; Tai d 4d to Od ; pork 3d to 4d ; bacon 7d to 8d ; sausagos bd lb. Hops bl Os per cwt. Bangor slates 312. 6d to 31 51, 11 ton. Bark—Barbary 715 s to 815 s; Valonia 141 tool; Free 7/55 ; English 01 per ton. Fleece Wool 105 to 12s per s tone!, Hemp 32/ tote/ per ton. Fish— Scotch herrings 185 to 19s; re; ditto 24s to 26s per barrel ; N ew f oun dl an d 00/ 00 s to ON P ° ton. Timber—Memel, 85/ per ton ; deals, first quality. second quality, 16s per 100. Hides—Market 12s to I salted 13s to 18, per cwt ; calf skins 2d _to 2 d per l b ' Potatoes, white Old to 9d; Minions Ild to 12a; Peruvian, 11l 10s; Ichaboe 91 per ton; Tar—Archanfi e ' 195 per barrel. RAILWAY SHAKE MARKETS LIVERPOOL, Disc. 8. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sh are mar k e t was ra ther (10, 11 to-day, and prices were l ower . Th e t ransact i ons we re follow : —Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire, (late C. Lt. It.), 6 per cen t till 1850, 12%—E ast L ancashire, 12% d Lancashire and Yorkshire, Halves, 20 dis.—London sad North-Western, 112—Ditto, New Quarters, % p. —Mid I al,: 49 3 4—Ditto, Halves, 21 1 h dis.— Belfast and Ballymena, 18 /I MANCHESTER, Dac. 1. STOCK EMMAKGE. —The transactions to-day were si follow : East Lancashire, 12—West Riding Union, 6 1 4 d ie ' —Manchester and Birmingham (C ). Quarters, 1 9-16 Pc r North Staffordshire, dis.—South-Eastern and DO' (No. 4), Scrip, 6 9-16. BIRMINGHAM, DEC. 8. STocK ExcruNoE.—The transactions to-day were ° follow :—London and North-Western, 113—Midland, 50%" Chester and Holyhead, lOLA—Eastern Counties, New, gu li c i rant:>ed 6 per cent., 1 1 A p. Midl an d C on. (D er by Li a n, Birmingham), 26—Shrewsbury and Birmi ng ham (Pi t 6 dis. YORK, Ditc. 7. STOCK EXCHANGE.— -The transactions kO•uA ay were follow:—Gr ea t N or th ern , 7LA Midland, 503 —1011 h Staffordshire, 8 1 ,8—Shrewsbury and Birmingham , Preferep," 10—York, Newc as tl e , an d B erw i c k (Newcastle Exteneio" 113/4. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, DKC. 8. STOCK e,xcria.Nom.—The transactions to-day were as follow :—Chester and Holyhead, Preference, ph per Ca i n , 10 —Eastern Counties, 7 1 4 Ditto, New, 6 per cent. g.Pl . ,_ teed, 11% ex i n .—G reat Norther.' (B) 6 per cent., 4 1r North British, 1 04—York, Newcastle, and Berwick N. E. Purchase), 3%. .GLASGOW, DEC. 6. STOCK ExCITANGE. - The transactions to-day were r ), follow :—Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, Halves (N o. 6 1 4 - Clydesd a le Junction, 464 1 —Edinburgh and G 1 2 51 1-„,,,, d 57% Glasgow and ,Greenock. Preference, 7 lktidlan Halves, 81/ 2 —North British, Preference, S cr ip, 51. le. COMMISSION or LUNACY Olt A OB LBMAIIG Within the last few days the L o r t i Ch ance l :or h as i s sue d a commission de lunatic() inquirendo to inquire into fall asc,rtain the real state of mi n d o f the Rig ht Hon. t h e Ext.( of Albemarle. Th e comm i ss i on was issued Ol e the application of th e i mme di ate friends of the N"b ; Earl, and will be opened on W e d nes d ay next, at Fts „ .„.' ran::,-'s Hotel, b e f ore M r. Barlow, a Commissioner P" Lunacy, and a special jury. —Sunday Paper. BIRTHS On the 2d inst., at the Free Manor of Tester, East 1,03.11i11jt Mrs. M'Kenzie raser, of a daughter. Ste el On the :3(1 inst., at Reigat e , S urrey , th e w if e o f J. Esq., of a daughter. ~e On the sth inst., at H a lt on , th e w if e o f t h e Rev. Ge"' Hill, of a son. On the sth inst., at Thornes Parsonage, Wakefield, M H. Smyth. of a daughter. On the oth inst, at Bradford, Wilts, the wife of CO oil' S. IL Palairet, ot a daughter. 13' On the 6th inst., the wife of Mr. C. F. Hancock, o' ton-street, of a daughter. 11 0 On the 7th inst , at Brunswick-house, Hanover-squarer 0. lady of S. Wetmore, jun., E sq ., o f C anton, Chi <a, MARRIED. O. On the 6th inst., at St. George's, Hanover ware, 00 Rev. R. W. Thackeray, rector of Hunsdon, Herts. 0111 Yati of the late Rey. Richard Thackeray, o f H a dl e y, Hert: 4 . " t t, Downham, Norfolk, to An n , daughter of the late W. Gil' s ' Esq., of Ovendon-hcuse, Sevenoaks, Kent: __.....---- DIED !I tb. On the 4th ir st., at C romw ell-colage. 01,1 BromPr° - 't of II n. Thomas Stapleton. F.S.A.-, F.R.S„ Vicc-Preal ue t e rd the Soei ty of Antiquaries, brother of the Right Her' Beaumont. aged 44. „geSt On Wedne3,fay last. at Raywell, Sophia, the 3 .°u-- surviving daughter of Joseph Sykes Esq On the ith inst., at Margate:Eliza ' betb . , widow of Lathuli ()shorn, Esq. aged tO. On the sth inst., Charles Wyatt, Eeq., son of the Jur e IV. Wyatt, R-q ,of the New Forest. 0 0 On the :411 imt., at Woodland% Bagshot, Anne Mid i ' wife of John U borne, Peg , aged 78. r e of On the CO inst , in New Oxford-streot, Ann, the w" Mr. William Fu,.;'er. e ra J r • On the 6th inst., at Rutland-gate, Hyde-park, Car t Kemp3on, E q., of that place, aged 0 theis t° On the 7th inst., Thomas Day, Esq., for nearly 50 Y e clerk to . .he Coinmissi .ners of Tgxes for Southwark7,-7---:, London: Printed and Published by MURDO 1/ so. 11'; No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Th e Sus O ffi ce , _ Strand, in the Precir:t et the Savov. in the uO O 7, Middlesex. Monday, December 10, - 1840. • ,~ ~~~~; ~~