The Sun. — London, England, 1844-12-19 00:00:00

ce Of ed ess. jigh- L;lou s re-, from or the a d re rri the u ct of Lords iry of L'arke , Id the vi not their hear• z‘t.e otal. LITERATURE. THE CHIMES; A GOBLIN STORY. Chapman and Hall, London, 1644. 11r. Dickens's " Christmas Carol," which was pub iiahed about this time last year, was unquestionably t he most effective hit that this popular author ever Illa de. The spirit that pervaded it was so thoroughly catholic ; its purpose was so benevolent ; its humour ' 1: ' °1:1 violls, unforced, and seasonable in its character ; And its mixture of the imaginative and the matter-of fact so dexterously and easily managed, the one eliding into the other imperceptibly and without the 'lightest apparent effort, that it could scarcely fail to Please all classes of readers. Then, too, there was 811 ch abundant feasting going on in every chapter -111101 boisterous merry-makings—such relishing de 4eriptions of Christmas dinners in high life, in middle life, and in low life—that so far from being surprised that it reached a tenth edition, our only surprise is that it has not yet reached a twentieth. It rarely falls to the lot of even the most successful author to c bi l a t se two such hits in a life-time ; and accordingly 1 7 amusing little story before us—though c ontains some passages equal in force and h umour to any that Mr. Dickens ever wrote— " a whole, inferior both in conception and execu -411 to his "Christraas Carol." In so saying, we 415 far from meaning to imply that it is an indifferent Pr 'ciuction but only that it is not to be put in com- Pkis °r l With the author's acknowledged master-piece. The hero is Trotty Veck, an elderly, simple-minded ticket -porter, w h ose usua l post i s near t h e d oor o f a tstarch, to whose chimes—like Quasimodo in Victor e I °'a " Notre Dame"—he has long been in the shit of listening with a sort of vague, mysterious 4118° of mingled awe and pleasure. One day, while :hsting for a job in the convivial Christmas season, agreeably surprised by the sight of his only 14111811ter Meg, with a plateful of tripe in her hand, ,""ieh she h as b roug h t f or h er f a th er ' s di nner. Whil e til'ae ld d o Man is busy doing justice to this dainty on )2 " oor-steps of an Alderman's house, Meg's sweet ""t, Rich ar d , comes up, an d a littl e i nnocen t fli r t at i on 4 : 1 on betw een th e y oung cou pl e , w hi c h i s , h owever, 4111 Y interrupted by the appearance of Alderman st. and his two friends —one, a political economist, , - ; , ` 4 t he other a disciple of the " Young England" 1, ""°°1 2 Rho enter into conversation with Trotty, the 1 : 1 , 34 , 1t of which is to convince him that he is a very h -e ' eh ecl, worthless fellow who has no business to be Its • the burdening the earth with his presence. Soon after IIL Y leave him, he goes to the house of a pompous ri nat who proclaims himself the friend of the poor ind talks with prodigious self-complacency of his di s . "'rested devotion to the cause of the lower classes ; bd b o ,.._""ing delivered the letter wid which he was e t Casted to this pompous patron of the destitute and 411,friendless, Trotty returns home, and there, like th o •" 4 Runyan, " dreams a dream" about the church te 411 ") which he imagines make all sorts of wonderful i t j t el "lobs respecting himself, his daughter, and his er kled son-in-law, Richard. The story conclude s Itith h is Waking up from his dream, and finding his th ends about him, anxious to celebrate the nuptials of it : Young couple. This is but a faint outline of the t h r j , Which, however, is exceedingly meagre in its thmacter, and is far less obvious and useful in its moral ih the " Christmas Carol." Nevertheless, it contains tt) Y clever and some few brilliant passages, which ne but " Boa " could have written, and which ar e t r Nl ated to ma k e a p ro f oun d i m p ress i on on th e m i n d the re ader. There are also several admirable touches of hi h,p t ; 'O'er interspersed throughout it, and some caustic t the pseudo-philanthropy of certain well-known i t , - " ci ans• The humour, too, is excellent, though it q i , -(4 al ways free from the author's besetting vice of ti lt - ggeratio n , w h o, i n hi s l ov e of drollery, is some s: apt to run a joke fairly off its legs. As a fa tb sample of his more serious manner, we quote k b ,, ° "wing speech of a destitute labourer, which is sf.`„r s "d to be delivered at a meeting of the Friends th e p oor Th . 4%4,1 r agged visitor—for he was miserably dressed— t° th e t° und upon the company, and made his homage G.,,Tvith a humble bow. 4.4 °A — "folks," he said, °" You've drunk the Labourer. .T ae !, " jt,:t c ome from gaol," said Mr. Fish. the f r , firs t com e from gaol," said Will. "And neither for s'urth. ,, 0 , nor the second, nor the third, nor yet the kr, 1 -, • 1 Itta I lse was heard to remark testily, that four times libt3ce)ivie.r the average ; and he ought to be ashamed of ,I:Gentlefolks !" repeated Will Fern. " Look at me I ace I'm at the worst. Beyond all hurt or harm ; 04 ° . 4 d your help ; for the time when your kind words bi e ind actions could have done ms good "—he struck upon his breast and shook his head—" is gone, the scent of last year's beans or clover out the air. h; ale s a y a word for these," pointing to the labouring th e in the ; "and when you're met together, hear e ,tokal Truth spoke out for once." 4: - Ther e ' s no t a man here," said the host, "who would 4 him for a spokesman." 1 4 ; s tike enough, Sir Joseph. I believe it. Not the I ).4 tr ue, perh a p s , i s w h a t I say. Perhaps that's a proof 4 tr.„'" Gentlefolks, I've lived many a year in this place. 4, 1 :‘ Nay see the cottage from this sunk fence over you 3've seen the ladies draw it in their books a hun- Ltit t h r aos. It looks well in a picter, I've heerd . say ; '"ere an't we a ther in picters, and maybe 'tut fitter th, r t hitt than for a place to live in. Well I I lived It. 0 4?: now hard—how bitter hard I lived there, I ttp i'pv. Any day in the year, and every day, you V i ne for your own selves.' ko ti e d ;poke as he had spoken on the night when Trotty 111 , oi' vs "itil in the street, His voice was deeper, and • Ii 'sky, and had a trembling in it now and then ; kli o , es never raised it, passionately, and seldom lifted it .C e ,„tile firm stern level of the homely facts he stated. bp d ' ' ls harder than you think for, gentlefolks, to grow Nwe''ent commonly decent : in such a place. That I t bat ed up a man and not a brute, says something for • I Was then. .A 3 I am now, there's nothing can for me, or done for me. I'm past it." ,li er , L • 4111 glad this man has entered," observed Sir 4 t kr' looking. round serenely. " Don't disturb him. ,k kh lettrs to be Ordained. He's an Example ; a living l tiNl i pe. I hope and trust, and confidently expect, that h , i ` not be lost upon my friends here." • o ... ,„ cir t agged on," said Fern, after a moment' a silence. ▪ ;; e k t iovc". Neither me nor any other man knows how ; or de ,"eavv, that I couldn't put a cheerful face upon it, .INl,„7 4 ''e believe that I was anything but what I was. / Pll sl ,' gentlemen —you gentlemen that sits at Sessions— Yt)11 You see a man with discontent writ on his face, .; 1 5 11 1; 1 15 to one another, he's suspicious. I has my 1 (4 1 . ,;`, says you, about Will Fern. Watch that fel • t don't say, gentleman, it ain't quite nat'ral, but d e s 'tis so ; and from that hour, whatever Will Fern ;' ) ,,ov let s a l one — a ll one —it g oes against him." Pocks ('ute stuck his thumbs in his waistcoat - at a et s , and leaning back in his chair and smiling, winked bou i ,slei ghbouring chandelier. As much as to say, " Of bla9l I told you so. The common cry Lord h t f'", You, we are up to all this sort of thing—myself \l 'inraan nature." tari'vw, gentlemen," said Will Fern, holding oat his I 'S Land flushing for an instant in his haggard face. I te' tl , 4 k ow your laws are made to trap and hunt us when V t ,:, brought to this. I tries to live elsewhere. And I'm tes k a °l '° ll d. To gaol with him I comes back here. I k t illittang in your woods, and breaks—who don'tf— ht,rlll,°tr branch or two. To gaol with him I One of ttit - h ik etPers sees me in the broad day, near , my own " il e a ; of garden, with a gun. To gaol with him . a kin 4 naeral angry word with that man, when I'm free To gaol with him I I cuts a stick. To gaol kith h !tn.! I eats a rotten apple or a turnip. To gaol 4 t D . ' 1 "n 1 It's twenty mile away ; and coming back, I the a trifle on the road. To gaol with him ! At last, d o e ., ° °stable, the keeper—anybody—finds me anywhere, ap d f; anything. To gaol with him, for he's a vagrant, gat, , ,gaol:bird known ; and gaol's the only home he's heresy, which is now exciting such a commotion in the Church :—" Tractarianism is an error of the most subtle and deadly character; it is a poison-drop in the cup of the water of life. It is not a party question; it is one that affects the Church of Christ in its grand and distinctive features, and which every member of that Church is bound to repudiate. I speak strongly. I have reason to do so, for I shall never cease to bless and thank God that my eyes have been opened to see my own danger. I know of no one whose natural heart was more inclined to approve the doctrines of the Tractarian party, or whose natural taste was more disposed to be captivated by the seducing appeals to the imagination which they put forth." In his Sermons, which immediately follow the preface, the Author takes every opportunity of impressing on his readers the danger of their paying the slightest atten tion to the jesuitical appeals of the Tractarians, and the absolute necessity of their strictly abiding by the Word of God as revealed in Holy Writ. These ad monitions he enforces in earnest, energetic terms, and does not hesitate to repeat, whenever the course of his argument leads him, directly to the condemnation of Tractarian tenets. His Sermons are penned in plain, perspicuous language, without ornament or metaphor, and can hardly fail to make a favourable impression on their readers, if only from the evident tone of unaffected sincerity that pervades them. For tunately, also, they are all short, and may be easily read at a sitting, which is no ordinary recommenda , tion to compositions of this sort. JOYS AND SORROWS. Darton and Clarke, London, 1844. " Joys and Sorrows" is the apt title of a prose tale, written by Mrs. Sherwood, expressly for the enter tainment and instruction of young people. It is no easy thing, as has been often remarked, to pen a popular child's book, but the authoress of the story before us has, we think, succeeded in her experiment, and pro- duced a work calculated, by the simplicity of its lan guage and incidents, to be a great favourite with youth. The volume is neatly printed, and is embel lished with two pleasing engravings. UNIVERSITY OF BONN. Parker, London, 1844. In this unassuming little volume we have an ac count of the University of Bonn—one of the most eminent seats of instruction on the Continent, where, among many other illustrious individuals, Prince Albert received his education—of its rise, progress, and present state, together with a concise sketch of the college life of his Royal Highness. Bonn was formerly, it seems, the splendid palace of the Arch bishops of Cologne, and stands on the south side of the town of Bonn, occupying a vast space of ground, with a finely wooded lawn in front, and forming one long range of buildings, which from the centre extends to a considerable distance towards the east and west. It is a well-endowed University, conducted on a liberal and comprehensive scale, and has attached to it upwards of fifty paid professors. The supreme authority is vested in the Minister of Public Worship at Berlin, but is practically delegated to the Curator, as first resident officer under the Government, who acts co-ordinately with the Academical Senate—a body composed of professors with the rector at their head, who is assisted by a judge appointed by the Crown. The salaries paid to the ordinary and extra ordinary professors vary in amount from a hundred and fifty to three hundred pounds per annum, but the chief source of their income, is derived from the de- livery of public lectures. It is greatly to the credit of this University that Protestants and Roman Ca tholics are admitted indiscriminately, and no in vidious distinctions are kept up between thorn, but both are treated with equal impartiality. When will Oxford and Cambridge adopt such a liberal system ? We quote some particulars respecting Prince Albert and his brother's residence at Bonn : " The young Princes had, as the chief officer of a se lect household, conducted with the greatest order and regularity, a German nobleman, who is represent e d t o have acquitted himsel f to their entire satisfaction. It consisted of fifteen persons in all, including domestics, and both brothers had conjointly a choice stud, in which not only were several of the finest and best horses that could be found in Germany, but also some excellent ape. cimens of the English breed. In fact, Prince Albert's establishment at Bonn, though limited in extent, yet evincing, as it did, the true grace and dignity of exalted rank, was, in all respects, suited to the position of an il lustrious personage, whom the very highest destinies have since awaited. " During the time required for completing the various culinary and other arrangements, the table of the Princes was supplied by Mr. Schmidt, of the Star hotel, at Bonn, where many an epicure from all parts of Europe, with a most fastidious taste and unaccommo dating palate, has involuntarily felt himself obliged to admit that he had never before fared better in the whole course of his travels. Far, very far, however, were the two Princes of Coburg from indulging or cultivating any such taste during the period of their residence here. On the contrary, they had the character of setting an edify ing example of the greatest moderation and simplicity in their repasts. Though they frequently gave costly ban quets to parties of between twenty and thirty students, selected entirely for their personal worth and talents, and without any regard to the circumstances of birth or fortune, they themselves could hardly be said to partake of the rare luxuries provided for the occasion, so rigidly temperate were they both, and more especially Prince Albert. " The people of England were not a little surprised at first, to hear that the Queen and the Royal Consort were seen walking together at a very early hour on the morn ing of the very day after their marriage. But while at Bonn, Prince Albert was particularly distinguished from all the other students of the same rank, for the salutary habit of early rising, one which he had uniformly per severed in from his boyhood, and therefore it is very natural that he should have adhered to it after he had come of age, whether in England or in any other coun try, and be likely to do so all the days of his life. " At Bonn the Prince generally rose about half-past five o'clock in the morning, and never prolonged his re pose after sin. From that hour up to seven in the even ing, he assiduously devoted his whole time to his studies, with the exception of an interval of three hours, which he allowed himself for dinner and recreation. At seven, he usually went out, and paid visits to those individuals '1 or families who w ere honoured with his acquaintance." FATAL STEAM-BOAT COLLISION OFF GREENWICH. Another awful accident (an announcement of which appeared in our Third Edition of Tuesday night) involving the loss of two lives and the peril ling of many others, occurred on the river on Tues. day afternoon, during the fog, by two steam-boats coming into collision. The one is the Orwell, Itackharn master, running from London to Ipswich, a steamer of 230 tons burthen, and 80-horse power, and the other is the Sylph, Swaisland master, of 32-horse power, be longing to the Woolwich Steam-boat Company, and plies between London and Weolvvich. In this terrible contact, it appears, the vessels did not meet each other stem to stem; but the Orwell, more than double the;size and power of the other, encountered with her bows the Sylph's broadside, about ten feet forward from the right paddle-box, and, carrying that part of the vessel in, cut through the fore cabin, and brought up on the opposite side, nearly rending the ill-fated vessel in two. Thus the yes: els lay for some minutes, the water rushing into the wreck of the Sylph, and the only means of escape for the passengers in the fore cabin being en tirely blocked up. When, however, the Orwell backed astern, the Sylph was consequently inundated ; but her water-tight compartments with which she was fitted, which were not ruptured, kept her from going down altogether; and when the water had drained into the foremost bulkhead, the sternmost parts of the vessel, including the engine -room, were afloat, and remained so until she was towed ashore by the Witch, Young master, another of the Woolwich Company's steam boats, when she then settled, and the tide flowed over her, showing her funnel, at nine o'clock, about ten feet above the water. The details were with much difficulty elicited, neither the parties on board the Orwell nor those of the Sylph showing any great willingness to talk on the matter ; but, as regards the crew of the Sylph, the sudden danger which overwhelmed them, and their narrow escape from destruction, had almost paralysed their faculties ; the master fell into a state of stupor after the event, and the crew knew nothing more than that they had to scramble for their lives on board the Orwell and into the boats, and finding them secure, they next turned their attention to the salvation of the passengers. The statements by each party as to the precise spot at which the accident occurred are at variance ; but they will, doubtless, be properly investigated at the coroner's inquest. It appears that the Sylph was on her trip from Lon don to Woolwich. She landed passengers at Greenwich and embarked others, and, with about thirty in all, at two o'clock, in a dense fog, had left the pier at Green wich, and was standing out to the middle of the River towards Black wall. They had just got outside the vessels lying off Greenwich, and whilst opposite the lower end of the Hospital Wharf, and proceeding across from the southern or Greenwich side towards the opposite shore, as her people allege, about the middle of the River, the Orwell suddenly came upon them with the terrific effects above related. One man who was on board, and belonged to the Sylph, was in the cabin at the time, taking the money. lie states that there were eight or nine persons there, and hearing the captain of the Sylph call out suddenly, " Ease her— stop h , r—run astern," in quick succession, he went on deck just in time to witness the Orwell on board of them He immediately jumped on board the Orwell, but seeing that the Sylph did not sink, he returned to.that i vessel to render ail the assistance he could. Another of the crew of the Sylph, who was at the wheel, saw just through the fog the Orwell coming on board of them, and imme diately the bows cf the Orwell cut through the side of the Sylph. He also scrambled on board the former vessel, thinking the latter would sink, and, on recovering from the fright, assisted in saving the passengers. The Orwell lay across the bows of the Sylph, and the passengers in the forward part of the vessel rushed on board the Orwell on her larboard bow, and as many of the pas sengers aft as could reach her also got on board. A great number of wateresen's boats had put off from all the wharfs of Greenwich on hearing the tre mendous crash and the terrible shriek of the passengers on board the vessels at the concussion, and re ceived as many of the crew and passengers as they could get at, or who found their way to them. Some passengers on board the Sylph, and the boatmen, then begged the Orwell's people to go astern, and when they did so, the water rushing into the cabin floated the bodies of those out who had been there confined, the Sylph lifting also when relieved of the weight. The scene then was of the most heartrending description. The poor creatures in the water were struggling to keep afloat, and clutched at everything they fancied within reach. Four women who thus floated out of the cabin were secured. One of them had an infant in her arms, and holding the infant, and at the same time grasping the splinters of the wreck in the greatest possible human agony, turned to the people with the most piteous sup. plication, saying, " For God's sake, save me." Her appeal was not made in vain, for she was saved and her child too. In the meanwhile the crew, who had returned to the Sylph, with the assistance of the crew of the Or well and the watermen, picked up two or three other females, one of whom was hauled out of the cv bin by the steersman ; and two children, floating on the water, were also saved and taken on board the Orwell. Just as the Orwell was coming on board, a woman was sitting on the cabin skylight, and most probably owed her life to one of the crew calling to her, " For God's sake, go aft.' The Witch steamer, above alluded to, had passed the Sylph just before the accident occurred, on her way from Blackwall to Greenwich. She bad scarcely got to the pier at the latter place, when those on board hoard the crashing sound of the collision, and at the same moment the, thrilling shrieks of those whose lives were jeopardised pierced their ears through the thick mist. The master having left the Orwell some distance astern in his pas sage from Blackwall, instantly guessed the reason of the awful sounds and cries, and, landing his passengers in the quickest time possible, was at the scene of the disaster. By the time he arrived there the Orwell had run astern, and had got clear of the wreck. The Sylph had sunk forward, but her aftermost part still floated, the water not having reached the midships nor aftermost bulk heads. She was lying across the river, and lots of boats were round the vessel endeavouring to get out any bodies which might have been in the fore-cabin, then under the water. Eight persons had floated out of it and had been secured. The Witch attached a tow-rope to the stern of the Sylph and towed her ashore off Colechild's Wharf, and while so doing the watermen hooked out two men from the fore-cabin and continued groping for others. When they got the Sylph ashore her afterpart was then above water; but she gradually filled as she grounded. OF the passengers those who were so fortunate as to get on board the Orwell, or to get into watermen's boats, were landed at the opposite wharf, or at the pier ; those who were taken out of the cabin and the water were conveyed to different public-houses and the Dread nought, seamen's hospital-ship. One of the men was dead when taken up, and his death must have been caused by being jammed to the side of the Sylph by the catwater of the Orwell. He presented a shockingly -mutilated appearance. Over his left temple was a gaping wound, laying open the skull for nearly three inches ; his shoulder-bone was protrud ing ; the left arm was broken, his hands were crushed, and his right thigh was shattered. It would seem that he was putting on or had taken off a boot, as he had but one on, and the stocking en his other foot was sound. He was a man about 40 y ears o f age, an d was neither claimed nor recognised fer some time. About half a dozen duplicates were found OR him, bearing the name of Shepheard, and Is. 6d. in silver. He wore a smock frock and corduroy breeches, with leather leggings. He was taken to the Union public-house, where he lies awaiting the coroner's inquest. It is said that ho was a hawker, and lived in Kent-street, in the Borough. The other poor fellow was evidently drowned. He exhibited symptoms of animation when taken up, but when he was brought on board the Dreadnought, at forty minutes past two o'clock, every means was used to restore sensibility, but without effect, and the body was given up to the parish authorities at Greenwich, and conveyed to the bone-house. His name is unknown ; he was a labouring man, and apparently about thirty years of age. ADVENTURES OF AN OFFICER IN TIIE SERVICE OF RUNJEET SINGIL—We are requested to state that Mr. Colburn, of Great Marlborough-street, has this day pub lished " The Adventures of an Officer in the Service of Runjeet Singh," by Major H. M. L. Lawrence, B e n ga l A r tillery, British Resident at the Court of Nepaul, in 2 vols., small Bvo., price 21s. bound, which can now be had of all Booksellers. Mr. Colburn has also just pub lished the following new works :-2. " The Crescent and the Cross," by Eliot Warburton, Esq., 2 vols., small My all Bvo. with numerous illu strations, 255. bound.-3. Ad ventures," by Colonel Montgomery Maxwell, 1.H., 2 vols., small Bvo., with portraits, 21s. bound.--4." The Nelson Letters and Dispatches," Vol. 1., 15s. hound.-5. " A Journey Overland from India across the Desert," by Major and Mrs. G. Darby Griffith, 2 vols., small Bvo., with twenty-one illustrations, 21s. bound.-6. " The Voyages and Services of the Nemesis in China," cheaper edition, with maps and plates, 18s. bound.-7. "Reve lations of Russia," by an English Resident, 2 vols., small Bvo., with plates, 245. bound ; and, 8. " The Comic Miscellany for 1845," by John Poole, Esq., Au thor of " Paul Pry," &c., in small Bvo., 10s. 6d. elegantly bound. EXPLOSION ON BOARD A SSRAVP . TIMINIEL.—Tuesday morning some sensation was created in the vicinity of Old Shades Pier, owing to an explosion having taken place on board the Propeller, plying between the latter place and Sheerness. The above vessel was formerly worked with the Archimedian screw, but about twelve months ago was altered into the old sys tem, with paddle-wheels, and has regularly plied be tween London and Sheerness. Yesterday morning, shortly before her time of starting, the engineer, after leaving the engine ready for proceeding on the jour ney, went on deck to speak to the captain ; he had not left the engine-room two minutes before he heard a load explosion from the latter place, followed by an immense body of steam, which prevented him from going below for some time. When the steam had subsided he ascertained that the bottom of the boiler, near the fire-box, had fallen out, owing to some portion of the iron being in a rotten state. The Propeller is built on the new system, with air-tight bulk-heads, which fortunately prevented the steam from entering the cabin and other parts of the vessel. REMARKABLE CIRCUMSTANCE.—BOSTON, Nov. 23. —We were informed yesterday by a fisherman, just in from a cruise, that during his absence he had witnessed a most singular phenomenon, the like of which has never been known in this latitude. The smack in which he vas had been unsuccessful, very few fish having been taken, and on many of the old fishing-grounds not one could be found. In returning along the south shore of Long Island, their attention was attracted to the beach, which was literally strewed with the bodies of dead fish, just washed up by the sea. Black fish, cun ners, lobsters, and crabs, and many other species w hich inhabit our shore s at this season, lay promis ingly on the sand. On examining the well of the smack it was discovered that the fish which they had taken were also dead. As far as the shore was examined eastward toward Montauk Point, it was found to be covered alike with dead fish. We are also informed that the smack Caroline, on Friday last, while about 15 miles from land, passed throug h a " rip.' of the sea (formed by adverse tides, we suppose), and that as far as could be seen in either direction, the " rip" was filled with dead fish. Soon after this the well of the smack was exa mined, and every fish in it found to be dead. These re markable facts require scientific investigation. Similar phenomena have been observed in the Mediterranean after a volcanic irruption ou some neighbouring moun tains ; and it is quite probable, we think, that the de struction to the finny tribe noticed above was caused by a like irruption at sea near our coast.—American Paper. Vie others were all females. Miss Williams, of Woolwich, Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Morris, and Mrs. Rennell, wore supported to the Golden Anchor public-house, where they fainted on arriving. They were put to bed, and restoratives having been applied by Messrs. Appleton and Downing, surgeons, they soon recovered. Their friends arrived at the tavern for them, and at Woolwich one or two had left, and the others were expected to follow to their homes. To the Chest Tavern a female was conveyed, slightly hurt, and at the Torbay Hotel a woman and child were taken. The child was insensible, but under care of a surgeon both recovered sufficiently to be removed. On board the Dreadnought three females were conveyed at twenty-five minutes past two, named Maria Green, Rachel Tustin, and Esther Sullivan. They were put to bed, and the two latter left the ship as soon as their clothes were dry. Mrs. Green, up to two hours after the accident, had bewailed the loss of her infant ; but, to her great joy, which mothers only can truly estimate, it was restored to her in safety. This poor woman received a blow on her face, but she was well enough to quit the Dreadnought at night. The master of the Orwell states tbmt he anchored at Sea-reach on Monday night, in consequence of the weather, and that he came slowly up the river the next day; that he was on the northern side of the river, which was his right course, and that the Sylph was going across the river at the time of the accident, probably to feel her way down to Blackwell by the northern shore. The Orwell was as close to that shore as her safety would admit, and if the Sylph had headed the Orwell she must have run aground. He saw the Sylph, when within 100 yards, and called out to stop the engin es ; b ut the Sylph drawing so rapidly towards him, with the way on the Orwell, they could not prevent the collision. As soon as the accident took place the master of the Orwell took off his eoat, and, with his crew, rendered every assistance in their power to preserve life and property. The Orwell went alongside the Greenwich Pier, landed her passengers, who proceeded thence to their respective destinations, and also landed h er cargo. She started yesterday for Ipswich, but the master remains on account of the expected coroner's inquest. The Or well has sustained no damage. It was expected that the tide wo u ld l eave the Sylph dry at low water, at midnight, when it would bo ascer tained if any more bodies were in the cabin. In all probability, however, all who were there have been ac counted for. This sad accident drew a great number of persons to Greenwich from Woolwich, Blackwell, and London, to make inquiries after their friends, and up to a late hour at night the wharfs opposite the wreck were crowded w ith people. 1. 4° Alderman nodded sagaciously, as who should say, Z e ry good home, too l' Vv h ° I say this to serve . Mir cause!" cried . Fern, b kk 0 can give me back my liberty, who can give me t tli bt ,„ l ", Y good name, who can give me back wide innocent lint" I Not all the Lords and Ladies in wide England.. tee, k t e ntlernon, gentlemen, dealing with other men like o t ;: e gin at the right end. Give us, in mercy, .better bet t ,,s 4 when we're a laying in our cradles ; give us ki tt - t i r food when we're a working for our lives ; give us d e l I LWs to bring us back when we're a going wrong; %o n ` 4ol l't set gaol, gaol, gaol, afore us, every where we tsb,;„ There ain't a condescension you can show the 'rer then, that he won't take, as ready and as Rllli tkrul as a man can be ; for he has a patient, peaceful, '61 4 1 neut. But you must put his rightful spirit in tgs, ; for whether he's a wreck and ruin, such as tpi h . ;• i s like one of them that stand here now, his 4 1 ;; tg divided from you at this time. Bring it back, entb7folks, bring it back I Bring it back, afore the day an d e ,l when even his Bible changes in his altered mind, tiit t ,," l e words seem to him to read, as they have some -I:read in my own eyes—in gaol : Whither thou lod e ,; Can Not go ; where thou lodgest, I do Not `4 0 4 ; thy people are Not my people ; Nor thy God , 4 'Z l . — : ) s udden st i r an d ag i tat i on t oo k pl ace i n th e H a ll. the WO t h ought at first, that several had risen to eject 11 4 t .; and hence this change in its appearance. 411 il a i l lOther moment showed him that the room and hi t d e company had vanished from his sight, and that I3yt au ghter was again before him, seated at her work. ut k 0 Li • Poorer. meaner garret than before ; and with hail by her side. 77 iACTARIANISlif NOT OF GOD. h; Longman, London, 1844. tt , th 4 preface to this volume of Sermons, the °-, the R ev. C . Taylor, o f Ch es t er , th us s t rong l y "41:111.4611 himself on the subjeet of the Travtarien THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 19 1844. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. Tuesday afternoon the utmost sensation was created along the rater-side and at the various steam-boat piers along the river, in consequence of one of those unfortu nate collisions which, though common on the other side of the Atlantic, are of rare occurrence in this country. The ill-fated beat which has suffered by the event is the Sylph, belonging to the Old Woolwich Steam-boat Com pany ; the one which has been the cause is the Orwell, belonging to the Ipswich Company. From the meagre particulars which the reporter has been able to obtain, it appears that about half-past two, or from that to three o clock, the Sylph started from London-bridge Wharf for Greenwich and Woolwich; at London-bridge she took on board 24 passengers; on her arrival at the Thames tunnel she took in 10; and with this number of passengers she proceeded on her course to Greenwich. On proceeding down the river the heavy fog which had hung over the metropolis during the morning, had not departed from the river, and, as the boat neared Greenwich, the den sity of the fog was so great as scarcely to permit the captain to see a boat's length before him. From some cause, which at present remains unexplained, the Sylph, it appears, was on the north or Middlesex side of the shore, and was in the act of crossing for the pier at Greenwich, when a large vessel was seen close to her. The captain of the Sylph instantly cried out " Stop her ; go astern ;" which commands were promptly attended to, but too late ; for the next instant a tremendous crash was heard, and in an instant the fore-cabin of the Sylph was filled with water, and, melancholy to relate, not one individual in that part of the boat has escaped. So in stantaneous was the collision that it was impossible to give any alarm to the passengers. Those on deck for tunately escaped. The statement of Captain S. Wrack ham, the commander of the Orwell, as connected with this melancholy event, is to the following effect :—The Orwell was due at five o'clock on Monday evening, but on corning up the river, and when on the other side of Gravesend, the fog was so heavy that it was found neces sary to cast anchor. About nine o'clock on Tuesday morning she heaved her anchor, but in consequence of the continuance of the fog, she came up the river at a very slow rate. Between one and two o'clock she was off Woolw ich, and was two hours making the distance from that point to Greenwich. When off the latter place the Sylph was making for the pier, and, it being high tide, she was under the necessity of going at her full speed. In crossing from the north to the south shore the Orwell came in sight of the Sylph, when the pilot, whose name is Wiggens, being at the wheel of the Or well, seeing the danger which the smaller boat was in, called out, " Stop her ; ease her," and the Orwell was backed three turns astern. Unfortunately, the Sylph was not able to clear herself ; for, although the backing took place, she was struck in the fore-sponson, or in front of the paddle-box on the larboard side, and in stantly filled, the figure-head of the Orwell coming across the deck of the Sylph. The cries and shrieks of the unfortunate passengers were truly alarming ' • but before any aid could be rendered the Sylph pit c h e d head downwards. The crew and passengers of the Orwell rendered every assistance, and dragged several of the ill fated passengers through the aperture which had been made ; but for this, the loss of human life must have been much greater. At the time of writing the account the actual number of persons lost could not be ascertained, but there is no doubt that the number stated—viz., seventeen, is, unfortunately, within the mark, for before Captain Wrackham left nine bodies had been recovered, consisting of men, women, and children, most, or all of whom are supposed to belong to Green wich, Woolwich, and its vicinity. None of the bodies at the time they were found were identified. Captain Wrackham states, that had he come up at full speed, he must have run completely over the Sylph and sunk her ; had this occurred, not a single life would have escaped to tell the particulars of this deplorable ac cident. _ _ _ TURN-OUT of the COAL-MINERS OLDHAM, TUESDAY.—The miners at nearly all the collieries in Oldham and the neighbourhood absented themselves from their work on Monday morning, having turned out for the purpose of procuring an advance of wages of 3d. in the shilling: for shaft mining, besides the extra allowances of 3d. per cwt. for short quarters, and 4d. per cwt. for long quar ters. Between Saturday evening, when the fortnight's notice expired, and Monday morning, a few of the employers acceded to the terms proposed b,y the turn outs, namely, Messrs. Brideoake's, of Union Ground colliery, and Mr. Abraham Lees, of Oldham Edge colliery.: Messrs. Alexander Collinge, J. Mills, and a few small c o lli er y p ropr i e t ors, at and near Sholver and Shore Edge, are said to have come to a satisfac tory understanding with their men on such terms as will yield a fair proportion of advance when compared with the Oldham prices. The very large number of miners in the employment of Messrs. Lees, Jones, and Co.; Joseph Jones, jun., and Co.; and Barker, Evans, and Co., are our, but they have received intimation that an answer will be given to-morrow (Wednesday) as to what course these firms will pursue in reference to the demands of the men. The strike has extended to the collieries of Messrs. Jesse Ainsworth, Pit Bank ; Job Lees, North Gate and Moor Field ; and Harry Bentley, Barrowshavv ; but these parties are endeavouring to bring about an arrangement. The miners in the employ of Mr. 'William Wrigley, of Low Side, have likewise struck work. The entire number of turn-outs, including boys as well as men, will not be far from 1,000. A large meeting of the coal miners and other operatives, " to lay before the public the various grievances existing between them and their employers," had been announced to take place on Monday afternoon, in the open air on Curzon ground, but was ultimately held in the Working -men's Hall, Horsedge-road, a spacious, well-arranged build ing, not quite completed. The number of individuals present appeared to be about twelve hundred. A miner, of tho name of Benjamin liaw•ksworth, was called to the chair. The proceedings commenced by the singing of the miners' hymn. A miners' delegate, of the name of PARKINSON, from the county of Durham, addressed the meeting. He remarked that on the employment of the miners depended the existence of many other trades ; and as to the masters, they were reckless, money-amassing monopolists. Ile was informed that, in Oldham, the masters had several times advanced the price of coal without giving any advance whatever to the men. Another miners' delegate, of the name of Em- DLETON, from Newcastle-on-Tyne, next addressed the meeting. He felt convinced the operatives would be crushed if they did not effectually combine to protect the interests of their trade. The ill fated vessel, the Sylph, was only built last spring, and was an iron boat, being built on the newest principle ; she was divided into three compartments-- the fore part, including the fore-cabin, the engine -house, and after part ; each of these are completely water-tight, and although one portion may be struck and knocked in, yet the other portions cannot be effected by the water ; and from this circumstance alone is to be attributed the saving of some of the passengers, for the instant she filled the stern rose out of the water, and to that part all the passengers on deck rushed, where they clung hold of the seats, sides, &c., until rescued from their perilous situation. The Sylph was of about 50 tons' burden, while the Orwell is of 150 tons, having twu engines of 40-horse power, and has been under the command of the present captain (who, for skill and attention, bears a very high character) for about three years. A miner of the name of HARRIS, who spoke some time, asserted that the American slaves were better treated than the miners of England ; but they were determined, at all risks, to be better paid for their labour than they had hitherto been. He con cluded by moving a resolution to the effect, " That, in the opinion of the meeting, the miners of Oldham had been grossly oppressed by their employers, and that the meeting pledged itself to do all in its power to protect the miners in their struggles to gain their rights." A miner of the name Of ROBERT WHITWORTH se conded the motion. FURTHER PARTICULARS. From an inspection of the wreck of the Sylph, several ccnversations with parties on board at the time, and other persons who were witnesses of the accident, the reporter has gleaned the following particulars : It appears, that as the Orwell was coming at a rapid rate towards London the Sylph had just left the pier at Greenwich for her destination at Woolwich. At that time the fog was very thick upon that portion of the Thames, and before the necessary alarm could be given or fully understood, the cutwater of the Orwell caught the smaller vessel and stove her in, literally cutting her to pieces. At the moment this happened there were on board the usual crew, consisting of captain, steersman, engineer, stoker and assistants, a few persons on deck, and about twenty passengers in the cabin. Their shrieks were most appalling, being heard all along the shore as far as Greenwich Pier. The vessel which was struck was seen to reel most frightfully, and it was in stantly discovered by the watermen lying off the quay that she was filling fast. Numerous boats were at once unmoored and pushed off, and by the time they came alongside several persons were struggling in the water. Fortunately, by the praiseworthy exertions of the water men, the crew were saved, as were also five or six other persons, including four women and an infant child. In the ease of the mother and her infant, not seven months old, the most piteous scene presented itself—the mother battling with the waves, and stretching out her arms, as in piteous suppli cation,:tovvards her child, which had escaped from her arms in the struggle between life and death. By an ex traordinary effort on the p ar t o f t wo men, named William Brown and Joseph Facey, belonging to Ship-stairs, in their boats, both were happily saved. In a few mo ments the body of a man, frightfully mutilated, but to appearance still alive, rose to the surface. This being hauled into one of the boats, was immediately conveyed to the Dreadnought Hospital-ship ; but the poor fellow ceased to breathe a few minutes after he was received there. Next appeared another man, dreadfully crushed, and apparently quite dead. He was brought ashore, and taken into the Union public-house, opposite the part of the river where the accident occurred. Three women, who were taken out of the water, were conveyed to the Crown and Anchor public-house ; and Mr. Appleton , surgeon, being sent for, their contusions were attended to, and warm baths and beds provided without delay by the humane landlord and landlady. From the statement of one of the sufferers, who was sitting by the fire-place in the cabin at the time of the collision, it appears that there were about twenty below at the time of the oc currence, and that several ran upstairs the instant after wards, the water rushing violently through the apertur made by the force of the concussion. Two men were thrown violently on the flour of the cabin, and the vessel instantly capsized. DIXON, of Manchester, then made a lengthy speech, in which he remarked, that such was the in fluence of wealth, such the power of their oppressors, the coal kings, that it was an easy matter to get penny-a-liners to write all manner of hard things against the poor colliers; the very parties who had preached up the doctrine, that wages were regulated by the principle of supply and demand, were those who turned against the operative the very moment he began to put these principles into practice. The coal proprietors had been induced to advance the price of coals through what the lying press had said, that the miners were united for the purpose of imposing high prices on the public. Other speeches were made, and the proceedings concluded by the appointment of a Committee to effect the purposes of the turn-out. TILE NORTH BRITISH RAILIVAT.—This under• taking is advancing rapidly in the neighbourhood of Berwick-on-Tweed. The excavations having been commenced in the Duke of Northumberland's property adjoining the town, should the weather, during the winter, bo at all moderate, this section of the cutting is likely to be completed by March or April. In a circular issued from the Directors' office in Edinburgh, on the 6th instant, we observe it stated " that the works on the main line will have all been let to respectable contractors at prices considerably under the estimate, that they are progressing in a very rapid and satisfactory way, and th lt they have every reason to think they will be com pleted, and the line opened, within the stipulated period, viz., by Ist May, 1846."—Berwick Advertiser. On Saturday we had the wind from the south, and a little mildness in the air. Yesterday a gentle and pleasant thaw came on with a brilliant sun, which was very grateful to all. This day the mildness continues, and there seems every probability that the frost, at least for the present, has passed away. It is very curious that though all France and England have been visited by this severe weather, it has not approached the south of Ireland, where rhododendrons are in full bloom in the open air.—Boulogne Gazette. DEATH FROM COLD.—Betwixt Saturday night and Sabbath morning last, an aged female was dis covered lying in a corner at the end of Riccarton-bridge, in a state of inanimation ; and, on an attempt being made to arouse her, it was discovered that she was dead. She had a daughter's house to go to ; and when seen wandering about on the Saturday evening, she was ad vised to go home, and shelter herself from the incle mency of the weather ; but whatever object she had in view, she continued her peregrinations, which had such a fatal termination. The name of the deceased was Crump.—Kilmarnock Journal. BURT.—On Monday afternoon last, the bellman went through the principal streets of lleywood, staling that a meeting of factory operatives and others would be held at eight o'clock that night, at the Star Inn, Market-place. The meeting was accordingly held, when delegates from Rochdale and other places were in attendance, and requested the factory hands at Heywood to give a fortnight' s notice of their intention to leave their employment unless they received an advance of wages. 'l'he hands at so me f ew pl aces h ave a l rea d y given this notice. A MARRIED WOMAN CONCEALING THE BIRTH OF A CnlLD.—Within the last week the body of a newly-born infant was discovered in an outhouse at Leytonstono, and it was ultimately traced to belong to a young woman married only about seven weeks ago, and who resides at the above place. A warrant has been issued for her apprehension, but not having recovered from her con finement, two of the police remain in the house till she is well enough to be removed to undergo an examina tion before the county magistrates. Cambridge Ad vertiser. We are requested to state, that a paragraph which appeared in our last paper, copied from the Perthshire Courier, having reference to the sale of the estates of the late Lord Lyndoch in Perthshire, is incorrect in several places. The sales of Lynedoch and Balgowan, to Messrs. Simpson and Thomson, are made by Mr. Graham of Balgowan, not by the trustees of Lord Lyne doch, and are conditional sales, dependent upon Mr. Graham's power to sell, which is disputed by the heirs of entail, and will form a question in the courts of law. —Edinburgh Advertiser. NOVEL IMPORTATION INTO SCOTLAND. Last week the Helen Scott, of Kincardine, reached the Nith direct from Montreal, laden with Canadian wheat, flour, barley, oatmeal, and peas—the first arrival of the kind, as far as we know, hitherto reported in Scotland. The cargo on board, with the addition of a lining of boards and staves, has been consigned to Mr. Beveridge, baker, miller, and flour dealer, Maxwell-town, and will be fol lowed by others, should the venture realise the hopes of the exporter. The different articles will pay the altered rate of duties set forth in the Act of last session, ♦ia., 6d. on barley and peas, Is. 2d. per cwt. on oatmeal, and Is 6d. per quarter on oats. The flour, we under stand, is remarkably fine.—Drumfries Courier. DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN.—We have this week to announce the death of the oldest inhabitant of Brigh ton. Mr. Edward King, residing at 2, Kensington gardens, died on Friday, in his hundredth year, having about a month previously completed his 99th year. Mr. King was a clerk in the Middle-street Brewery before the time even of the late Mr. William Wigney, and con tinued in the counting-house till he was nearly 86 years old, discharging his duties with accuracy and fidelity. About twenty years ago he retired from Messrs. Wig ney's service on a pension, which Mr. George Wigney paid up to the day of the centenarian's death. Mr. King was a man of great integrity, and enjoyed the esteem of all who had the opportunity of becoming acquainted with his worth.—Brighten Guardian. METROPOLITAN luntovinastas.--Tuesday some houses situated in Alie-street, Goodman's-fields, and in Wentworth-street, Whitechapel, were sold by auction, to be cleared away for the site of the new street, from Spitalfields Church to the London Dock. There is now a direct communication the whole distance, about 200 houses haying been disposed of for the purpose. SHOCKING SUICIDE ON A RAILWAY.—OH Sunday night, shortly before the train which leaves Manchester for Birmingham at a quarter past six o'clock, had reached Wilmslow station, it passed over something on the rails, which afterwards proved to be the body of a young woman, about twenty-eight years of age. It ap pears, from inquiries subsequently made, that her name was Elizabeth Frith ; that she had left her home, at Audley, in Staffordshire, a day or two before, and had since been wandering about, apparently uncertain as to her movements. Just before the passing of the train, she had placed herself across the rails, being in a state of insanity ; but nothing was known of it till after the accident took place. An inquest was held on the body at Wilmslow, en Monday night, before Mr. Roscoe, coroner, when the jury returned a verdict to the effect that she had " placed herself across the rails while in a state of insanity, and was then and there killed." She was struck by the buffer, and one of her legs was nearly taken off. She died almost immediately. It was stated that she had had a severe attack of illness the spring before last, and a renewal of it last spring, which is sup posed to have impaired her intellect. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. ?Ron THE EVENING PAPERS OF TEsti;.ttplY. GLOBE.—Mr. Justice Coleridge, in the course of' his charge to the Durham Grand Jury on Monday last, made some strong remarks on the general mode of arranging the jury lists, which will, we trust, lead to an early improvement of the present system. His Lordship alluded to the exemption—by a custom which is unsanctioned by the law—of persons placed on the special jury-list from serving on common juries. When the heavy pecuniary expenses in curred by a residence of several days in an assize town, at a time when the price of food and lodging is increased by the influx of strangers, joined to the in convenience and loss to which the small farmer or tradesman is subjected by being removed from his avocation, are considered, the injustice of placing this combination of inconvenience and loss on those least able to sustain it, becomes obvious. As if to en hance the unfairness of the system, the special jury man is paid a guinea in every cause he serves nn ; while the common juryman receives only eight pence in every civil cause on which he is sworn, and nothing in criminal cases. The distinction is manifestly unfair, and pointedly invidious and ought to be abolished. " The gentry," said Mr. Justice Coleridge, " to use a common term, never serve on common juries." To be sure they do not. If, through inadvertence or mistake, the officer of the county has summoned one of the privileged orders on the common jury, he regards it as a per sonal indignity—an affront to his rank and sta tion. We have occasionally witnessed the manifes tation of wounded pride with which one of the " gentry" will address the Court, and plead exemp tion from serving on the common jury, on the ground of his name being on, or his quality giving it a right to be on, the special jury list. The claim has been allowed—rather in compliance with custom than in conformity with law. Mr. Justice Coleridge has openly declared that the custom is " unsanctioned by law." His Lordship has also pointed out the injury inflicted on the administration of public justice by the practice, as well as the inequitable distribution of the inconvenience and expense of serving on juries, which it entails :—" If the special juryman, said his Lordship, " had no right to be exempted from serving on common juries, he was enjoying a privilege at the expense of his poorer neigh bour without the sanction of the law. In addi tion to numerous other reasons, he could not help thinking that it would be desirable, in many cases of an intricate character, that there should be a little more intellect upon the common juries than was at present always to be had; and he thought, therefore, it was absolutely necessary that the common juries should be drawn from the whole jurors' list of the county." If individuals of a certain class be sum moned to serve on a special jury, that service is inci dental. It is additional to the general obligation which ought to be shared in common by all those whose names are on the jury-list. It is therefore made the subject of special provision. The richer suitors choose to have their cause tried by a jury chosen from a superior class of society; and he pays for his preference. The special juryman receives his guinea for the special service he has been called upon to give—not to the public justice of the country, so much as to the pre ference of the party who thinks proper to have his cause made " a special jury cause." Mr. Justice Coleridge also alluded to the frequent lack of intellectual competency in jurymen. " Ile could not help thinking it would be very desirable, in many cases of an intricate character, that there should be a little more intellect upon common juries than was at present to be had." To obtain this increase of intellect, the Learned Judge " thought it was absolutely necessary that the common jurors should be drawn from the whole jurors' list of the county." It is only necessary to enter a court of justice—whether of civil or criminal juris diction—in an agricultural district, to induce a cordial concurrence in Mr. Justice Coleridge's remark. The clodpoles who are often to be seen in the jury -box, on whose verdict the property, the character, the liberty, possibly the life, of an individual may depend—but whose vacant stare during the proceedings evinces a lamentable lack of ability to understand the evidence, or their duty with reference to it—exhibit the danger, no less than the indecorum, of the existing system. Trial by jury is valuable because of the protection it affiards to the li berty and property of the subject. But, to secure its effi ciency, juries must understand their duties. Ignorance may prove as mischievous as corruption. If the common jurors were drawn indiscriminately " from the whole jury-list of the county," there would be an infusion of instructed mind into the constitution of juries, which would give dignity and efficiency to the administration of the law. "The glorious privilege of Englishmen, trial by jury," is often on the lips of men who, most inconsistently, shrink from taking their fair share of the duties connected with the privilege. To this in consistency may be traced the deplorable incompe tency of the juries in many parts of England, and universally in Wales. Let the " gentry" no longer shun the common jury -box, as a place in which it is beneath their station to be found; and their humbler fellow-citizens will, by their aid, become more com petent for the duties of jurymen. The reproach which is occasionally cast upon the most valuable institution of the country will then cease. STANDARD.—Mr. Thomas Attwood, of Bir mingham, and the Morning Post have clubbed their geniuses to demonstrate a fact which has hitherto, we believe, escaped the observation of all other persons —namely, the fact that there is no such thing as rent in England. The demonstration is somewhat tedious and a little perplexed ; but here is the propositum laid down in the very words of our morning Contem porary :—" We insert in another column a letter from Mr. Thomas Attwood, on the subject of the an nihilation of rent in England—a result which we lately attempted to show has been virtually ef fected by the action of Sir Robert Peel's recent industrial policy, combined with the action of his deadly Currency Bill." As we have said, the de monstration of Messrs. Attwood and the Morning Post is tedious and somewhat perplexed, and therefore we decline the task of replying to it in detail, which would involve the previous task of unravelling it ; and we avoid the labour the more willingly, be cause there is, we think, not only abundance of evi dence patent to all, as well as a vast body of wit nesses easily produceable, to prove that there is still lingering a remnant of rent in this ruined country. If we wanted to convince a stranger upon this point, we should lead him from Leadenhall•street, ma Cornhill, Cheapside, Ludgate-street, Ludgate-hill, Fleet-street, Strand, Charing-cross, Haymarket, Piccadilly, Regent-street, and so on to Portlind place, a promenade, say, of about two miles, in the course of which he would see exposed for sale by re tail, more goods in value and amount than are in all the cities of all the world beside, and then we should remind him that all this vast amount of property was held out to tempt a class of the community said to be rentless, for as the Leaguers admit that they, as manufactures, are only "summer birds" (hoarse anti-corn Crakes), all the goods exposed for sale on the 18th of December must be intended for some persons deriving their means of purchase, directly or indirectly, from the land. In the same pro menade the stranger would no doubt see, if the time were between four and six P.M., more n 1. erous and more splendid equipages than all th- • d muster, and at least nine out of ten of ta -s would belong to the class said to be re e of the classes immediately dependent as. This is patent proof that there still lin: . nt of rent in England. And let us, by the' • • , take leave to remark that we have offered precis•ly this same proof before to the Leaguers, when they pretended, with about as much truth as Mr. Attwood and the Morning Post new advance their paradox, that the retail traders have no interest in supporting the landed interest, as certainly they would have none were rent annihilated. But this proof that rent survives, though as obvious and satisfactory as that of the philosopher who proved the possibility of motion by walking across the floor, is not in direct terms, and therefore we shall call a witness above ex ception—a gentleman known to the whole country, and deservedly respected for talents and integrity by all who know him ; agentleman, moreover, whose com petency to give evidence upon the point every one must admit. Our witness is George Robins, Esq., who has probably transferred more landed property than any other man ever did. Well, Mr. Robins ; you frequently in a day sell three or four hundred thousand acres—do these acres pay any rent; and if not, what consideration do you offer for the 301. or 40/. per acre that you not unfrequently obtain for the seller ? We will abide by the answer of Mr. George Robins. We might produce a score or more highly respectable gentlemen, extensively , engaged in the same lini of business, but one of a class is suffi cient. We next request the evidence of the Commis sioners of Property-tax. We would respectfully ask of these gantlemen, from what funds do they suppose the landowners have been able to pay the millions that they have pain within the last two years ? But next, we have, indeed, a crowd of witnesses, honest and hearty fellows, but a little boisterous in mirth or anger, and not likely to be put into the best of humours by offering it as a doubtful question, whether there is any such a thing as rent ? Let the hearer prepare his ears for such a roar as never before greeted them, when the question is put to the farmers, " Is there any such thing as rent ?" That shout is decisive ; but, indeed, we need not go beyond the Morning Post's own article for proof of the ludicrous absurdity of its proposition. " Can landowners afford to hand over to the mortgagee the last acre of their possessions ?" asks our Con temporary ; but if its proposition that the land affords no rent be true, the question ought to be, can " mortgagees afford to take the land off the hands of its owners," paying or sacrificing a loan at the same time. There may be concerns, perhaps the Morning Post knows something of such, that no prudent man would purchase at any price, or even accept as a gift ; we take it that hind affording no rent is one of ti; se concerns. But why should rent be annihilated? The average price of the quarter of wheat is this t'Lly 48s. .sd. The average price of the quarter of wheit this day ten y e ars was 415., this day nine years 36 8 . ; st: that the quarter of wheat is now worth is. in money more than it was ten years ago, 12s. in money more than its price nine years ago—through what leak is it, then, that rents have disappeared ? The population has augmented one-seventh within the ten years; and, as no more foreign corn has been imported, nor are the people muc h worse fed than ten years ago, rent, instead of disappearing; must have increased in pretty much the same 0 00, unless the cost . of cultivation has become grealrr; but every outlay improvement in agriculture, every additl< of capital upon land, renders the cost of ctilu::atien much less, and it is notorious that many improft.: 4- ments have been effected in agriculture since 1834, and that much capital has been laid out upon land'. Must we then not, however reluctant to oppose such high authorities, come to the conclusion that Messrs. Thomas Attwood and the Morning Post are mistaken, and that rents are not yet either actually or virtually annihilated. LA W INTELLIGENCE. PRIVY COUNCIL, Dec. 18. THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF GUERNSEY. The Committee of the Privy Council for the affairs of Guernsey and Jersey sat to-day, at the Council-office Whitehall, for the purpose of hearing the further argu ments in the part-heard ease with respect to the course pursued by the Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey. Mr. WADDINGTON resumed his arguments on behalf of the Crown, and in support of the Lieutenant-Go vernor; and occupied their Lordships the whole morning. The Learned Counsel i-as ing concluded, Mr. BURGE proceeded ;o reply, but not having con cluded when their Lords! ips rose, the further considera tion of the case was adjourned till Friday at ten o'clock. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, Dec. 18. (Before Sir J. WIGRAM.) his HONOUR was engaged hearing motions, the argu ments on one of them alone occupying the whole morn ing. It was a motion for an injunction of the Court to restrain a glove-maker named Thompson from infring ing a patent possessed by the plaintiff for cutting-out pieces of leather used in glove-making, of a triangular shape, called fourchetfes, which are inserted between the finger-pieces. This patent, it was alleged, Mr. Thomp son had invaded ; the affidavits were numerous, and se veral cuttings of Pother were produced as exhibits. On the part of the deft•naa,at it was contended that there was no novelty in the invention, and that it was not such a patent as could be infringed. His HoNotrn directed that the plaintiff be at liberty to bring an action at law to establish his right as patentee, the motion to stand over till the decision of the com mon-law court should be obtained. The defendant could, of ceurse, apply to the Court in case the plaintiff should not proceed at common law. COURT 01 QUEEIV'S BENCH; .Dec. 18. :Sittings at Nisi Prius at the Guildhall, be - fore Lord DEsmAN and London Special Juries.) HAYNE V. RHODES AND OTHERS. This was an action against Messrs. Rhodes, Beauvoir, and Lane, of Chancery-lane, to recover compensation in damages for an alleged negligence of their duties as.at torneys, by which the plaintiff had been induced to ad vance 6001. upon insufficient security. Mr. BALL opened the pleadings. WATSON, in opening the case for the plaintiff, said, that in the year 1839 the plaintiff had seen an ad vertisement for a secretary to some new formed com pany, and had, in consequence, applied to a Mr. George Ross, who informed him that he was projector of a new company for the improvement of Holborn, and that the secretary to the new company would have a salary of 400/., which office the plaintiff should have on condition of his advancing to Ross 600/., for the pur pose of forming the company, Ross undertaking to give security for the return of the 6001. in the event of the company not being formed. The security proposed was a reversionary interest, which Ross alleged he possessed in a certain freehold estate at Tittenhall, in Somerset shire. The plaintiff employed the defendants as his attorneys in the transaction, and advanced the 6001. to Ross upon the proposed security. The company was not formed, and when the plaintiff attempted to have re course to his security, it was discovered that it was valueless, inasmuch as the estate in question had been disposed of to the person now in possession before the date of the conveyance to Ross. Evidence having been called to prove the plaintiff's Case, Mr. PLATT (with whom was Mr. Peacock), on the part of the defendants, took various technical objections to the pleadings, which proved fatal, and Lord DENMAN directed the plaintiff to be nonsuited. INCORPORATION OF BRIGHTON. Bntowrow, TETERDAT.—An adjourned town meeting was held yesterday evening at the Town-hall, for the purpose of considering the propriety of petitioning her Majesty in Council for a charter of incorporation for this town. Mr. Chittenden, the high constable, was in the chair, and shortly after the meeting opened there were upwards of 1,000 persons present, including most of the influential owners and occupiers of houses in Brunswick square and terrace; who had pledged themselves almost to a man to oppose the petition. The magistrates of the Brighton bench were also on the platform, and soon after the notice convening the meeting was read Lord A. Hervey and Captain Pechell, the borough Members, entered the room, and were greeted with loud applause. Mr. Dempster, a solicitor, after speaking against a charter of incorporation, moved the following resolution: —4 , That in the opinion of this meeting, it will not be beneficial to the inhabitants that the borough of Brighton should be incorporated ; but, on the contrary, highly in jurious, and therefore that the recommendation of the committee contained in their report, presented at the last meeting, be not adopted ; and that this meeting be dis solved." Mr. J. Cordy seconded it. A tailor, named Brad shaw, moved as an amendment, " That the recommenda tions in the report be adopted, and that it be referred back to the committee to prepare a petition, and get the same signed and presented to her Majesty in Council, and that the committee be authorised to adopt such measures as they may think requisite to obtain a charter for incorporating the borough." Nearly seven hours were consumed in discussion, and at one o'clock this morning the question was put to the vote, when the chairman declared the original motion carried. There were about two to one against incorporating the town. A vote of thanks having been moved and carried to the borough Members and the Chairman, the meeting sepa rated. FATAL ACCIDENT TO Two Cows ON THE SOUTH• AMPTON RAILWAY.—On Monday night, as the last up train had passed a short distance from the Andover road station, the engine-driver fancied that something impeded the progress of the train for a short distance, which caused him to stop. He then found that the im pediment was caused by the train passing over two cows which had strayed ou the line and laid themselves across the rails. The night being very hazy they were not seen by the engineer. They were both mangled in a dreadful manner ; one had its head and fore legs literally cut off, and the other was completely ripped up and the head cut in two. DESTRUCTITE FIRB.—Oa Tuesday forenoon an alarming fire broke out in the marine signal-light manu factory, in the occupation of Messrs. Robeson and lit igants, the patentees, situate in the Commercial-road East, near the Regent's-canal. The premises were about 30 feet long, by 18 wide, and were contiguous to the extensive range of buildings known as Brunton's Chain Factory. Owing to the very combustible nature of the stock in trade, the progress of the fire was un usually rapid, and in the course of a few minutes the building became one blazing mass, causing the greatest apprehensisn for the safety of the adjoining and more valuable property. Information of the fire having been forwarded to the Brigade and West of England engine stations, the engines belonging to those establishments hastened to the scene. The Regent's-canal afforded a plentiful supply of water ; but although the firemen exerted themselves to the utmost, they were unable to extinguish the fire before the stock in trade and the buildings in which the fire originated were nearly de stroyed. Fortunately the adjoining premises were un injured. Of the origin of the firs no certain information could be ascertained. Messrs. Robeson and Ilighams are uninsured. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Dec. 18. 'Sittings at Guildhall, before the LORD CHIEF BARON and a special jury.) ROLFORD V. BENNISON. This was an action to recover 1,3721., the balance of an account alleged to be due from the plaintiff to the de fendant. The defendant had put several pleas on the record, the principal of which, however, was the statute of limitations. Mr. Crowder, Q.C., and Mr. Montague Smith ap peared for the plaintiff ; Mr. Sergeant Byles and Mr. Gray for the defendant. The case for the plaintiff rested on an agreement, stated to hare been entered into between the parties as long ago as 1831, when the defendant having previously acted as clerk to the plaintiff, commenced business as a broker on his own account. His LORDSIIIP was of opinion that there was nothing to take the case out of the statute of limitations.—Verdict for the defendant. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Dec. 18. (Sittings in London.) MANGNALL V. M'ALPINE. The plaintiff's case having closed yesterday, Mr. 'TART' (with whom were Mr. Sergeant Channell and Mr. Web ster), for the defence, proceeded this morning to call witnesses from Glasgow, Paisley, and Barhead, to prow* that moveable stenters were in use in Scotland, for the dressing and finishing of various woven fabrics, years before Bridson's patent. The case for the defendant having been concluded, the Lord Chief Justice summed up, and the jury, after some consideration, found for the plaintiff—Damages, Forty Shillings. The case of " Gibbs v. Flight" is peremptorily fixed for to-morrow (this day). ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHERN CIRCUIT.--Liverpool, Dec. 16. MURDER.—Thomas Shaw was indicted for the wilful murder of Alice Nolan, at Manchester, by cutting her throat. Mr. Brandt and Mr. Whigham conducted the prose cution. The prisoner was defended by Mr. James, who was assigned to him as counsel. Mr. Brandt stated the case, and proceeded to call the following witnesses : James Kearsley, who stated that he lived in Cannon street, in Salford, and that Alice Nolan lived there for from nine to ten months. She was there on Sunday, the 7th of July. She left the house from half-past ten to eleven. Witness saw her no more alive. Saw her dead body on the Monday at the Rob Roy public-house. Sarah Shepherd stated that she resided in Cork-street, and knew the deceased, Alice Nolan. They worked to gether. Knew the prisoner. He visited the deceased. He was courting her. On Sunday, the 7th of July, Alice Nolan was at witness's house. She came up from half-past ten to eleven in the morning. The prisoner was there. After dinner they went out. When they came back she came in first. He came in in about ten minutes. She had tea. He did not have any. About half-past nine she said she would help herself to some bread and meat. He said he would have some too. He took a mouthful of the bread and meat out of her hand. They went out together shortly after. He came back at about ten minutes or a quarter-past ten. As he came down the yard he seemed to be dancing, and was sing ing " Jim along Jo." He said something, witness could not tell what, and then she heard him say, " Here goes." He seemed to make a catch at the latch, and the first time he missed it. He tried the latch again, and opened the door. He made one step into the house and fell on his face. He lay with his arms under him. There was Mood issuing from his throat. Witness made an alarm, and tried to get him on his feet. He threw his hands about. Witness said, " Oh, Tom, what have you been doing this for ! Where is Alice ? Have you been fall ing out ?" He stared very earnestly at witness, and began taking off his coat. He was gurgling in his throat. Witness ran out, and went for a surgeon. There was a surgeon in the house when she came back. When the witness and the deceased came is after dinner she was smiling. He was very pale, as if he were vexed. Witness turned to her and said, "Alice, you have been vexing him." He sat down beside her. She looked at him and smiled. He crept towards her and laid his hand upon her shoulder. She had not a bonnet. They ad dressed one another as Alice and Tom. Cross-examined—When they came in between dinner and tea time she went up to witness, put her hands round witness's neck in a playful manner, and asked her to go and wash herself. She played with her hands round witness's neck a minute or two. When they went out he jumped up hastily. They had been fondhng with ens another. Witness's husband and the pnsoner worked together. Witness understood the prisoner had last his situation some days before. He had not been drinking at the witness's house the night before. He was out with vvitne , ..'s husband for about ten minntoe. The deceased and pi isener were together in the course of Saturday evening. He had two glasses of beer. Witness has known him about four months. Does not know if he was in the habit of drinking. It was from knowing the deceased ho came to witness's house. Re-examined—When she put her hand on witness's neck she played with it, and asked witness to go and wash her. She had done so before. There was nothing in it which induced witness to feel any alarm. Martha Wilsoi, stated thet she knew the prisoner and Alice Nolan. They came into witness's house about half-past three. They remained about two hours and a h a lf. They seemed very comf•rtable. lie seemed very fond of her. Witness went out with the deceased. When they came back he was gone. Cross-examined—The prisoner left about ten minutes before her. 'Utley seemed very comfortable while they were there. Witness's husband and the prisoner worked together. Hugh Broadhurst stated that he lived in Salford. The prisoner on the Sunday came to his house to borrow. a razor. He asked for a latherbox and razor to shave. They were laid on the table, and witness told his wife to blir/' It on a rriert :last' s orse U' ra % of rei --t Ind bit Joe