The Sun. — London, England, 1844-12-18 00:00:00

w ho so •0 0 the to jaet 0 0 LITERATURE. 71 E CHIMES; A GOBLIN. STORY. Chapman and Hall, London, 1844. kr• Dick ens ' s " Christmas Carol, " w hi c h was pub tl,l3_4(l about thi s ti me l as t year , was unques ti ona bly Most effective hit that this popular author ever katie • The spi r it th a t perva d e d it was so th oroug hly catholic ; its purpose was so benevolent ; its humour so 11 ° 11 s, unforced, and seasonable in its character ; 441 fil, its mixt ure o f t h e i mag i nat i ve an d t h e matter-of et dexterously and easily managed, Ili the one 11 1 into the other imperceptibly and without the ghtest apparent effort, that it could scarcely fail to 1 7e all classes of readers. Then, too, there was Itimeh Abundant feasting going on in every chapter— boiaterous merry-makings—such relishing de -I;il3ti°ns cf Christmas dinners in high life, in middle e 4 l and in lo w lif e —th a t so f ar f rom b e i ng s urprised that it reach e d a tent h e di t i on, our on l y surpr i se i s to t it has not yet reached a twentieth. It rarely tl ys to the lot of even the most successful author to u e two such hits in a life-time ; and accordingly atnusing little story before us—though ht t „, c°ll tains some passages equal in force and IC o ur to any th a t M r . Di c k ens e ver wrote— tio4 s whole, inferior both in conception and execu lterl r' to his "Ch r i s t mas C aro l." I n s o saying, we 4r fr(nn meaning to imply that it is an indifferent 4 prod uction, lit but only that it is not to be put in com son with the author's acknowledged master-piece. l ier ° is Trotty Veck, an elderly, simple-minded tl:?°rter, whose usual post is near the door of a ti, --e ") to whose chimes--like Quasimodo in Victor E t g° "Notre D ame "—he has long been In the 4, 1 4 of list en i ng w ith a sor t o f vag ue, mysterious 1 tt . 8 4 1 : cif mingl e d awe an d pl easu r e . One day, while il e l ;' n g for a job in the convivial Christmas season, Wl° agree a bl y surpr i se d b y t h e s i g ht o f hi s on ly Wit" Meg, with a plateful of tripe in her hand, th e , she has brought for her father's dinner. While th e ' s 'cl man is busy doing justice to this dainty on }, door -steps of an Alderman's house, Meg's sweet t' Richard, comes up, and a little innocent flirtation ih®toes 0 between the young couple, which is, however, t: rtly interrupted by the appearance of Alderman t tki m and his t wo f r i en d s — o n e , a political economist, i th t he other a disciple of the " Young England" t o 1 ' who enter into conversation with Trotty, the °f which is to convince him that he is a very b lid ' ne dy worthless fellow who has no business to be th e ping the earth with his presence. Soon after P 4 le ave him, he goes to the house of a pompous thi 'l i tie t who p roc l a i ms himself the friend of the poor itit, t4l itos with prodi g ious self-complacency of his dis kiit?tod dev o ti on t o th e c au s e of the lower classes ; 'fit ha ving delivered the letter with which he was tilt . ; lte d to this pompous patron of the destitute and ,1, 11 tlendless, Trotty returns home, and there, like t R unyan, " dreams a dream" about the church t t ,l e s) which he imagines make all sorts of wonderful itt, t o t a ti °fla respecting himself, his daughter, and his 813 n-in-law, Richard. The story concludes fri t ° la wakin g u p f rom hi s dream, and finding his th e about him, anxious to celebrate the nuptials of 1 4 3 : :nin g couple. This is but a faint outline of the tl4 8 : however, is exceedingly meagre in its 1 4 4 4 , t er, and is far less obvious and useful in its moral 44; 1 ° "Christmas Carol." Nevertheless, it contains t) 11 T el ever, and some few brilliant passages, which " Boa " could have written, and which are of aced to make a profound impression on the mind tli k l ea der. There are also several admirable touches of 41 4 ter interspersed throughout it, and some caustic Nlitkit;the Pseudo-philanthropy of certain well-known 13 r ' lt , ri s• The humour, too, is excellent, though it 4t WaYs free from the author's besetting vice of tirligßeration, who, in his love of drollery, is some- Pt to run a j o k e fairly off its legs. As a fa the r f kble sample of his more serious manner, we quote (:)11 '" 140 q, wing speech of a destitute labourer, which is tf th e I , to be delivered at a meeting of the Friends 0 0r;—.. Se t ,' ra gged visitor—for he was miserably dressed— ° th e ' Q uod upon the company, and made his homage r , to with a humble bow. 4) ° l‘ : C a li t t rn it e ib i l,k,s," he said, "You've drunk the Labourer. ; 1 " a :1 11 ' 4 , "roe from gaol," said Mr. Fish. ‘ f ," er l s -t°4 145 from gaol," said Will. " And neither for 'ourth . tim e, nor the second, nor the third, nor yet the aft ki n 4 was k rd to remark testily , that four times 1, tb ° average ; and he ought to be ashamed of l'o tt e ntlefolk s I" repeated Will Fern. " Look at we ! 4 7 0 : t a e I'm at the Worst. Beyond all hurt or harm ; i tt i t i - „, /our h e lp ; f or t h e t i me w h en y ou r kind words Al t h'"" actions could have done ME good "—he struck nq all , 4 Upon his breast and shook his head—" i t s . r L e, Let the scent of last year's , beans or el t , o )v t o i r ie o l a abo n uring . 1)%,„i 4 e say a word f ,, or these, ' you're in the hall ; and when , g met together, hear t% al Truth spoke out for once." 14: here's not a man here," said the host, "who would ~e him for a spokesman." 14, 4 Like enough, Sir Joseph. I believe it. Not the • t tr ue,perhaps, is what 1 say. Perhaps that , sa proof Gentlefolks, I've lived many a year in this place. deb ' see the cottage from the sunk fence over yon dr Ivo seen the ladies draw it in their books a -hull-lot . ib t , itaeS. It looks well in a picter, I've heerd say —e re an't weather in picters, and maybe 'tis fitter th, r that than fora place to live in. Well ! I l ive d W(4 How hard—how bitter hard I lived there, I qn f ~s a Y• Any day in the year, and every day, you 11 0 4 uge for your own selves." f %tad 4 N as he had spoken on the night when Trotty b b re I :gra in the street, His voice was deeper, and h,',' l tsky, and hal a trembling in it now and then ; ‘ 4 0 , t ,'. 1-I ,eYer raised it, pa,sionately, and seldom lifted it "'F l a firm stern level of the homely facts he stated. 'ID harder than you think for, gentlefolks, to grow• itto e ,;‘ il e nt commonly &cent : in such a place. That / 41 0 ; , 11 1 3 a man and not a brute, says something for be WAS then. .A lam now, there's nothing can ,or me, or done for me. I'm past it." l 'rj lenh aln Rim , ' this man has entered," observed Sir looking round serenely. " Don't disturb him. ~kkii r n t i a r s to be Ordained. liv's an Example ; a living ' t W4' l '. I hope and trust, and confidently expect, that Doc be lost upon my friends here." dr agged on " said Fern, after a moment's silence. In i," ° w• Neither me nor any other man knows how . ; or 43 4 11, -ea vY ! that I couldn't put a cheerful face upon it, believe that I was anything but what I was. Ith,tlgentlemen you gentlemen that sits at Sessions -3:°4 „YOU see a man with discontent writ on his face, rtibtl s to one another, he's suspicious. I has my l l aYa you, about Will Fern. Watch that fel %tty T4 don't say, ' ge ntleman, it ain't quite nat'ral, but " 4 e6 ' " .4 80 ; anti that hour, whatever Will Fern lets alone—all one—it goes against . him:: peck t e , r kian Cute stuck his thumbs in lu . s . waist.coilitd 't 9 n - e s'.' and Waning back in his chair and smiling, win Le Z?tlr h ,, l ,ghbourinm chandelier. As much as to say, "Of ~"'*at t" ' I told so. The common cry ! Lord Mi 'nethell are up to all this sort of thing—myself k " i' t lAn aure." . °W e tlem n " said Will Fern, holding out his flushingond ne 'for an instant in his haggard face. , 4 t. 'Ow your laws are made to and hunt us when v; k mught to this. I tries to live elsewhere. And rm "kii - ;v° ll d. To gaol with him I comes back here., I ‘ll„,Loatting in your woods, and breaks—who don't?-- you r ' o ll t . -- 1 7 1 ' branch or two. To gaol with him I One of n titt e Ceepers sees me in the broad day, n l ear .t Tyow li ka of garden, with a gun. To gao him 1 oat'ral angry word with that man,. when T I'm free t : I '4l l l' To gaol with him ! I cuts a stick. o gal pith ! I eats a rotten apple or a turnip. To gaol ka -1411 It's twenty mile away ; and coming back, I a trifle on the road. To gaol with him! At last k d o c ., cm stable, the keeper—anybody—finds me anywhere, and lIR IMithing. To gaol with him, for he's a vagrant , a . g lV) Mb'ucd known ; and gaol's the only home h e's 11 ' 1 " Alderman nodded sagaciously, as who should say, 4 ./I".Y good home, too !' k kh t , ) , say this to serve rY cause!" cried . Fern, e aek b ",e4ll give me back my liberty, who can give m 1 , 41 qc" 4 0' flood name, who can give me back my innocent 4 5tit Xot all the Lords and Ladies in wide England. .seotleErnen gentlemen, dealing with other men like 11 ,qii lt 1 . 111 at the right end. Give us, in mercy, better ,Nt,, ll .Ashen w e ' re a laying in our cradles ; give us Lb od when we're a working for our lives ; give us law s to bring us back when we're a going wrong; Lt' n. 134' t set ga o l, gaol, gaol, afore us, every where we .1 40 „ Ztieee ain't a condescension you can show the NJ. I. ,r• then, that he won't take, as ready and as ays a man can be, ; for he has a patient, peaceful, 4 i4CZ he, irt. But you must put his rightful spirit in " r st ; for whether he's a wreck and ruin, such as B Pirii r , is like one of them that stand here now, his Rer it i„,ts ttivided from you at this time. Bring it back, cott l ,: tu iltft, bring it back I Bring it back, afore the day 4 11 d — th Mien even his Bible changes in his altered mind, titti Qs . " Words seem to him to read, as they have . some- Pe s i r T ea d ill my own eyes—in gaol : Whither thou 1. Can Not go ; where thou lodgest, I do Not 6 ; shy people are Not my people ; Nor thy God Y God ??, h,t t T rilt udden s ti r an d ag it a tion took place in the Hal). th e Y thonviit at first, that several had risen to eject 13 :t. —411 ; nu 1. 1 hence this change in its . appearance. 411 C;i tt ioluer moment showed him that the room and Lia d c ompany had vanished from his sight, and thq litu? u ghter was again before him, seated at her work. Le 1 40 - 9 4 Poorer, m e aner garret than before ; and with — ‘ alt by he side. T RAcrAßritivism NOT OF GOD. 10 to 18 to 20 to 20 to 25 to 25 to 30 to Longman, Landon, 1844. ill his preface to this volume of Sermons, the 4 0 , 1411 °1 . , the R ev. C . T aylor, o f Ch es t er , th us s tr ong ly —l4e4 bee himself on the subject of the TrActitrian heresy, which is now exciting such a commotion in the Clutrch :—" 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 leas 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 reader s the danger of their paying the slightest atten tion tc' the jesuitical appeals of the Tractarians, and the ahsolute 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. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. (RECEIVED THIS DAY.) ASIIDOWN-PARK COURSING MEETING. TUESDAY. THE GOLD CUP.-Mr. Flesher's Empress ran a bye (Mr. J. Parkinson's dog absent) ; Mr. J. Matthews' Brilliant beat Mr. E. Jones's Jim-along• Josey ; Mr. F. Palmer's Perseverance beat Mr. Etwall's Empress ; Mr. F. Parkinson's ;Pirate beat M. Meyrick's Cruiskeen ; Mr. Fowles's Feathers beat Mr. Rake's Regent ; Mr. H. Miller's Polly ran a bye (Mr. Dunsford's Daphne absent) ; Mr. Etwall's The Winner ran a bye (Captain Wyndha.ln dog absent) ; Mr. Lawrence's Leda beat Mr. Bowles's Blacksmith's liaughter. THE CRAVEN PUPPY STAKES.-Mr. Etwall's Elastic beat Mr. F. Palmer's Picknick ; Mr. Gordon's Crape beat Dr. Sweeny's Gem; Mr. Fowles's Frighten 'em ran a bye. Coursing put a stop to by the fog. MANCHESTER —TUESDAY. DERBY. 1 agst Alarm—off 1 agst Idas 1 agst Cobweb colt 1 agst licdger agst Pam—t 1 agst Y. Eclipse—offd 1 agst Newsmonger CHESTE 40 to 1 agst Portobello—t 40 to 1 agt Extempore Very liti 33 to 1 agst colt out of Calypso's dam—offered 33 to I agst Rebecca c.—t 33 to 1 agst Old England 33 to 1 agst Weatherbit 6to 1 agst Scott's lot— offers to take ;R CUP. I 40 to 1 agst Ratan I 40 to 1 agst Morpeth. Ale dose. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, TUESDAY. - Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, and the Duke Ernest of Wurtemberg, attended by Baroness de Wangenheim , B a r on de A lvensleben, Baron de Wangenheim, Captain \Tyner, and Captain Francis Seymour (especially commanded to attend the royal party to Dover), left the Castle this morn ing at a quarter before eleven o'clock, via Great Western and Dover Railways, en route to Ostend. The Queen and Prince Albert came to the door of the principal entrance to take leave of their royal relatives. There were also present the Marchioness of Douro, the Hon. Misses Stanley and Hamilton, the Dowager Lady Lyttelton, the Hon. and Rev. C. L. Courtenay, Sir George Couper, and Sir Edward Bowater. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent arrived at the Castle early, to breakfast with the royal party previous to their departure. The Marchioness of Douro and Lord Charles Wellesley were prevented from joining the dinner circle yesterday evening, in consequence of the death of the Lady Anne Culling Smith. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horseback this morning, attended by Major-General Sir Edward Bowater. The Countess of Charlemont has succeeded the Marchioness of Douro as the Lady in Waiting on the Queen. _ Viscount Hawarden has arrived at the Castle, and has succeeded the Earl of Hardwicke as the Lord in Waiting on her Majesty; and Admiral Sir Robert Otway has succeeded Colonel Berkeley Drummond as the Groom in Waiting. The three German Dwarfs, the Brockstead had the honour of performing before the Queen, Prince Albert, the illustrious visitors, and the Court, yesterday evening, at the Castle, when her Majesty was graciously pleased to express her approbation of their performance. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, the Duke Ernest of IVur temberg- and suite, arrived at the Paddington terminus of the Great Western Railway at twenty minutes before twelve o'clock yesterday, by a special train, from Slough. Their Royal Highnesses, attended by Captain Francis Seymour, left the terminus, with their suite, in four carriages, for the station of the South-Eastern Railway, at the Bricklayers' Arms, to proceed to Dover. Lord Charles Fitzroy, M.P., the Mayor of Bury St. Edmonds, Mr. W. H. Sams, Mr. Eagle, Sir John Rennie, Mr. Maltby-, Mr. Leech, and Mr. Sparke solicitors, a deputation from the London and Norwich Direct Railway, had an interview with the Earl of Dalhousie on Friday, at the office of the Board of Trade. A deputation from the North Devon Railway, by Tiverton, South Moulton, and Barnstaple, to Ilfra combe, had an interview with the Earl of Dalhousie yesterday, at the Board of Trade. Dispatches from Sir Charles Metcalfe, Governor- General of Canada, and also from the Governors of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, were received yes terday a the Colonial-office. GAME-LAWS, AND THEIR ADMI. NISTRATION IN SUSSEX. UCKFIELD BENCH OF MAGISTRATES. R. S. STILBATFIELD, Esq., Chairman. A little farmer, natued Cornwell, occupying about forty acres of land at Black Boys, was charged with snaring a hare, by a gentleman named Hughes, whose land adjoins Cornwell's. The fact of the hare being caught in a hare-snare being proved, Cornwell, in his defence, said that the produce of his land being greatly damaged by rabbits and hares, he admitted that he had set snares, as he believed he had a right to do on his own land, for rabbits ; and if the snare was a hare-snare, it was more than he knew, for lie neither was nor wished to be a poacher, and certainly had no intention to use a hare-snare. When lie went in the morning to look at what he thought his rabbit-snare, he was astonished to find a hare in it, and threw it down. Mr. Hu g hes and his : game keeper were, h o wever, on the other side of the hed g e, watchingandd,ow.ntiiey came over upon his him, and th e momen t on n e Mr:! threw the l ! g (Cornwell's) land an d took the hare awa y ; and he 11e 3 bare ' 3 land, (Cornwell) now asked the Bench whether Mr. Hughes had any right to come on his land and take the hare away ? Mr. STREATFIELD—We don't sit here to give l ega l rdvice ? You had better ask Mr. Gell (the clerk) ; he will only charge you 6s. Bd., or if in writing, only 21s. Mr. DONOVAN, jun., another magistrate, said he thought that Mr. Hughes had no more right to go on defendant's land than upon his (Mr. Donovan's.) Mr. STREATFIELD then told the defendant that, as the hare NV/LS on his own land, he was fined only 405., andeusts 155., and that he must either pay the fine or go to gaol for two months. The defendant still delayed' paying the fine, and expressed a desire to know if another person could legally seize a hare on his land; but Mr. Streatfield directed a policeman to remove him, upon which the defendant paid the fine. The circumstance has excited strong feelings in the neighbourhood, and the conduct and tone of the Chairman of the Uckfield Bench are freely commented I upon.—Brighton Herald. FATAL STEAM-BOAT COLLISION OFF GREEN WICH. Another awful accident (an announcement of which appeared in our Third Edition of last night), involving the loss of two lives and the peril ling of many others, occurred on the river yester day afternoon, during the fog, by two steam-boats coming into collision. The one is the Orwell, Rackham 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 Woolwich. 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 tido flowed over her, showing her funnel, at nine o'clock, about ten feet above the water. The details were with much difficulty elicited, neither Nem 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 fir.ding 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 f.g, had left the pier at Green wich, and was standing out to the middle of the River towards Blackwell. 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, tho 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. He states that there were eight or nine persons there, and hearing the captain of the Sylph call out suddenly, " Ease her— stop her—run astern," in quick succession, he went on deck just in time to witness the Orwell on board of them He immediately jun , pd on board the Orwell, but seeing that the Sylph did not sink, he returned to.that,vessel to render all 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 of 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 watermen'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 (lid 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 every thing 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 hurnun agony, turned to the people with the most piteous sup. plication, saying, " For God's sake, save me." Her appeal was not made in gain, 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 cabin 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 hfe 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 had 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 Blackwell, 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 watermeu 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 critwater 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 years of age, and was neither claimed nor recognised fer some time. About half a dozen duplicates were found on him, bearing the name of Shepheard, and ls. Gd. 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. The others were all females. Miss Williams, of Woolwich, Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Morris, and Mrs. Rennell, were supported to the Golden Anchor public-house, where they fainted on arriving. They were put to bed, anti restoratives having been applied by Messrs. Appleton and Downing, snrgeons, 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 last night. Tho master of the Orwell states that ho anchored at Sea-reach last night, in consequence of the weather, and that he came slowly up the river yesterday ; 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 engines ; but 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 coat, 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 her cargo. She starts again to-day 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 would leave the Sylph dry at low water, at midnight, when it would be 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 Wo o l w i c h , B lackwell, and London, to inquiries the r ie saft wharfsr their op p o f s r i friends, d thes , iuid wrecknp to a were ere Llttihur crowded o with people. l m a s a t k ne ANOTHER ACCOUNT. Yesterday afternoon the utmost sensation was created along the water-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 boat 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 svhiehishe 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 passenger s; 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 c o m man d er o f the Orwell, as connecte d w i t h this melancholy ev en t, i s to the follow i ng e ff ec t ;—The Orwell was duo at five o ' c l oc k on M on d ay even i ng , but on coming up the river, and when on the other sido of Gravesend, the fog was so heavy that it was found neces sary to cast anchor. About nine o'clock yesterday morning she heaved her anchor, but in consequence of the continuance of the fog, she came tip 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 pitched 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 I had this occurred, not a single life would have escaped to tell the particulars of this deplorable ac cident. _ _ _ The ill-fated vessel, the Sylph, WBS 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 affected 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 two 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. The Orwell will leave the river to-morrow (this morning), under the command of Captain Wrackham and the rest of the crew, so that if the inquest should be held to-day, it will merely be for the identification of the bodies, when the investigation will be, as a matter of course, adjourned. FURTHER PARTICULARS. From an inspection of the wreck of the Sylph, several conversations 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 j us t l e f t th e pi er a t 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, engine-driver, stoker and assistants, a few persons on dtck, 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 straggling in the water. Fortunately, by the praiseworthy exertions of the water men, the crew were saved, as were a lso five or six other persons,including four women and an infant child. In the case 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,:towards her child, which had escaped from her arms in the struggle between life and death. By an . .ex traordinary effort on the part of two men, named 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, apparentlytaankdenbrought ashore, and part of Um i o t ne dpublic-houseHe, a s opposite the river where the accident occurred. Three women, who were taken out of the water, were conveyed to the in t o the Crown and Anchor public-house ; and Mr. Appleton, surgeon, being sent for, their contusions were attended to, and warns 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 aperture made by the force of the concussion. Two men were thrown violently on the floor of the cabin, and the vessel instantly capsized. IGE.—(YESTERDAY.) Gibraltar Legkorn 3O 50 Genoa 25 95 Milan Venice Naples 39i Palermo, per oz llB Lisbon 541 Oporto 541 Rio Janeiro 24 Bahia 24 Buenos Ayres NewYork,2ldys sight Philadelphia PRICES OF BULLION, PER OZ. Foreign Gold, bars...£3 17 9 Portugal Gold Coin 3 17 5 New Doubloons 0 0 0 New Dollars 0 0 0 Silver in ears 0 4 91 COURSE OF EXC. Amsterdam CF. 12 6 Ditto, at sight l2 4 Rotterdam 2U. 12 6i Antwerp 25 95 Ilamburgh M.B. 13 13& Altona l3 131 Paris, 3 days' sight 25 70 Ditto, 3 Aonths 25 96 Marseilles Bourdeaux 25 95 Frankfort on Maine l2l Petersburgh, 3Us 37 Berlin 7 Vienna, effee. fl. 3 M 954 Trieste, ditto Madrid 36* Cadiz Bilbao 36 Barcelona 36 Sovilla — Tna TRENT.—The Royal Mail Company's ship Trent arrived at Bermuda on the 18th October. She left Tampico the 29th Sept., Vera Cruz on the 2d October, Ilavannah on the 11th, and Nassau on the 13th. She ex perienced very bad weather in the Gulf, and was obliged to slip from Tampico, leaving her anchor and seventy-five fathoms of chain cable, as also the whole of the freight at that place, amounting to 1,722,000 dolls., it being found to be impossible to ship it, the bar being impassable. She was also obliged to leave 130,000 dolls, at Vera. Cruz, the administrator not being inclined to run the risk of ship ping it during the Norther. She had on board, on freight, 343,171 dollars in silver, 91,415 dollars in gold, 25 five-franc pieces, 181bs. 1 loz. of plata Brute, 12oz. of plata Labrador, 1161bs. 13oz. silver bullion, and 541bs. 9oz. Tastellanos Clatina, and eleven pas sengers for England, viz., Mrs. Bonfield and fa mily, and Mr. llorrer, from Vera Cruz ; Mr. Genald, from Bogota ; Mr. Crelago, from Havannah ; and Mrs. Reager, from Nassau. The Trent left at Vera Cruz her Majesty's ships Inconstant and Spartan ; and off Tampico the Rose hove to in a gale of wind ; at Havannah the I Romney ; and at Nassau the Lark.—Jamaica Morning Journal. DESTRUCTITE FIRE. - Yesterday forenoon an alarming fire broke out in the marine signal-light manu factory, in the occupation of Messrs. Robeson and Hig hams, 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 apprchcnsisn 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 fire no certain information could be ascertained. Messrs. Robeson and Highams are uninsured. MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. (From the Limerick Chronicle, Dec. 14. th y h ys,. a o 2s f l,s t o h t oa e ot e a d r n en}n, theina r I e )l l lue a br n i d in po cavalry,ea s p e n r o s t. 1 1 a arr m nh T d o e u l i l en e n ifl t a e tir t fi lr o t e or c 3f 2 t .o, i 6: o , c e O fe O s a O t li r ls e m a n or g n t m , This day three parties of the 30th Regiment, from this;garrison, were detached on district duty—two officers and 40 rank and file, to Newport (Tip.) ; an officer and 20 rank and file, to Castle Connell ; and an officer and • 20 rank and file, to Cappamore—to assist the local ma gistrates and police in checking disturbance. Head- quarters and five companies of the 6th Regiment, with band and colours, under command of Lieutenant- Colonel Michel, landed at Dublin on Thursday, from Liverpool, by the Dee steamer, Lieutenant Driver, R.N., and marched to Richmond barracks. Captain Greathed and Captain Brown's companies of the Bth, from Bolton, have taken up the quarters of the 6th Regiment at Preston. The 67th take up the quarters of the 56th in Dublin. Captain Layard, M.P., has joined the 37th Regiment at Portsmouth. Captain O'Halloran's company, 69th, has joined head quarters at Templemere, from Cashel, having been re lieved by another company of the same regiment. The last division of the 56th, under Major Palmer, has sailed from Dublin for Liverpool in the Rhadamanthus steamer, Commander Leen, R.N. The soldiers of the 65th Regiment were ordered out of chapel, at Castlebar, last Sunday, when the priest commenced reading Dr. APHale's bull against the Cha ritable Bequests Act. Captain Mostyn's company, 54th, has marched from Shannonbridge, to bead-quarters, Mullingar. Captain Palmer, 60:h Rifles, having been this day week arrested at Fermoy, head-quarters of his battalion, by the Sheriff of Cork, under an attachment in " W. Mackinnon, M.P., v. the Executors of the late Lady Palmer," counsel applied to the Master of the Rolls, on Tuesday, for the officer's discharge. It appears the order obtained by plaintiff to invest a large sum in the cause had never been served on defendants or the so licitor, and Captain Palmer, in total ignorance of the order, was committed to Cork gaol, though in bad health, yet prepared to meet the order. The Master of the Rolls ordered the officer's immediate discharge, and that Mr. Mackinnon, M.P., should pay the costs of at tachment and motion. General Lord Combermere will preside at a grand provincial Freemasons' lodge, at Chester, on the 27th instant, St. John's-day. Captain 11. Young, 24th, who recently attended the sick bed of a soldier's wife in Waterford, to afford spi ritual consolation, has entered into controversy with the Rev. E. Dalton, of that city, upon the paramount im portance of pure scriptural instruction, apart from the ceremonies of the Church of Rome. Effective strength of the 72d depot, under command of ' Brevet Lieut. Colonel Maclean, at Cork-13 sergeants, 5 drummers and pipers, 210 rank and file. Recruiting -3 sergeants and 15 ditto. Captain Beauclerk, 7th Fusiliers, has joined at Gib raltar. Lieut. Bourke, 17th, on the recruiting service at Mary borough, will succeed to the vacant company by the death of Captain Lockhart. Lieut. Edgar succeeds to a company in the 26th Regi ment. A company of the 85th arrived at St. Lucia, on the 24th October. Captain Trevor, R.A., and Mr. White, arrived at Bar badoes in the Tweed, from Southampton, on the 7th of November. Lieut. Raines, Royal Artillery, arrived in the Imogene at Barbadoes on the 4th ult. The son of Lieut. Aggas, Ist West India Regiment, was drowned at Jamaica on the Ist ult. LATE BRITISH LEGION.—A committee of officers has been formed, and is in correspondence, through Sir de Lacy Evans, with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, respecting the compensation, and his Lordship has shown every attention ; and in his last cummunica tion ha informs them that he had instructed the British Minister at Madrid again to urge upon the Spanish Government the immediate settlement of it. Mr. Bulwer, it is said, has obtained a settlement. An old soldier of the Lth, discharged in 1784, visited the regiment at Belfast, this week, when the officers and men subscribed twenty guineas for the veteran warrior, who had so many years ago served in the ancient " Gos lings," or " Fighting Fifth." The 50th, at Cawnpore, lost a captain and two lieu tenants within a month. The last death is that of Capt. James, which promotes Lieut. Enoch, son of Capt. Enoch, of the 23d, deputy assistant-quartermaster-general at the horse Guards, to a company. The death of Lieut. Considine, 63d, who was in orders for trial by court-martial at Bellary, is announced. There is to be a grand military steeple chase meeting at Northampton in March, patronised by the officers of the Horse Guards, Royal Artillery, sth Dragoon Guards, 7th Ilussars, 13th Light Dragoons, Coldstream Guards, and 32d Regiment. 16th Regiment, Cork Barracks.—The head quarters division of four companies, landed from Dublin, consist of the following officers :—Captains Luxmore, Copinger, and Hudson; Lieutenants Cassidy, Goldie, Paymas terk, Kirk, 21 sergeants, 2 drummers, 285 rank and file, 46 women, 42 children, with the band, &c. 32d Regiment—Four companies and head-quarters, with their band and colours, marched from Richmond Barracks, Dublin, to Great Ship-street Barracks. They were played all the way by the hand of the 73d Regi ment. Major Hill is commanding the 32d Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Markham being on leave of absence. 56th Regiment—Royal Barracks, Dublin, head-quar ters and five companies. Recruiting—four sergeants and eight rank and file. Effective strcngtk-43 sergeants, 17 drummers, and 780 rank and file. 73d Regiment—Richmond Barracks, Dublin. Recruit,. ing-6 sergeants, 1 drummer, and 15 rank and file. 2d Battalion Ist Royal Depot, Enniskillen—Captain Byrne and Ensign Deane are stationed with a company at Ballyshannon. A recruiting party is ordered to march for Dublin, to embark, per steam-vessel for England ca route to North Walsham, to be stationed. Major Graham is commanding. 81st Depot, Templemore.—Major Creagh has joined from leave. Captain Renny is or. leave of absence till embarkation to join the service companies in Canada. Captain Bowyer is on leave till embarkation. A party of the Ist Royal Dragoons joined head quarters at the Royal Barracks, Dublin, Dec. 9, from Maidstone Cavalry Depot. The 14th depot arrived in Dublin on the 10th, head quarters, under Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Barlow, on the 11th, and remaining company on the 12th of Dec., to embark for England. Effective strength-1 acting sergeant-major, 15 sergeants, 4 drummers, and 232 rank and file. Recruiting-12 rank and file. Officers present —Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Barlow, Brevet Majors Smith and Wood, Lieutenants Strike, Archdall (Depot Paymaster), Prothero (Depot Adjutant), O'Toole and Trevor, Assistant-Surgeon Telfer. !34th Regiment, Mullingar.—Recruiting-3 sergeants and 8 rank and file. 65th Regiment, Castlebar.—Captains Young and New enham are stationed with a detachment at Galway ; and Ensign Turner, Lieutenants Wolfe and Marshall, are with a detachment at Ballinrobe. At Westport—Lieut. Bazalgette and Ensign Meyler. Lieut. Cuthbert is at Loughrea wilh a company. Ensign Bernard is at Oute rard with a detachment. 69th Regiment,Templemore.—Recruiting-3 serjeants and 9 rank and file. Captain O'Halloran, Lieutenants Mundell and Kearney, are stationed with a detachment at Cashel. Captain Tudor and Lieut. Edgar are sta tioned with a company at Roscrea. Captain Walker and Ensign Evans are at Thurles with a company. 95th Depot, Kinsale.—At head-quarters, 3 companies. Effective strength-8 serjeants, 4 drummers, and 156 rank and file. At Charles Fort—One company, consist ing of Captain Hume, Lieut. Holme, and Ensign Vialls, 3 sergeants, and 60 rank and file. Recruiting-2 ser geants and 13 rank and file. Rifle Brigade Depot, lit Battalion, Athlone—Captain Rooper is in command. Recruiting-3 sergeants and 21 rank and file. The 55th are recruiting at head-quarters, Chichester, under the following sporting hand-bill :—" Wanted, 500 unmarried, handsome, and gay young fellows, from 18 to 25 years of age, for her Majesty's 55th Regiment of Foot. Any gallant young fellow so disposed will apply to Sergeant O'Neill, King's Arms, and who, on entering the service of her Majesty, will be taken care of, and in vited to drink her health in a bumper." INCORPORATION OF BRIGHTON. BnioirroN, TUESDAT.—An adjourned town meeting was held yesterday evening at the Town-hell, 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 opposo 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: —" 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 Own. 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. lie then found that the im pediment was caused by the train passing over two cows which had strayed on 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. COURT OF ALDERMEN. Yesterday a Court of Aldermen was held for the dispatch of business. FREEDOMS OF TIIE CITY. Presentments were made from the inquests of tlikl wards of l3assishaw and Cheap against persons who. carried on business in the City without being free. CHARGE AGAINST THE CITY POLICE. Alderman COPELAICD presented a petition front a man named Burgess, who had been tried and acquitted at the last London Sessions. The Alderman stated that he was one of the magistrates who were pre sent at the trial of this prisoner for an assault upon some of the officers of the City police. A more gross case upon the part of the police he had never heard. The Recorder, on whose judgment the Court had such great reliance, the magistrates, and the mem bers of the bar, expressed themselves most strongly upon the occasion. The Recorder had, in fact, ob served such extraordinary discrepancies i n the evi dence of the police that he recommended the jury to acquit the petitioner s who had been, in the opinion of all who had heard the case, most dreadfully mal treated. lle wished the petition to be sent to a Co.m mittee, in order that an investigation might take` place into a matter so deeply reflecting ttpon the character of the police. It was due to the city police,. as well as to the public, to have an inquiry instituted. The petitioner had been most dreadfully beaten by the officers, at the satire time that they had bound him hand and foot ; and the men who had come forward to establish the case, had most frightfully prevaricated and contradicted each other. Alderman Copeland moved that the pe tion be referred to a Committee for examination. The motion having been seconded, Sir Wiwast MAGNAY said he hoped the petition would be referred to the Committee. He happened to be the magistrate who presided when Burgess, the petitioner, was charged at the Mansion-house with the offence relative to which the trial had taken place, and a more gross case he had never heard. He had not only committed the prisoner, but he had advised the City police to prosecute for the sake of public jus tice. The petitioner who, he regretted, was not pre sent, had been frequently brought before him during his mayoralty. For what ? For having gone into taverns, dined extravagantly, and paid the landlords with a snap of his fingers; and for assaulting the po liceman to whose custody he was intrusted in the most desperate and dangerous manner. On the particular occasion to which reference had been made, the peti, tioner, who had raised such sympathy for himself, bit the thumb of the policeman, and, in fact, nothing could exceed his brutal ferocity. On the trial there might have been some apparently irreconcilable statements on the part of the police in evidence, but he was convinced that a greater ruffian than the pe titioner could not be produced. Alderman Wir.soN said the observations which had been just made by Sir William Magnay, who had had opportunities of observing the case from its com mencement, most strongly showed the necessity of sending the petition to a Committee. He had him self been struck with what appeared to him, upon reading the newspapers, to be gross prevarication upon the part of the City police, and he considered that it was due to that body that an investigation should take place. Alderman FAREBROTHER thought the Court ought to pause before they sent the petition to a Committee. It appeared that the late Lord Mayor, upon hearing the case, had recommended the prosecution of the petitioner by the City police. The impression upon Sir William Magnay's mind must indeed have been a strong one when he proposed such a course ; and it would be injudicious to allow such a feeder upon the public, such a; feeder upon policemen's thumbs, to enjoy the triumph to which he would no doubt think himself entitled, resulting from the success of his peti tion. The petitioner was absent, and no doubt he had good reasons for his absence, and it would be advisable to reject the petition at once. Alderman CHALLIS was for inquiry. The refusal to investigate would be an act of injustice to the police as well as to the petitioner. He was present at the trial, and the discrepancies which took place in the evidence for the prosecution were such as caused the expression of a feeling which was truly English. He hoped the police would show that they were justified in the course they had pursued, but he certainly thought that ample opportunity ought to be given to them to prove that the estimate formed by the late Lord Mayor of their conduct was correct. Sir PETER LAURIE disapproved altogether of the idea of presenting a petition of the kind. He was sure the Court would not be justified in re-trying a case which had been tried and decided upon in an other Court. Nothing could tend more to the com plete subversion of the justice which it professed to facilitate. Alderman COPELAND lamented that the Recorder was not in his place. At the suggestion of that Learned Judge, for whom they all entertained so much respect, and with the approbation of all who heard the case, he had stated that an investigation should be made into the circumstances. He would not say that the petitioner was immaculate, but he would say that the treatment the man had received was most brutal and most unnecessary, and that the policemen who had been called as witnesses had most grossly prevaricated. The petition was then referred to the Committee. THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY. Tha Chamberlain's report on the subject of the non-freemen was brought up. It required from the Court some direction as to the proceedings against those parties who declined to take up the freedom. In answer to a question from a member of the Court, The CITY SOLICITOR said there appeared to be, on the part of those who were non-freemen, no appe tite for going to trial for decision upon the merits of their grounds of rejection. Alderman FAREBROTHER said he had seen an ad vertisement, purporting to come from those who were determined to resist the application from the Cham berlain to take up their freedom, and he looked upon 1 it as the last kick of the wholesale dealers. The CHAMBERLAIN said he had summoned all who were returned to him as non-freemen, without dis tinction, and some of them had not responded, while others had expressed themselves determined to resist. The CITY SOLICITOR, in answering other questions put by the members, stated that in the question pend ing, he, and some of the most respectable members of the profession engaged for the parties who resisted the Chamberlain's application, agreed to proceed in such a manner as was likely to occasion the least delay, trouble, and expense. Alderman FAREBROTHER—At what time may the matter be brought to trial ? The SOLICITOR—Most probably it will be heard at Easter. Sheriff SIDNEY felt strongly upon the subject. lle looked upon this conduct of the Court of Aldermen as most unjust and ungenerous. Alderman WILSON said that when a member brought such a charge as that of being unjust and ungenerous against the Court, he was bound to prove the correctness of the accusation. Sheriff SIDNEY said it was undeniable that the Court of Aldermen had acted unjustly and ungene rously towards the shopkeepers, by obliging them to take up their freedom, while they passed over the great wholesale dealers. The LORD MAYOR—Do you not know that several actions have been brought against wholesale dealers ? Sheriff SIDNEY said he knew of none ; but he knew that actions were invited by those who were determined to resist them. He believed that the Cor poration had power over the wholesale dealers, and he hoped the authority of the Chamberlain as to pro secutions would be suspended until the case relating to such dealers should be decided. Alderman WILSON said he believed there were forty-one actions pending against wholesale dealers. a he So' Ic,:roit said +tot, of forty-two per,,ns aguirrt whom it had been determined to proceed, several had taken up the freedom, and the proceedings had imme diately been abandoned, and without demand of costs. Some had entered appearances, and had expressed their intention to go to trial ; but there was no wish on the part of tho City to multiply actions. After some further observations from members of the Court, the Court agreed to direct the Chamber lain to proceed with such actions as should be con sidered expedient. The Court then proceeded, with closed doors, to discuss the propriety of relieving Giltspur-street prison by sending the prisoners charged with assaults and misdemeanours to the Borough Compter, which, in consequence of the new Debtors' Act, is now empty. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Slit,—ln the columns of your journal of Saturday last appeared a paragraph, headed, " What next?" in which wearing a certain " clumsy ring" for the cure of rheumatism, &c., was denounced as quackery. Had the writer, previously to penning the paragraph in question, examined the ring, he would, probably, have arrived at a different conclusion ; he would have as certained that the inner periphery was zinc inlaid with copper —was, in fact, a small galvanic battery —a power that immortalised the name of Davy, by enabling him to reduce the most refractory sub stances—a power that can call into energetic action the muscles of, and all but resuscitate the dead. If galvanism be successfully employed in the cure of rheumatism and paralysis, is it evincing a very great degree of credulity to entertain the proposition that a constant, though feeble, stream of electricity, gene rated by the action of the moisture of the skin on the two-metal ring, will be attended with beneficial re , sults ?—I am, Sir, yours, &c., 1 Islington, Dec. 16.; A. STOREP. METROPOLITAN hirßovEmENTs.—Yesterday some houses situated in Alie-street, Goodman's-fields, and in Wentworth-street, Whiteehapel, 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 110005 Wring been disposed of for the purpose. IRELAND. REPEAL ASSOCIATION. Re— pealdaAssociationi u was w as, u a s t DUBLIN, DEc. 16. Th e wee kl y meet i ng of the y. u s t 1 1 1 , e vCe y u i a m ti e o r n o - u h s a l y l 1 a to t : tended. Mr. O'Connell arrived at one o'clock and was received with loud and enthusiastic cheering. Mr. Ni cholas Markey, of Walshestown, was ca ll ed to the chair. I r The SECRETARY read a communication free) /dr st ea k, the head pacificator, who had gone to Leitrim; and Care n for the purpose of putting down the sy s t em lately established in th ose count i es under Maguires." It w as accompan i ed b y of Ribbonism, the name '`roily an address froo Mr. Steele which he had promulgated among the inireb,:tants of the disaffected districts. Mr. O'Coseet.r. moved the most marked thanks of the association to his esteemed friend and companion in every struggle for the liberties of Ireland, Tom Steele, and also the insertion ()ibis letter on the minutes. There was nothing more injurious to the best interests of Ire land, nothing more criminal, tint, t 2ing more dangerous to those engaged in them, and nothing more useless than those secret, societies. After some ft:ether remarks on the criminal and ruinous nature of these societies, Mr. O'Connell read an address, drawn up t 5; Mr. mith O'Brien, to the inhabitants of Leitrim and Omen, calling upon them to withdraw from all ribbon societi"s, and pointing out to them the dangerous and foolish nattW l of t Item. He (Mr. O'Connel.) had no hesitation in saying that that was the very best written document he had ever perused, and it would have additional weight as not c soaing alone from the able and patriotic writer, but from tha t . tisociation. He begged to move the adoption of the the association, and that measures be imme dadiadfreei?by taken for its extensive circulation through the disturbed di s ,;_eiets.—Resolution carried unanimously. Mr. NES T said he wished to offer a few observa tions.l.„ on a subject : 1- ler personal to himself. On some s ee : obliged to notice attacks made late occasions he had upon him by the Exanit'wf , ,eiewspaper. The number of the Examiner which he had reeetivd that day repeated those attacks, and gave the terU26 which he had re pudiated them ; but it did not puf his reservation,_ that he would not have used those terms it . the English language afforded him any more abusive epithets to make use of. What he had to complain of most, )13 the last number of the Examiner, was, an anonymous attteck upon him, which, from the circumstance of its being ano nymous, should be considered as having been adopted by the editor. It commenced in terms that certainly did not appear to have been borrowed from the Court Guide —(Laughter)—and proceeded as follows :—" Perhaps Mr. O'Connell is entitled to some indulgence, inasmuch as dribbling is more innocent than mendacity, and a man can hardly be said to violate truth by whom the mean ing of the word is mistaken.' It then proceeded to quote some sentences front a speech of his delivered on ss recent occasion in St. parish against the Cha ritable Bequeets Act, in which the writer misinterpreted his observatione and accused him of giving implicit obe dience to any decision that the Bishops of his Church might conic to, He dist:leery stated at the time that his obedience to the deeteen of the Catholic Bishops in council assembled applies? only to spiritual matters. He submitted to the Bisi,ops it. religious matters, but never in temporal concerns, and be he distinctly stated in the speech alluded to. Some contributions having been handed in, Mr. O'CONNELL iVin rose, and said he had to apolo gise for not being pie pared with the report from the Committee on the ten propositions that he had referred to on the last day of meeting. Ho would, on the present occasion refer to but one of those propositions. The Honourable and Learned Gentleman then repeated the statement he had frequently made concerning the injus tice done to Ireland in respect to the National Debt. These fects, he contended, had sunk deep in the Irish mind, though the; were totally unattended to in Nig land. They had produced the monster meetings in 1843, the perseverance of 1844, and they would have their effect on the next great repeal year of 1845. The approaching year ought to be one of high advantage to Ireland. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman then referred to the pro gress repeal had made in the course of the past year. Ireland, he said, was the country in the world where hundreds of thousands—aye, where millions of people could assemble without even an accident taking place among them. There could not be a better proof of the superiority of Irishmen. Professor Forbes, the Scotch philosopher, and Professor Quintelet, in Belgitnn, had, by a series of experiments conducted for twelve years, proved that the Irishman was the first among the nations of Europe for every physical capacity. Professor Kane, an Irishman, made similar experiments in London. and he: proved that when the power of raising bur dens in an Irishman was 27, the highest number among any other people was but 25.—(Cheers.) He knew that the forthcoming report of the Landlord and Tenant Com mission would refer to the greater leniency of the land lords in the north of Ireland to their tenants. At the expiration of a lease in Ulster, the landlord came to an amicable arrangement with the existing tenant, instead of, as in other parts of the country, going about to try if they could get any other person to offer them more rent. That was the reason that no agragrian crimes were heard of in the north, and he would remind those who attri buted the tranquillity there to the prevalence of the Pro testant persuasion, that there was a majority of 500,000 Catholics in Ulster over the other sects, and that they, as well as the Protestants and Presbyterians, remained free from those crimes. —(Hear, hear.) The Hon. and Learned Gentleman proceeded to ray that they would hold but two meetings more of the Association in that year, but they should commence:lB4s as if they were then only really beginning to agitate for repeal, and as if all they had hitherto done were as nothing. 1843 was the repeal year for monster meetings, 1844 for patience and for , legal triumph, but 1845 should be marked by the weekly collection of the repeal rent. If it were to be but ls. or' ld. its any locality, still it should be collected weekly. They solicited from no man more than ls. a year, or one farthing a week, with four weeks for nothing ; but if every man subscribed that sum they would have 50,0001., and he would expect even 100,0001. at the end of the year. Mr. O'Connell concluded by moving that the repealers throughout Ireland be called upon to demon strate their perseverence in the repeal cause by sending in weekly contributions on and after the let of January, 1845. The motion was carried unanimously. After the disposal of some routine business, Mr. O'Connell announced the rent for the week to be 1791. 12s. 2d. THE LATE DREADFUL OCCUR RENCE AT CHATHAM. INQUEST ON THE BODIES. CHATHAM, MONDAY NIGHT.—On Monday an inquest was held before Mr. J. Hinde, coroner, at the Waggon public-house, a short distance from the scene of the melancholy event (the particulars of which appeared in The Sun of yesterday), when the following evidence was adduced : John Chaplyn, bailiff to Mr. J. Oakley, of Darland. stated that the deceased Thomas Webb, was in the em ploy of Mr. Oakley, acting asjwaggoner's third boy. John Stedman was also in Mr. Oakley 's employ, and there was also another man who usually slept there, but was not there that night. The men had spoken several times to witness about the room being damp. On Saturday night ' Stedman left the house about eight o'clock, and the other two at nine, to go to bed. On the following morn ' ing, about seven o'clock, being told that they had not come into the yard, he went to the bedroom-door and lifted up the latch and called " George" several times. Not receiving any answer, he opened the door, and putting his hand behind it felt one of them lying there. He called again and shook him, and then procured a light and got a waggoner to go into the room with him, where he found them all three dead. He did not observe any particular smell in the room. lie had been in Mr. Oak ley's employ 15 years. When the fire was lit in the room he stood ever it for some minutes. He did not think there was any danger is using the charcoal. Did not feel any inconvenience in breathing whilst standing over it. Amelia Chaplyn, wife of the last witness, corroborated her husband's evidence, and said she went into the roots about half an hour after she had lit the fire, which was composed of wood, ashes, and charcoal, and it was burn ing up brightly. She remained in the room a short time, and did not shut the door. She had never heard before that charcoal would have any bad effects—had never seen any used before. The CORONER expressed a hope that it would be lesson to her not to use charcoal again, and observed that it was her duty to have mentioned it to Mr. Oakley before she lit the fire, as the unfortunate circumstance would not then have happened. Thomas Bosely said that he and the three deceased had often asked the bailiff and his wifo to light a fire in the room. Mr. Benjamin Tribe, surgeon, of Chatham, stated that he was called up between seven and eight o'clock on Sunday morning to attend at Mr. Oakley s. On arriving there he was shown into the bedroom, where he found the bodies of the three men ; they were quite dead and their limbs stiff. Ile examined the bodies; there were no marks of violence on them. lle inquired, and found char coal had been burnt previous to theirlgoing to bed ; their deaths were caused by inhaling carbonic acid gas, arising from the burning of charcoal and causing suffocation. The jury having heard the whole of the evidence, and the opinion of the Coroner that Chaplyn and his wife were entirely ignorant of the deleterious effects of char coal, returned a verdict of " Accidentally suffocated by charcoal being burnt in their bedroom. THE LATE DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT DRURY-LANE TIIEATRE.—The assistant scene shifter, M'Carthy, who endeavoured to extinguish the flames of the dress of the late Miss Webster on Saturday night, is proceeding very rapidly towards recovery, although suffering greatly from his injuries. It has been stated that he was able to follow his employment, but such is not the case ; he is obliged to be dressed and undressed by his wife. TIIE LATE ACCIDENT IN ALDGATE.—Upon inquiry at the London Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, it was stated that the poor fellow Goodman, the police-con stable, who was, in common with seven or eight oth er . persons, knocked down at the corner of the Minories, opposite Aldgate Church, by a horse which ran away with a gig, recovered his senses in the early part of the eight; and, although seriously i n j ured, he is now in a fair nay of recovery. Mr. Winckwort h, who was taken to the hospital at the same time, still li es in a deplorable state, his left eye being nearly cut out, and the whole of his system being much shattered by the violence of the shock. There were altogether eight persons more or less injured; six were taken to the hospital, and two to the surgeries of gentlemen in the neighbourhood. COMMISSION or LUNACY.—Yesterday a commis sion of lunaey . was opened at the Swan Tavern, Battersea, before Mr. Wi nslow. The subject of the inquiry was Mr. John Smith, ago I G. a licensed victualler, for many years the proprietor ,0 the Grapes Tavern, King-street, Golden-square, but now residing in Calverstoke-place, Battersea. Evidt.nee I,,tving, been heard, the jury found that Mr. John Smith was of unsound mind, and had been so since January, 1840. S De nee, fills the I in iris• her hill )ign I on in i Bel iren kt 10 ktion )ting had ) the reed ictea r, b 1 e iv' beim!, ON" .lie se he 0 04 ! f o re 110; ,ctou 141 0 bre Atli ion fish- asti- :0 11i pOO. )0 3- )ar 6 is .11)il. r,c ll ; rl 13' , the to th° of; ire ° WEDNESDAN EVEN •NG DECEMBER 18 1344.