The Sun. — London, England, 1851-07-11 00:00:00

THE TOTAL ECLIPSE of THE SUN ON JULY 28. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—The aproaching eclipse of the sun on Monday, July 28, is the only one that will be total in parts easily accessible from this country for many years to come, and for this reason it is not improbable many continental tourists may be induced to locate themselves on the line of the total phase in order to witness the grand natural phenomena that occur on such occasions. The more ob servers there are the better, and it is a matter of fact that amateurs have hitherto succeeded quite as well as professed astronomers in their descriptions and observa tions. On this account I beg to send you the following etunmary of the most remarkable appearances, celestial and terrestrial, which have been noticed in past years, in the hope that it may be acceptable to many who have no opportunity of consulting astronomical works upon the ' subject. I prefix a few particulars relative to the eclipse of the 28th of this month. The last total eclipse of the sun visible in London took place in April, 1715, and there will be no other till the morning of August 19, 1887. The eclipse of the present year will be total in the southern parts of Nor -lay and Sweden, in northern Prussia, Poland, and Russia; t h e principal places within the zone covered by the moonS shadow being Christiania, Bergen, the well known port of Gothenburg, arlskrona, Dantzic, Nonigsberg, and Warsaw. The eclipse will be more or less visible to the whole cf North America, the North Atlantic Ocean down to the thirtieth degree of latitude, the whole of Europe, and the northern part of Africa. The total eclipse will commence on the N.W. coast of North America, near Queen Charlotte's Island, traversing the continent of America, over the Rocky Mountains, to the Slave Lake, which will be in entire darkness at lb. 30 new. Greenwich time. Afterwards the central line passes over Melville penin sula into Greenland, where it arrives at 2h. 5. Henc e it passes north of Iceland, and reaches the coast of Norway, at a place called Brrekke, about forty miles north of Bergen, the total eclipse extending at this time over a zone 150 miles breed. Its after course lies in the direction of the town of Elbing, near the coast of Prussia, between Dantzic and Konigsberg, thence across the south-west of Russia, near Kobrin, in the province of Grodno, Jitomir, and Ivanovka, to the Sea of Azov, which will be involved in darkness about 6h. P.M. local time, while the sun is yet at a considerable altitude in the heavens. By a special calculation of the circumstances of the phenomenon. for Christiania, we find the total eclipse will begin at . 3h. 46m. 3s. Ex. mean time at that place, end end at 3h. 48m. 475., so that the duration of total darkness will be 2m. 445. Similarly, by calculating the condition for Gothenburg, in Swede n, it a pp ears that the total phase will commence at 3h. 54m. 495. P.H., and end at 31a. 58m. 7s. local time. At Dantzic the last ray of the sun will vanish 411. 30 m . 555. the darkness ending at 4h..33m. 595. At Konigsberg this phase will commence at 4h. 38m. ss., and end at 4h. 41 m. 13 s. The sun will be hidden at Bergen 3m. 225., at Carlekrona 3m. 195., and at Warsaw lin. 575. In.Lonuon about 82-100ths of the sun's disc will be covered by e moon,and although some degree of ob scurity mus saly take place, it is not_ likely to be very greht• t : l Tneces he gloom, however, i s usually of a peculiar sens ibly different from that caused by a cloud e d l a°6 sky, a nd if the heavens are overcast at the time, a mist has' sometimes risen as the greatest phase approached, t e e i n g the surrounding landscape the same appearance that we notice, early on a dull October morning. In the metropolis the eclipse will commence at four minutes after 2 o'cloCk P. 151, and will end at a quarter past ,4; the nsiddle or greatest phase will take place at 12 minutes after &o'clock, and at this moment the sun will appear as a narrow crescent, having the convex border towards the horizon: The progress of a solar eclipse after the first contact of the moon with the sun's limb is not usually of any particular interest, even to the astronomer, until a short tiaie before his, disc is wholly obscured by our sa t e ll i t e . The diminutibn of light then becomes very marked, and the dirlsne rapidly deepens as the c en t res o f th e sun and moon 'approach, the final extinction of the sun's rays being always very sudden. As coon as the total eclipse has commenced, or, according to some accounts, a fetv seconds before the narrow solar crescent has vaninbed, a very beautiful appearance presents itself, in the form sif a lurniuous cereals, or border of light, which surrounds the sun and moon during the continuance of tbe total eclipse, and disappears within a few seconds of the time when the first returning ray is seen. It has been described as composed of a circular zone con tigueus to the dark border of the moon, and of a second zone, less luminous, contiguous to the first. But the. greaternumber of the observers of the eclipse of July, 1842, do not allude to any second zone of light further cistant from the moon's l;mb than the brighter one, the intensity of light appearing to them to dimi nish very gradually from the dark border of the moon until it assimilated itself with the general ground colour of the heavens. Other observers compare it to the "glory" with which the painters surround the heads of saints, divergent rays of light str eam i ng o ff from the moon's limb in every direction. Others, while giving the corona the same general form as before, refer to certain rays, or aigrettes, as the French term them, extending beyond the auroleola. The brightness of the comae varies greatly at different stations during the same eclipse, according to atmospheric conditions, and possibly with some regard to the altitude of the sun and moon above the horizon. In the total eclipse of July, 1842, the .light was so intensely brilliant at Lipe.,k, in Russia,- that the eye supported it with difficulty, and many pentons doubted it the sun had really vanished. Yet in France and Italy its brightness was tar inferior; ha light was not strung enough to throw a perceptible shadow, arid one otnervsr at Padua estimated its intensity to be that of the full moon as 1 to 7. As might be expecnd, there i, a similar want of accordance with re ; ; to the odour of the luminosity forming the corona. In 1842 skim.; prsr,as, wh 9 a c r e most favourably situated anti tient r the best atmospheric eeuii ions, coobiklered it psefectly ehite without the slightest titles of colour during its continuance. At Milan is wan straw-coloured, and the astronomers of the Obstrvatory at Parie, who went to the south of France to make their observations, agree in giving a yellowish tinge. On previous occasions it has been described as pe.art or petch•cotoured, reddish, gold , n yellow, or presenting the hues of the rainbow. In 1706 it was like a riig Ori.v.ld at Nuremburg. The breadth has also been variously estimated. At Perpignan in 1842, the light of the , corona could be traced to a distance equal to one-third of the moon's apparent diameter from her bor der. AtLipesk, wherait was so 'advantageously viewed, some of .the rays attained a distance of six or eight lunar diameters. ,The' efisktronereer Royal 'obsceving at the Supergi, near Turin, assigned the corona' au angular dimension of only one-eighth of the moon's apparent bree,;:he Sdrae ob.lervers have drawn attention to en ap parent frthkering nod whirling motion of the corona, re semblit.A• th'e ,eff:2ets producsd by certain kinds of fire works. At iu 1842, this; luminous ring was in a state of violent agitation. But the moot remarkable phenomenon during a total eclipse, afk:that_ which . most excited the attention of astronomers in July, 1842, is the sudden visi bility of rose-coloured prominences, or "red flames" as they , ate_ usually called. in different positions. on the date herder of the moon, and proj,cted cm the light of ,the corona. :Their aoptartince is-always iostan taneous, and the same time, i 3 pretierved as long, as' they are Nimble. At some places three or more were seen, in others only two; generally they were perceived on the northern limb of the moon at distances of thirty de grees or upwards from each otticr. M. Arago says they were of IS rosy tint, but with a yiolet-hue in some points' (possibly from the' &feet of contrast), and at tained an altitude of ( more than one minute of arc from the moon ' s lim )th. b. ofr astronomers compare them to the snowy summits u n i ts rising or setting sue _the Alps illumined by the th , s an ica d rat e i resemblunce was f ur the r strengthened by and the , absence f At try of the prot u b e r a nce etill g PP'arance of scintillation. Professor Santini, of Peduttit s;calls them " pyramids of a fire," and an observer ,len compares them to burning coals." Man in the general reddish ycolo aot b- ot ri , tiee, while agreeing m ention the erpliahi or violet ru h these. prominences, hues of certain points, and also record the appearanc e of a border of rosy light round a considerable extent of the moon's limb. August, Duriog the eclipse of Au Islands, it 1850, which was total at Honolulu, in- the ee mid .. l -,, h marked,thet the red flames were largest theweaassterren limb at the- Commeneemett of total darkness, o . n but the gradual] clerk body' of tho. Moon seeme d more a t o y d direction, as it advanced across' the sun i n an eaYsiteor.covr them and es gradually to render visible m i o s r p e re ° - k the re on the opposite limb. This flames eis e ly ji d ie c i.e o ffee: that ' should be produced, supposing o f the them to exist in the upper regions atmosphere, and the obse rvation consequently ver y much strengthens the view ta ken wi t h respect to the na ture Of therose-coloured promincncei. by M. Arago. It l' lB - , further remarked at .Henelulu . that in the pre c i se P"point.''ecupied- by the eastern r spot was visible when thatecho' o the sun's surface was brou ea ghti,, ts •.-•.. •R i afterwards by his •-- view kime-day a. , axial rotation. Th e will add t o the interest attaching to the observations!43 facts -. („.., thb approaching eclipse. The corees, a - ' celestial phtua,:ined led "flames are the roost c conspicuous and at the same ti durin g upon the physitul 'tit% e, b the a total eclipse co, the sun, are others which well Bat - moat iniporPut as bearing tire - of th a t laminarY,there'f much 0,1259,tym .m ftre n "erra - attentien tit - the hands o derateeeltewcese 'Amon P r t e l ,/ i Ldell with teleseors of mo. visibilitpoi Abet contourcbr :Cluny' be , instanced .the sun's diseitpsief. e f eee t b ill ' ...a - moon which' ie' off the ev, n bafait rthe) e tirt , t t g i t t ( t ){ ? the total phase, and the appettleteder . 6l , flash ee ,if **hi the sun -and moon ; over ttfciefiffsco of our intellite•as tai: eclipse • coloured light the illtki.fitatinn of solar Spots near eteeliPse progresses; nieuliailVelpitk of pest l es Af e .e —6 : WOOn's edffn • . ...ric,. .µ,.. I.• eer else, as . 1 - re- I blue giFle, i ccgt4tkpuFple gradually towards towards duke 9 34 with a the coetees., Al', e iinisicY,gray brighter 2 greettee' , Or lees illtitninatien -of-eli e e ent i re . di th e sun ; moon and the. visih s u ilitY of the sp o t s se of the pon her e ar f lie r ; the f o rmation o' , *b:et• are termed "Bai l : beset,," or bright drop, which .h.corae 'visible w ,g e ' i ; perei,on oF tin, tan is v ery the uneclipsorl narrow, ie , inirreeietely . before the ceremencement and aft er the e , i d r ,j , tt,:i!'tott4.(erp°, &c. It appears to b e hi ghly d es irable ell A th e paititiois pi the solar spots should be determined witli'e.ome degree of accuracy fourteen days before and :Illy the eclipse, and I will venture to suggest this class of• obeervation to amateur astronomers who are ~ •, . . le . means . Those portions of the tab providecf teith dui '.-able aun'e dilla which prese nt fa ,or streaks of a brighter part of his surface, should charectee then t he greater also be notioed. . As aineady,remarked, the diminution of light is not usualty very great until about a quar ter of an hour before the cornitetteethent of the natal eclipse. The brighter planets *ilk-come riei'7 l .o to the naked eye, and when the 4n 1 i A '' - ty I , 4 t. a the first and . 1 l' o ,. _,O lv ‘ , 1..L 'qtrs. , n or 3 _ . • IlleColltt t '3 iVf ll a, 2 e 5 - ' C(jule ino view . In 1842 the tr" 4 ' . '" ' v.trA c k, of stiire perceived without the telescope was km, it * i , , ' -it , Moons could distinguish more ::.-.:0,1, 0 -1 ~, ~.. . . , - , THE SUN, LONDON, than five or six. (During the approaching eclipse the sun will be situate in Cancer, the brightest stars in his vicinity being Castor, Pollux, Capella, and Regulus; the planet Venus will be 18 de grees distant from the sun towards the west, Mercury about 15 degrees eastward and a little south, Jupiter east of the meridian and 3 degrees below the equator, and Mars near the western horizon). It is recorded by historians, that during the total eclipse of Agathocles, B.C. 310, the stars appeared in every direction, and in describing the famous eclipse of B.C. 610, which put an end to the war between the Kings of Medea and Lydia, and is said to have been predicted by Thales, Herodo. tus says, " the day was turned into night." The heavens, as the totality approaches, assume a dull sombre aspect, the azure blue of the sky becomes livid or purplish, and occasionally broad bauds of red or orange light appear near the horizon. This change in the colour of the heavens is perceptible when the eclipsed portion of the sun amounts to eight digits, and was noticed as early as A.D. 840. The figures of persons near the observer gradually as sume a pale, cadaverous aspect, or on some occasions become olive-greet. At Cremona, in 1842, the whole landscape appeared as though it were illuminated by a " Bengal light, and in other places objects put on first a greenish tinge, which subsequently changed to .saffron, violet, or p urp l e , as t h e obscurity grew deeper. The unaatural appearance of human figures in a fact particularly mentioned by those who wit• nessed the last eclipse iu Europe, as tending to excite the most painful impressions; one writer compares the effect to that produced by . burning spirits of wine. M. Arago states that at Perpignan, in the south of France, nearly 20,000 persons turned out to observe the total eclipse of July, 1842, notwithstanding the early hour of the morning at which the phenomenon occurred. At Milan, Turin, P adua, and other p laces within the moon's shadow , t he enthusiasm was e q uall y great. The streets of H onolulu, in the Sandwich Islands, were covered with pieces of smoked glass after the of August , 1850— a fact contrasting strikingly s the alarm produced in Paris by the mere announce • ec i l t i h p e with of a total eclipse in 1654, when, as M. Arago states, numbers sought protection in caves. The sudden silence that prevailed amongst the vast multitudes col lected in the populous cities of Southern France and Italy in 1842, as the last ray of the sun vanished, and the universal shout of welcome with which his re-appearance was greeted, have been well described by the French phi losopher. The effects of a total eclipse upon the animal i creation are very curious. In 1842 horses came to a sudden stand-still, and neither whip nor goad would induce them to move. Oxen in the fields arrayed themselves in a circle, back to back, or with their horns outwards, as to resist an attack. Dogs fled for refuge to their masters, howling piteously during the continuance of the darkness. A hen surrounded by her chickens hastily collected them under her wings. Birds fell upon the ground apparently dead from fright, or perished by dashing themselves against the walls and chimneys. At Venice swallows were readily taken in the streets, fear having deprived them of the power of escape. Owls and bats made their appearance, but quickly retreated when the eclipse was over. Bees, which had left their hives in great numbers at sunrise, returned until the darkness ceased, and a swarm of ants was seen to stop suddenly on their march. Delicate plants, as the convolvulus, mimosa, &c., closed their leaves. In short, from past experience, there can be no doubt that the naturalist will find much to interest him in the approaching eclipse as well as the astronomer, and it is very possible that even in this country, where the eclipse will be very large, though not total, some of the above phenomena may be wit nessed. The thermometer in the shade is not usually much affected, though to the senses there is a chill, damp feeling in the air. At Perpignan, during the last eclipse, there was a heavy dew, which fell in small drops from the trees. Great preparations have been made for securing proper observations on the 28th of the present month. English, French, and American astronomers will locate themselves at various points in Sweden and Norway. The Russian Government have equipped six stations, with three observers at each; and the Prussian astro nomers will arrange themselves at different places near the shores of the Baltic. If the weather prove favourable, we may expect observations along the whole course of the moon's shadow, from the western coast of Norway, where it enters Europe, to the Sea of Azov. The results can hardly fail to improve our knowledge of the physical constitution of the sun, with which the corona and red flames appear to be connected. A very fair idea of the nature of these phenomena may be obtained from the diagrams exhibiting at the Poly technic Institution, which, with the accompanying de scription, as evincing the care taken to present faithful views of scientific subjects to the public, reflect much credit on the parties concerned,—l remain, Sir, your most obedient servant, J. R. BIND. July 9. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. CALEDONIAN GUARANTEED. Meetings of the various guaranteed interests were held in Glasgow on Thursday, finally to consider and determine in regard to the Caledonian Railway Amend ment Bill, which has passed the Commons, and is now proposed to be introduced to the House of Lords. At the meeting of the Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Cost bridge Company Mr. A. Baird was called to the chair. The report of the committee of directors stated that they had carefully watched over the interests of the company in connexion with the Caledonian Arrange ment Bill. They bad accordingly required that in place of any new payment of annuity being directed as for the first time, or in lieu of the existing an nuity, the Act should simply confirm the present ob ligarien, and that in the clause respecting the lien there should be no new lien created, but the old lien preserved. The first of these demands was contested by the pro moters of the:Bill, and the second was forced on them by Parliament. As the Bill stood it sought to legalise the borrowing of 150,0001. over the Garnkirk, while the ori ginal Act only gave power to borrow to that extent, in clusive of the Garnkirk debt, amounting to 43,0001., so that by that sum there had been an over issue of de bentures. On the whole, considering that by the Act all doubts as to the Garnkirk Company being creditors, and not shareholders are effsctually resolved; that their right to rank first of all the guaranteed interests on the Caledonian fends is distinctly declared; the lien and security of the shareholders in and over the Garnkirk Railway are preserved; and a much more rapid and effectual means of enforcing the lien is provided, with a declaration that payment cannot be disputed on any ground until the sum in arrear shall be consigned in bank;--fur all these reasons the committee had no hesi tation in recommending that the Act should be ap proved of. The clauses of the Bill were then read over, and a short discussion followed; after which Mr. A. ORR moved— " That the Bill be aproved of, and that it be remitted to the directors to prosecute the !measure in Parliament, and agree to such amendments as might not be inconsis tent withahe interests of the Garnkirk shareholders." The motion was agreed to, and the meeting separated, some of the members stating that the arrangement was expscted to add 5L per share to the value of their stock. At the meeting of the Clydesdale Junction guaranteed shareholders Mr. Pritchard was called to the chair, The report of the committee on the subjeet was then read, which stated that as it stood the Bill was substans tielly the same as when submitted to the recent meeting of the Clydesdale Junction shareholders. The arrears of past dividend, to the extent of 20,0001., are directed to be provided for immediately after the passing of the Act by the issue of Caledonian debentures or bonds. One clause had been introduced into the Bill of a novel character. It saves the rights of Mr. Bakendale, of London, a holder of 300 shares in the Clydesdale stock. Mr. Bakendale (said the committee's report) is in no peculiar position different from other persons. He had, like Mr. Baird, Mr. Johnston, and others, instituted proceedings for recovery of his redemption price ; but he was not a party to the application for appoint ment of judicial lector. He petitioned, like others. against the Bill, and conducted his opposition on his own account. He never acceded to the proposed terms of compromise, and the committee on the Bill consi dered that in the circumstances they could not legislate against him adversely, but were bound to reserve his whole claims. The committee would have done the same for the whole shareholders of the Clydesdale who had given notice to redeem and instituted actions; but as the obvious effect of such a provision would have been to defeat the Bill, the committee of the Clydesdale did not consider themselves warranted in making a de mand to that extent, and thereby encountering so serious a risk; and, therefore, at the expense it may be of Mr. Bakendale obtaining some advantage over the other shareholders, they admitted his clause. The committee are ready still to recommend the whole share holders to accede to the Bill and to adopt its provisions, rather than be thrown back upon the legal remedies, which Mr. Bakendale may yet find to be very barren of any pecuniary benefit to him. The committee concluded by recommending the general meeting to protest against the isolation of a single shareholder against the wishes of the united body, and to lodge a short petition against the Bill in so far as that clause is concerned. A short discussion followed, chiefly regarding Mr. p_ekenOale's position, in which it was stated that he was likely ro get into a perpetual law suit, without securing an y °f. the advantages which the incorporation by this Act would otherwise give him. The CRAIRMAN then moved the approval of the Bill in the usualterrua, which was agreed to—one gentleman dissenting.' S t o h L e T can Bill cß wa S s a a id ililro in v c e l d ud o i f ng by t g h e o n se tlem pr e e n se h n o t ld a in n g d 4,435 shares. im g e oh* then Oper a t e d. pro T a h ie e s . The Ar m -Glasgow was called to. the chair. The At 6, meeting of ; tree Wisha w an d Coltnese share holders, Caledonian Arrangement Bill was Unanimously approved of, on the motion of Mr. Robertson, seconded by Mr. r Robertson. At the meeting of th e Barrhettd and N e il ston share holders held in the company's office, MrrieCrmamitpboeflls o w m a e s called to th e c hair. It was, ho we v e r , resolved to ad journ t h e procee di ngs till Aionday, to communication as to details being made with parties in London. ErtEronn, R oss, AND GLoucEsTEn.—lt in intended to commen ce the works on this line as soon es possible. ' w r o h r e k t s un t n o h elt c a j t p t r h o e ec t ci and rat, as they will require a Ballirgham are the first longer ti me f or their completion than any other portion L ll of the line. is belikrveil that the landowners wi ll afford every facility to the company to proceed with the works, so soon as the necessary arrangements are made. NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE .-- It appears th e wor ks on the Ashbourn b ranc h of this railway ar e to be menced immediat e ly by Alumni. Braasey, on terms which are consider e d t o b e extremely favourable. The e moony of cutting th e fi rst sod took place last week, n a pieoa' of land at Clifton, near Ashb ourn, slid 0 ~C .... 3 (Alia public dinner was given on the occasion, by some of the inhabitants of the latter place, to the contractor and en gineer, with a view to express their gratification at the probability of having railway communication extended to that town. HOP INTELLIGENCE. MAIDSTONE.—The accounts from the plantations aro a shade better this week. The weather has certainly been in favour of the crop, being such as is proverbially said to " bring hops out of bare poles." Still there is abundant cause for apprehension. The vermin has made a most vigorous attack, and it remains to be seen whe ther the plant has constitution enough to resist its effects, backed as they are by slackness of bine, lateness of season, and in some places, we hear, mould. A corre spondent, whose locality we need not indicate, says—" I do not speak of any particular pariah when I report that mould is found, but say that it is alarmingly extending." FARLEIGH AND YALDING.—The hops do not look so well this week. Some that were tolerably clean have got fouler, the lice following the branches; others are more fire blasted. The nights have been very cold and the weather for the last few days very ungenial. Tho prospect becomes worse as the ti me d raws on . WATERINGBEIRY.—There is a continued increase of vermin, and the bine in many of the grounds shows very strongly that it is greatly suffering from the vermin and the drought, and unless there is an alteration soon we shall have but very few hone. AIEREWORTH.—We have here fire blast, vermin, and honey dew upon the increase, and also slack bine; es such there is not much chance of a crop; the hops have not looked so bad before for years. NETTLESTEAD.—There are some grounds in this pa rish in which there is a good quantity of bine, but ver min and honey dew, and the apparent want of rain, give the bine a very unhealthy appearance. LOOSE.—We have considerable improvement in the growth of bine since my last report, but there is still much vermin following the young shoots, and a slight sprinkling of fly. There is rather a large number of niggers, and an appearance of a succession, which is the only thing favourable. It is the opinion of every planter that they are in a most uncertain state. AYLESFORD.—The vermin are on the decrease, and with hot favourable weather there is now a prospect of growing some hops on the good grounds. OTHAM.—The hop-grounds in this parish are very unequal; our best grounds have made considerable pro gress, but the slack grounds, of which we have many, have advanced but little. We have still some fly and lice, but not sufficient at present to cause alarm. The grape grounds are suffering from the drought and are turning yellow. I.II.6RBE.—The greater part of our plantations con tinue in a very sickly state; the lice follow up the young shoots, and honey dew is dripping from the leaves; the bine is at a stand still in many grounds; there are some few exceptions in the best goldings upon the Rock, where they are still growing. BROODIFIELD.—WO are rather improving, but have too much company to be pleasant; we have never been so foul as some of our neighbours. WROTHAM (Town District.)—The warm weather has forced the strong bines on very rapidly this last week, in which there is apparently less vermin, bat still sufficient to injure them should the weather take an unfavourable turn; the weak bine grounds, of which there are several, have made but little progress, are loaded with lice and nits; the fly is pretty mush dead, leaving their progeny to do the mischief. OTFORD AND SIIOREHAM.—The vermin have de creased considerably the last few days, and there is a chance in some of the ground.' of growing two bags per acre. TONBRIDGE.—In some instances we note an improve ment since last week, in others the contrary. After one or two heavy mornings that we have experienced, fresh fly was found on the mid shoots. SWANSCONBE.—Since the rains we have less fly, a n d some grounds certainly are much cleaner and continue growing, promising a moderate crop; others are swarm ing with lice and honey dew, with a very bad appear ance of any hops. STArLununsT.—We have received fresh swarms of fly in our grounds within the last few days, which are committing great ravages; honey dew also has spread much in the grounds; the grounds appear in a very pre carious state. CRANBROOL—Since our last re port the weather has continued favourable to the growth of the bine—the gentle irrigation of the grounds on Tuesday last, accom panied as it was by a copious discharge of electricity from " nature's battery," has operated as an abstergent, and has imparted a freshness and vigour to the plant which will no doubt be productive of good. Some of our plantations now present to the eye of a superficial observer a picturesque and pleasing appearance. The poles are " in verdure clad," and the young and tender offshoots (which have till now displayed considerable re luctance to advance) are evincing a desire to " make friends," but on a close examination it is found, that like the enchanted fruit in the palace of a sorcerer, the ob ject of our admiration loses its attraction as soon as it is grasped by the adventurer s hand, for on turning up the leaves myriads of fly and lice are still observable. , On the other hand, however, there is a large quantity of niggers as well as fly goldings, which may be seen sedu• lously trucidating the " warmint," and we think in the aggregate we are justified in reporting an improvement upon our last week's statement on this subject. ROLVENDEN.-Many of our plantations are very foul, and considerable honey dew at the same time; there is great increase of the nigger, and some of our grounds are clearing, _ _ HORSMONDEN.-Our hops are still very foul, though some fancy there is a slight decrease in the lice. The bine continues to grow, the hot weather being much in their avour. CANTERBURL—There appears little variation in the grounds sinco last week, excepting the appearance of honey dew in some instances. Rain is sadly wanted. The bine grows vigorotkly, and his now " shaking hands" across some of the alleys. General accounts speak of the bine being beset by vermin, and of the pre valence of honey dew—the chances being against a crop.—lllaidstene Journal. SEABORNE MAILS. [N signifies that the mails are sent frora the General Post-offic by the night—and M by the morning—slispateh.] When made up in ' From whatl When PLACES. General Post-office port dis- due. London. patched. America (by Brit. pkt.).N July 11 .. Liverpool • • July 14 America (by U.S. pkt.) July 18 .. Liverpool .. America (by U.S. pkt.) 141 July 16 .. Southalopt. Arrived Africa (West coast).. N 14th of the month Plymouth Aug. 3 Alexandria* ••• . N 19th & 30th of mo. Dover .. July 18 Belgium • . • • •• N Day .. Dover .. Daily Brazil • • • •• M 19th of the month Southampt. July 12 Buenos Ayres • • .. M9th of the month Southampt. !July 12 California(viuChagres) lid 2d& 17th of month Southampt. July 20 Cape of Good Hope N 14th of month Plymouth .• Aug. 3 Constantinople* .. •• N 7th 17th 27th of mo Dover .. July 10 Central America M 2d & 17th of mon. Southampt. July 20 Channel Isles .. N i Mon., Wed., & Fri. Southampt. Ta. Th•S a Chill M 1 of the month Southampt. July 20 France • • •. M & *Twice daily .. Dover • • Twicsdaily Greece * • • • • • • N i 7th 17 th 27th ef mo Dover • • July 10 Hamburgh • • .. *Tuesday & Friday London .. Tues. Sat. Holland .. • • .. M Wednes. & Satur. London .. Moa.Thrs Honduras • • N 17th of the mouth Southampt. July 20 Ireland .. M& N Twice daily .. ..iHolyhead .• Twicedaily India (via Southamp.) M 20th of the rnonth l Southampt. July 23 India (vi a Marseilles) N 7 th& 24th efraonthlDover .. July 16 Mediterranean (via Southampton) .. MlOth of the month Southampt. July 23 Mediterranean (via I Marseilles) N 7th& 24 th of month over • • July 1G Mexico .. • • M2d of the month.. Southampt. Aug. 5 Madeira • • • • .. M 9th of th e month Southampt. July 12 Malta* N 7th,17th,19th,27th &30th of month 1 Dover July 10 Naples* .. • • • • N,sth 15th 25th °fin° ,Dover • • JulY 12 Papal States* N,1511115th 25th offsolDover ,July 12 Peninsular • • .. 7th 17th 27th of mo'Southampt. l July 16 Peru • • .. • • •• Mll7th of the month I Southamot. July 20 Tuscany* •• *sth 15th 25th of mo Dover • • July 12 West Indies .. 17th of the mo n th S ou thampt. (July 20 West Indies (except Havanna & Nassau) 3.1 1 2 d of the month .. Southampt. Aug. 5 ' 0 The mails to those c ountries thus marked (*) are conveyed by French packet via Marseilles. CALIFORNIA.—MaiIs to and from California, via the United States are now despatched and due by every American packet. THE VACANT GARTER.—It was currently ru moured last evening, in the lobbies of the Houses of Parlia ment, that the garter vacant by the death of the Earl of Derby would be conferred on Earl Fitzwilliam. His Eminence Cardinal Wiseman visited Jersey last week on his way from opening a new church at Guern sey, and administered the rites of confirmation to a large number of individuals on Sunday. Mr. Turnbull, ad vocate, of Edinburgh, who is at present residing in the island, had a long private interview and the honour of dining with his Eminence the preceding day. Mr. Turnbull, it is generally known, is the political leader of the Scottish Roman Catholics. ROYAL SANTIAGO MINING COMPANY.—The an nual meeting of this company was held yesterday at the offices, 38, Broad-street-buildings, City. Mr. Taylor took the chair, in the absence of Baron de Goldsmid, and in doing so he said that the absence of the Baron was caused by a dispatch which he had received that morning respecting the Mexican bondholders, which he was that moment commu nicating to a meeting of parties interested. Mr. Docker read the report. It stated that the expenditure up to the 28th of February amounted to 10,5471. for the half year. They had received 910 tons of ore from the Perseverencia Mines, and 20 tons of precipitate. Of this quantity 508 were brought to Swansea, but the ore was so largely im pregnated with mundic, as to be of lower produce of copper than the previous shipment, and had netted only 1,9181. The 20 tons of precipitate realised 982/. In the course of the year a considerabloquantity of ground had been opened by means of shafts and levels, but the produce had been of a fluc tuating character. In January last 11 miners were sent from Cornwall to the mines, and the result of the operations had been favourable. 438 tons of ore raised last year had been examined, and they had extracted 250 tons of good ore, There was 176 tons of ore on the way to Swansea, which would realise 2,0301., making the receipts for the half year 5,129/. A favourable opinion was expressed of some of their mines, owing to certain indications which had been observed. The accounts showed that 10,547/. had been expended during the year, and 5,129/. received, showing a loss of 5,418/. on the working. The total avail able assets were 14,089/. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, entered into a statement of his views with regard to the undertaking, and a long discus sion took place relative to the call proposed of 21. per share on the 7,000 shares; and, ultimately, the report was adopted, and a vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings. SHARP SHOOTING.--A correspondent of the New York Courier and _lnquirer writes that the late Major Da venzac related the following incident illustrative of the sharp shooting at the battle of New Orleans. 11e stated that, on the morning after the battle, twelve broiled robins were paced on the breakfast table, prepared for General Jackson and his suite, which had been shot with a rifle through the head, by one of the Kentucky Riflemen, who had been in the conflict 1 he had fired thirteen times, and missed hitting his bird in the head only once. " This cir cumstance being soon k nown i n the neighbourhood, a certifi cate of the fact was requested and obtained from G enera l Jackson and his 51d3, by the British officers, that, 1,3 . , such evidence on their return to London, they might exhibit to their Government the character of the enemy at New Orleans; 4.4 ' 4- , FRIDAY EVENING, JULY ll, of great impolicy to disgust these men. Instead, how ever, of serving them, the other measures of the Govern ment, especially those on the navigation laws, had still further injured them by depriving them of employment. These seamen, who formed the nursery of our fleets, should, in his opinion, have been attached to the country, instead of being left to give their services to foreign states. He regretted many things that passed daily be fore his eyes. He regretted that though this country had increased in material wealth—though not in the same proportion as other countries—her people were not in mind, in spirit, and in statesmanlike wisdom, the great people that they formerly had been. Looking, however, at what passed daily, he was led more and more to the conclusion that one of the greatest calami ties that could affect a constitutional state was the pro tracted existence of a weak, timid, and irresolute Go vernment.—(Hear.) Earl GRANVILLE did not think it advisable to en ter as the Noble Earl had done on the discussion of a Bill not yet before their Lordships; ho should, there fore refrain from following the Noble Earl in his analy sis, and content himself with saying that when the Bill should &me before the House he hoped he would be able to show that it deserved in no sense the character given of it by the Noble Lord. He (Earl Granville) was not there to defend the Act of 1834; but he was hound to remind the Noble Earl that no want of cour tesy had been shown to the Commission of which he was chairman, by the Government, in the matter. A Bill bad been framed in accordance with the recommen dation of the Commission, but there was not a single Member of a single port in the country who did not come forward and object to it. The Government were therefore induced to bring in another Bill; but this Bill was looked upon by the sailors, for whom it was in tended, as an evil, and therefore no course was open to them except the one they had taken in this in stance. The House of Commons, with unexampled liberality, had enabled the Government to carry out their views in the matter, and therefore ho (Earl Granville) regretted all the more the speech had been made by the Noble Earl. Notwithstanding the Noble Earl's pre dictions however—predictions which be (Earl Gran ville) had been in the habit of bearing for years when ever any large measure visas carried—he believed that the country was never in a more prosperous condition than at present, and that all the efforts that had been made had been successful in achieving the moral and physical welfare of the people. Lord COLCHESTER complained of the late period at which important Bills were sent up to their Lord ships, and maintained that if they did not discuss them beforehand they would not have the opportunity of dis cussing them at all. He regretted that the fund had been allowed to pass into a state of insolvency, and he regretted also that the Government had not brought forward a satisfactory provision for the aged and de cayed sailors. England was the only country i❑ Europe which left this class of her population unprovided for. Sweden, France, Belgium, Spain, Austria (as regarded Venice), and the United States, providing for their aged and distressed seamen. The motion was then agreed to. LODGING-HOUSES. On the motion of the Earl of SHAFTESBURY, the Lodging-houses Bill went through Commit►ee. THE GUNPOWDER STORES (LIVERPOOL). On the motion of Earl GRANVILLE, the Gunpowder Stores (Liverpool) Exemption Repeal Bill was read a second time. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, July 10. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. The Earl of lIARROWBY presented a petition from Bath against beer-houses. PRIVATE BILLS. O❑ the motion of Lord REDESDALE several private Bills were forwarded a stage. POOR-LAWS (IRELAND). The Earl of GLENGALL complained of the conduct of certain poor-rate collectors in the west of Ireland. In one instance twenty sheep, belonging to a mail who owed no poor-rates, had been seized on the land of a de faulter, and sold for 21.,, and they had been bought by the poor-rate collector himself. The parishioners of va rious parishes in Galway had expressed their fears of the consequences of the number of ejectments sued out by the Law Life Insurance Company of London, who had brought 970 ejectments, and those 970 families would be thrown upon the poor-rates for support. The Marquis cf LANSDOWNE was understood to say that inquiry should be made into the circumstances. LAW REFORM—COUNTY COURTS BILL. Lord BROUGHAM said that many objections had been made to the Bill for extending the jurisdiction of county courts to bankruptcy cases. One of those objections was that it made the operation of the clause enforcing residence on the judges, and debarring them from prac tice, prospective. He thought there was force in the objection, end would, when he again proposed the Bill, make it retrospective; hitt he did not intend to proceed further with the Bill during the present session. With regard to the other Bill fur extending equitable jurisdiction to the county courts, he felt con vinced that some such measure was requisite to render convenient or at all tolerable and bearable to the country the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery, and he was therefore extremely sorry that he did not feel that he was in a position to propose to their Lord ships to proceed further with this Bill during the present session. BURGESSES AND FREEMEN PARLIAMEN TARY FRANCHISE BILL. Lord BEAUMONT moved the second reading of this Bill. The Small Tenements Rating Act bad incidentally disfranchised a large number of persons, to whom it was the objrct of the present Bill to restore the franchise. The Marquis of SALISBURY objected to the Bill, because it conferred on the owner practically the right of conferring the franchise on his tenant, or of with drawing it from him. He hoped this error would be corrected in Committee, but he would not oppose the second reading of the Bill. Lord PORTM.AN supported the Bill. Lord BEAUMONT would bo happy to consider the subject in Committee, and if the words of the clause gave to the owner the power of conferring the franchise or depriving a tenant of it, he would consent to any alte ration in the clause which should guard against such an occurrence. The Bill was then read a second time. Lord WHARNCLIFFE presented a petition from the inhabitants of St. Leonard's, against being included with Hastings in the General Board of Health Bill. On the motion of the Marquis of CLANRICARDE, the Attorneys' and Solicitors' Regulation Act Amend ment Bill went through Committee. SYNOD OF THURLES. Lord MONTAGUE took an opportunity to correct a misstatement of what fell from him the other evening on the subject of certain resolutions having relation to the proceedings at the recent Synod of Thurles. He had been made to say that when certain resolutions condemnatory of the Queen's Colleges were passed at the Synod of Thurles, such was the strong feeling evinced by some of the Roman Catholic clergy and Ivity that these resolu tions bad not been forwarded to Rome. The observa tions he made ha&reference, not to the resolutions in question, which had been forwarded to Rome, but to counter resolutions which were passed after the original resolutions had been agreed to. MERCHANT SEAMEN'S FUND. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH rose to move for a copy of it repo - it from Mr. Alexander Glen Finlaison to the Right Hon. H. Labouchere on the Merchant Sea men's Fund, dated March 18, 1850, and laid before the House of Commons, and by them ordered to be printed on the 26th of March, 1850; also any reports received by the Board of Trade since the report of the Commis sion of 1848, relating to the present condition and pro spects of the Merchant Seamen's Fund. The Noble Lord said he viewed with the greatest regret the mea sure introduced by her Majesty's Government for wind leg up the Merchant Seamen's Fund. He could not hope to prevail on Government to desist from pressing forward their measure, but he hoped he should be able 'to state reasons that would satisfy the Noble Lord con !nected with the Board of Trade that it would be un- 'wise to Carry the measure into effect according to its provisions. The Noble Lord hero went into a history of the Merchant Seamen's Fund, which was established to provide pensions to worn-out seamen, the widow 3 of seamen, and their children. After reciting the various legislative changes which had taken place since the first Act was passed, the Noble lord brought down his statement to 1844, when the 'fund had so dwindled down that Government deter mined to wind it up, and to make new rules, which hud been embodied in the Government Bill. He proposed to draw attention to one or two parts of this Bill, because the question was of much import ance,inasmucb as it affected the feelings and interests of all the seamen in the merchant navy—seamen's widows and seamen's orphans. The persons to be af fected by the Bill were of all others the most deserving of kind consideration. Ono provision of the Bill was, that no contribution was to be received from any person after a specified period, Government only undertaking to bear the weight of the pensions already incurred. Now there were a number of persons who were entitled to pensions, but to whom pensions had not yet been granted, who had paid their contributions regularly, who had thererefore an inchoate right to a pension, and yet who would be deprived of their right by the careless way, he would not say the insidious way, in which certain pro visions had been introduced into the Bill. The provision he particularly wished to draw attention to was the one which provided that seamen who had contributed for an aggregate period of sixty months were required to con tribute continuously for two years more, otherwise they would forfeit all claim to relief from the fund, their widows and children. Now, it must be recollected that a great dumber of seamen acquired right to these pen sions every year. These persons had contributed for five years, and yet they were required by the Bill to con tribute tor two years longer. He would show their Lordships how unjustly this provision would work. From a calculation made in 1847, it appeared about 800 seamen acquired yearly a right to relief from this, they being worn out in the service. Of necessity this number for two years would be deprived of pensions because they could not comply with the conditions of the Bill by contributing continuously for the next two years to the fund. There would be at least 1,600 persons thus unjustly deprived of their pensions. But this num ber would b 3 greatly augmented, because such a thing as continuous payment was not known in the administra tion of the Merchant Seamen's Fund. The seaman only paid during the time he was employed, and as he was only ' employed about nine months in each year, a young sea man would thus be seven years before he could work out his five years' payments, and nearly four years before he could work out his 24 months' continuous payment. The operation of this provision would extend the number of 1,600 to which he had referred, to 3,200 and more, and thus this large number of deserving persons would be deprived of pensions to which they had a just claim. 'rho provision for continuous payment was absurd, and would practically deprive a vast numder of persons entitled by right to pensions. The result would be that the con tinuouspaytmheenGt w o • v o e u r i n d m n e o n t t w bec o o u n ld ttinuhuedsbbe deprived of ndthefive all years'and resources for the payment of those pensions to sea men. There was mother provision of the Bill which was equally objectionable —namely, that all pensions to be granted hereafter should bo granted on a uniform scale, according to the average rate of the pre sent pensions. At the present moment the pensions in some ports were extremely liberal; Liverpool, for in stance, where it amounted to nearly 121. a year; but in some of the smaller ports to which worn-out seamen went, and whore the wages being less the contributions were smaller, they did not amount to more than 12s. Could anything be more preposterous than that they should be all reduced to one level? Those who had been in the receipt of the 12/. per annum had, moreover, es tablished their rights by usage, and yet the Bill pro posed to deprive them of those rights by establishing ono uniform rate, which would average no more than 523. the year. No doubt many seamen would obtain en ad vantage by this; but it would be entirely at the expense of others. But that was not all. The average number of pensions, it was provided, was not to exceed the aver age number granted at each port each year for the last five years. This would be a manifest injustice and wrong. A.t Liverpool, for instance, there were a greater number granted last year than in the year before, and a greater number that year than in the year preceding it; and the .same held good at many other ports of the kingdom. But taking the average of the last five years would be to take a smaller number than that of last year of the pen sions given in each class, and consequently the injustice and the wrong was made manifest. There was then a provision that the aggregate amount of pensions should not exceed the amount of the preceding year, until the new rules came into operation—no doubt to place a check upon the trustees; but how would this act? In the first eleven months of the present year as many pen sions had been granted as in the whole of the past year; and consequently, whatever might happen—however much destitution might prevail—the trustees would be wholly powerless to deal with it. These points he re commended to the attention of the Noble Earl and her Majesty's Government. lie did not for a moment sup pose that her Majesty's Government would intentionally or knowingly do wrong to the seamen, but he certainly did thick that they had been guilty of a most culpable error in the preparation of these propositions. It was with a feeling of the deepest regret, humiliation, and shame, that he saw the determination of her Majesty's Government to wind up accounts in this affair. All the other Governments of Europe—France, Austria, as re garded Venice, Rome even— made a fitting provision for their worn-out seamen; while England, who depended on that class for the dominion of the seas, and who in the next war might have, as she had done before, to de pend upon them for her safety—for her very existence —for all, threw the obligation of providing for them in their old age and infirmity to the winds, and commended them to the mercy of boards of guar dians to get relief as they best could from an unwilling or indifferent community. He could not bear to look at the possible event in this case. Ho had been always taught to look on them as the fa voured children of the state, and he always considered them in the same light as ho did seamen of ships of war. According to old practice, and under the authority of Acts of Parliament, the Crown had a right to call on their servioel. He looked upon it, therefore, tt9 1111 se . • • , SANITARt STATE OF THE METROPOLIS. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY gave notice for Mon day to call the attention of the House to Mr. Grainger's report on the sanitary state of some portion of the me tropolis. The House then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. July 10 MERCHANT SEAMEN'S FUND BILL. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) After a short discussion, in which Lord J. Manners, Mr. Wawn, Sir G. Fichell, Mr. Forster, Mr. Duncan, and other Hon. Members took part, the clause was withdrawn. The Chairmen was then ordered to report progress and ask leave to sit again, and the House having re sumed he did so accordingly. LANDS CLAUSES CONSOLIDATION (IRE- LAND) BILL. The House then went into Committee on this Bill. Several clauses were agreed to, and the Chairman re. ported progress and obtained leave to sit again. The House then adjourned until Five o'clock. The House reaumed at Five o'clock. PETITIONS. Sir J. PAKINGTON presented a petition from the Agricultural Society of the Island of St. Christopher complaining of distress in the West Indies, and praying that British subjects might be protected against unfair competition with the foreigner. M s r.SOTHEßONpresenied a petition from the county , of Wilts, in favour of the repeal of the attorney? certi ficate duty. Mr. HUME presented a petition from Boston, com plaining of the conduct of Sir J. Brooke in Borneo. Mr. J. STUART presented a petition from the Isle of Skye, complaining of distress in that island, and praying that advances might be made by the Govern ment for the purpose of relieving the destitution of the people. THE CRYSTAL PALACE. Mr. STAFFORD gave notice that tomorrow he would move for a copy of the deed of covena❑t, and the conditions attached thereto, with regard to granting the site for the Great Exhibition, in Hyde•park. NEW' WRITS. Mr. HAYTER moved for a new writ for Scarborough, in the room of the Hon. George Augustus Phipps, styled the Earl of Mulgrare, who since his election had ac cepted the office of Comptroller of her Atijesty's House hold.—Agreed to. Mr. HAYTER also moved for a new writ for the borough of Arundel, in the room of the Earl of Arun del and Surrey. who had accepted the office of Steward of her Majesty's Chiltern Hundreds.—Agreed to. Mr. FORBES presented a petition from Stirling in favour of the Attorneys' Certificate Bill. OCCUPATION OF ROME BY THE FRENCH TROOPS. Mr. 13. COCHRANE asked the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, in the absence of the Foreign Secretary, whether any communications had lately been received by her Majesty's Government with regard to the occupation of Rome by the French troops; also, whether her Majesty's Government had heard that Civita Vecchia and other stations about Rome bad been fortified with a view to the accommadation of 10,000 ad. ditional troops about to be sent from France; also, if a permanent occupation were contemplated by France, whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Govern ment to acquiesce in that occupation? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that no communications such as were alluded to had been received by her Ma jesty's Government, therefore he could not answer the questions put to him. With regard to the last question, he could only say that from the last communications re ceived, he was induced to believe that it was not the in tention of the French Government permanently to oc cupy Rome. THE WESTMINSTER SEWERS. Viscount DUNCAN asked the Chief Commissioner of Woods, Forests, and Works, &c., whether any and what amount of damage has been done to the houses and property of the Crown by the operations of the Commissioners of Sewers in constructing their new sewers in Westminster, and whether any claim for compensation will be made on that account. He also asked the Noble Lord whether it was true that the infernal machine erected by the Commissioners in Palace-yard last year had destroyed the foundations of the Comptroller-General's offices? Lord SEYMOUR said that last year he had remon strated with the Commissioners on the dangerous con sequences of their proceedings. These remonstrances bad, however, no:effect, and he had now to state that all those buildings in the vicinity of the sewer age operations of the Commissioners, including the United Service:Museum and the old Exchequer bill Office were more or less damaged. The claim for compensation rested with the occupants, and not with the Crown, and no doubt they would be able to obtain it.—(Hear, hear.) The Chief Justices Salaries Bill was read a third time and passed. INHABITED HOUSE DUTY BILL. On tbe motion for the third reading of this Bill, Mr. DISRAELI said he could not let that opportu nity pass without again expressing his disapprobation of the Bill; which he considered was one of the most im politic financial measures that could be introduced under existing oircumstances.—(Hear, hear.) He believed that very few months would elapse ere the country would regret that such a measure had received the sanction of the House. After a few words from Lord JOHN RUSSELL, the Bill was read a third time and passed. ASSESSED TAXES COMPOSITION BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. PUBLIC WORKS, FISHERIES, &c., BILL. This Bill was also read a third time and passed. DUBUC WORKS (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was also read a third time and passed. PRIVATE LUNATIC ASYLUMS (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was read a second time. TURNPIKE ROADS (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was read a srcond time. UNLAWFUL OATHS (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was also read a second time. SIR JAMES BROOKE. AND BORNEO. Mr. HUME moved - Co; an address to her Majesty, that she will be graciously pleased to appoint her Royal Commission to inquire into the proceedings of Sir James Brooke on the north-western coast of Borneo, since his appointment as her Majesty's " Commissioner and Consul-General to the Sultan and Independent Chiefs_of Borneo;" and, especially, into the attack made by her Majesty's and the Honourable East India Company's naval forces, under his advice and di rection, on certain wild tribes of that island, called the Sakarran and Sarebas Dyaks, on the night of the 31st July, 1849 ; and further that her Majesty will graciously command, that the opinion of her Majesty's judges be taken and laid by her Majesty's Ministers before this House, touching the legality or otherwise of th e h o ldi ng by Sir James Brooke, at one and the same time, of the following ap parently incompatible offices, viz., of sovereign ruler of Sarawak, he being a British subject; of her Majesty's Commissioner and Consul-General to the Sultan and independent chiefs of Borneo, he, Sir James Brooke, residing at Sarawak, where there is no independent Chief; and also of the appointment of Governor of the British settlement of Labuan, distant 300 miles from Sarawak, at which British settlement Sir James Brooke has not been actually present more than a few months during the last three years. The Hon. Gentleman said he had at last obtained an opportunity of calling the al,. tention of the House to transactions which had long been before the public, end to which he had given e 1851. great deal of consideration. He was sorry that, on the last occasion when this subject was introduced, some Hon. Members diverted the attention of the House from what was a question of public interest to a question of certain squabbles between private individuals, and he now wished the subject to be considered as of great national importance, and as affecting the honour and the cha racter of this country. He had been asked that very day, " Why do you introduce a question of this kind after so long a period has elapsed, and when, the matter being passed, it cannot be remedied?" He could not for a moment acquiesce in any such opinion, and he was anxious to remind the House that he had endeavoured from a very early period to bring the question before their consideration, but he must say he never knew a question which was kept in so much doubt and secrecy, or in which he had encountered so much difficulty in obtaining from the Government those official documents and papers which ought to have been laid on the table long ago. His attention had been first drawn to the subject by an extract from a Singapore newspaper which appeared in the Daily News of the sth of June, 1849, and which stated that in March and April the naval force of the Nemesis, belongieg to the East India Company, and in the pay of the British Govern ment, had joined a collection of prahus with Sir James Brooke, and had proceeded to attack certain portions of the Dyaks of Sarebas and Sakarran rivers, in the island of Borneo; but the para graph which most attracted his attention was the one in w hi c h it was asked whether it was creditable to our naval forces to aid or take part in cruel butche ries, and brutal murders of the helpless and the de fenceless. After reading this account ho (Mr. Hume) came down to the House and asked the Firt Lord of the Admiralty if any dispatch had been received from the Nemesis? The answer of Sir F. Baring was, that there was no account whatever. Now it was well known that every naval officer in command was bound, by the regu lations of the service, to dispatch to the Admiralty, on the first opportunity, an account of any transactions of this nature in which he had been engaged. On the 4th of February, 1850, when the House met, he again re peated his question whether the Government had re ceived any official information respecting the massacre of the Bornean Dyaks; but on that occasion also he failed in obtaining the papers. On the 20th of March he moved for copies of Sir Francis Collyer's orders to Captain Farquhar. Sir F. Baring replied that some of the papers he had not got, and one he apprehended he should have to write out for; but he had no objection to their production—that was to say, when he could get them. Again, on the 23d of May, 1850, when the vote for pirate head money was proposed, he repeated his desire for the official papers, and for a copy of Cap tain Farquhar's instructions ; but these instructions had never yet been produced. He mentioned these circumstances to show that he, at all events, was not chargeable with the delay which had occurred; be cause he had done everything in his power to bring the question before the House at an earlier opportunity. He then referred to the transactions that occurred in July, 1849, when from 1,500 to 2,000 persons were slain by discharges of musketry and grape-shot, when they were incapable of making any resistance, and when, in point of fact, they had offered no resistance. He maintained that the extermination of these persons under the pretence that they were pirates was not justifiable. He denied that the persons so slain were pirates; that they did not use the boats which pirates used; that they were not armed as pirates, and that they did not belong to the same race as those described to be pirates in the paper circulated that day and delivered to members by her Majesty'e. Ministers. But then, he said, that even if they were pirates, they should have been captured and tried, and not destroyed when they were making no re sistance. It was a violation of the law so to slay them; and it was, also, a violation of the treaty entered into by this country on the 27th of May, 1547, with the Sulta❑ of Borneo. There was nothing done on the part of these alleged pirates to justify the extreme measure adopted by Sir James Brooke. The orders of Sir Thomas Cochrane, the commander in chief of the squadron on the coast, were, that the vessels of these pirates were to be seized and detained. His orders, however, were grossly violated by the blowing-up of their boats, and the massacre of their unfortunate crews. Sir Thomas Cochrane, on the sth of March, subsequently, stated by the adoption of this course there was a nen-acquiescence. with the Act of Parliament, with the treaty entered into, end with the orders of the Admiralty. As he (Mr. Hume) found it impossible to obtain from the Govern ment or the East India Company a tittle of evidence to prove that the Sarebas or Saftarran were at all mixed up. with any warlike operations against the British forces, he would now quote, in support of his argument, the opinion of Sir James Brooke in reference to the Sakar ran—he said they were a tribe that only armed them selves with spear and sword; they knew nothing of the musket or fire-arm; that from their great dread of fire arms they were sure to fly away in the utmost terror upon a shot being fired. That was sufficient to show that these, at all events, were not very formidable ene mies. A'boek had been published by a Mr. George Windsor Erle, which stated that Sarawak was a place of much importance, and bad made great progress in the way of commercial enterprise. Captain Daniel, who had commanded a ship upon the coast, had written to him (Mr. Hume) in the latter part of last year, in reply to a communication from him. stating that during the entire time of his stay there he had never fallen in with any of the pirates referred to, nor had he heard of them attack ing any British vessel. He (Mr. Hume) had also a letter from an officer at Plymouth, dated Dec. 5, 1850, who stated that during his 16 months' stay upon the coast of Borneo he had never a' en one pirate, which greatly dis appointed him, as he had heard that the coast abound, d with them. I❑ the inquiry for which he (Mr. Hume) sought he was solely iefluenced by a desire to tee the character of this c• untry kept up, and the cause of hu manity respected. What bad the Government done since he first asked for this it quire ? They had abandoned the system of head-money, after having expended a great many thousands of pounds in the destruction of innocent end unfortunate men. That, at all events, went far to show that such a system was unjust and improper. He had written to Dr. Miller, who was a surge on em ployed upon that memorable and unfortunate occasion, who gave similar testimony to that he had already quoted. The Hon. Member, having quoted the opinions of Lieutenant Rideut, Captain Barker, and Captain Has tings, said he made this appeal to the House and the Government, upon the positive evidence he adduced, to grant this inquiry. At the end of the last session a let ter was addressed to him by a gentleman who was for several years stationed at Singapore. The writer said that he fully concurred in the remarks he had made in the House of Commons on the subject—that the case was one which demanded the fullest inquiry, and that he had no hesitation in saying that he would as soon go on a trading voyage to Borneo as to any part of the British empire. He then proceeded to denounce the destruction of these pirates as a massacre and a murder of the worst description. An address, signed by a great number of the inhabitants of Singapore, had been forwarded to him (Mr. Hume), whiah stated their approval of his in tention to move for dais inquiry, and denying that the parties so cruelly treated deserved the cha racter that was given them. He thought that the Noble Lord could not refute his assent to this in quiry. In addition to his other arguments in favour of his motion, he*evould point to a letter addressed by Sir James Brooke himself to Lord Palmerston, in which he stated that he had no objection whatever to such an in quiry. Was it possible to suppose that Sir James Brooke's character could be cleared up without an in • qairy ? This gentleman was the only man who de nounced these pirates. It was utterly impossible that they could be such as they were represented with the class of boats which it was admitted they used. He thought he had made out a very strong case for the in quiry. He might be told that there was the certificate of the recorder at Singapore standing in the way of his motion. He, however, contended that a certificate given by Sir C. Rawlinson at Malacca should not prevent the inquiry for which he sought. Sir C. Rawlinson said that the depositions of certain witnesses had been taken be fore him; but where were they? Why were they not produced? Not a single man of the 2,000. in respect to whom the certificate was given, was brought before him. But he said, also, that the depositions of certain other witnesses who were absent from the jurisdiction of the court were taken under certain commissions issued by him. But Sir James Brooke, who had made this attack, was the first commissioner. The depositions were also taken before the Rev. F. M`Dosvell and Arthur C. Cruiltshank. The only other evidence was the affidavit of Sir James Brooke himself, which was at variance with all his previous proceedings, and was evidently got up for the purpose; besides, who ever beard of attach ing any weight to the testimony of ono so deeply inte rested in the event? The judge ought never to have admitted it, and on that account alone inquiry was ne cessary. As to the address which had neen referred to, ho attached no weight to ir, for he had in his posses sion an analysis which showed that it was signed by only 13 out of 27 houses. An address from Batavia bad also been published in the papers; but when was that got up? In January, 1851. Th ere was no question , l said Sir J. Brooke, as to the existence of piracy, and the necessity for its suppression. No one would de ny this, and the Dutch and Sp an i ar d s b a d bean engaged in a praiseworthy manner i n attac ki ng the Illanoons Soo loos, the real pirates ; b ut h e d en i e d that the poor Dyaks belonged to that cl ass . Hi s on l y object was to have an inquiry into a matter in which the cause of humanity was involved, and as the Government bad adopted the proceedings of Sir J. Brooke, it wa s a q uestion h ow far they might b e i mp li cate d , an d it was therefore n ecessary, both for the character of the country, the Government, and of Sir J. Brooke himself, that an inquiry should be instituted. There was a nother point on which he wished to say a few words. Be had asked the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs in what capacity Sir J. Brooke had acted. He asked whether he held the ap pointmeat of Consul -General. The answer was, yes. lie then asked the UndefaSecretary for the Colonies whether be held the appointment of Governor of La buan ; and he said he still remained Governor. Be then asded the Noble Lord at the head of Foreign Affairs whether he had any official information that the Presi dent of the United States had recognised the Raja I Brooke as the ruler of an independent state, and in that point of view he was to be regarded by British and other subjects. The Noble Lord stated that a commu nication bad been received from the President of the United States desiring to establish a treaty of com merce with Sarawak, but none was concluded; that Sarawak was not a British territory: and as to the rela tion in which Sir J. Brooke stood towards it be knew nothing, and could only say that the British Govern ment had given him no power to exercise sovereign au thority there. He had, therefore, not obtained the sanc tion of the British Government, and, therefore, could not legally held poser there. This was plain from the opinion given by Dr. Lushington respecting the right of the New Zealand Association to hold land in 1841. On this ground alone, if there were no other, an inquiry might be justified. It was fitting that they should know by what authority this murder of 2,000 men had been , committed, for which we had paid 00 dearly. lie much lamented that the late Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth was no longer among them, b k e: cause he held a letter ill his hand from the late Rig'', Hon. Baronet, in which he expressed an opinion ihs' delay would be dangerou's, that an inquiry ought to take place. He said he had read with great pain the facp which had been stated, out would suspend his judgeier', -until a full explanation he d been given. It was that ill' explanation which he (Mr. Hume) sought. It was Pt sible that he might be wrong, but still respect for t. " feelings of large bodies of men, for the character of thie country, and cf Sir J. Brooke himself, ought to induce the Government to support his motion, and he should d have great satisfaction if the result of the inquiry oh° prove that he was mistaken. He would, therefore, COl l. dude by moving the address. Mr. HEADLAM said ho bad listened with great tention to the speech of the Hon. Member for Montre: on this subject last year, and he never in his life ger% vote with a more decided conviction of itspropriety th e , when on that occasion he voted in a majority of 16 ," which negatived the motion, in opposition to 20. (I-Tear, hear.) The Hon. ,ember complained of 1 1 ° ° ' Members not confiring themselves to the charges 1)( 3 1 the House, but when a high-minded gentleman iseberg e e with something very like murder, those who made th j, charge must not be surprised if the friends of Sir Brooke sought to trace tnese calumnies to their source; —(Cheers.) Lawyers had a maxim that no man who had been once acquitted ought to be again tried for ar same offence.—(Hear, hear.) This doctrine, aloe!, true in general, he did not wish to carry to any sta g '? extent, and ho therefore admitted that in ,matters °4 great public interest an exception might be made; on had the Hon. Member for Montrose now brought i br .: ward any very important evidence which was not befel' il the House on the former occasion, or shown any ree, ll° m for reversing the decision of the House, he rrilg o have been justified in again dragging Sir J. /3 0)° , b0 forward before the country; but after listening le `„d Hon. Member with the greatest attention, he was ban to say that he had adduced no material evideneet whatever on this occasion which he !night n ° have brought forward last year—(Hear, be° o l and with respect to the new docementary evidence, I made the case of Sir J. Brooke infinitely strongert lllll before.—(Hear.) The motion asked, in the first p , for an inquiry into the proceedings of Sir J. Basal secondly, secceally, for an inquiry Data the attack o f the 31st u' d July, 1849; and, thirdly, asked her Majesty t o coulees, that certain questions of state policy might be Ow; misted to the judges. Now, it was not customary confound questions of state policy with indictments le o i murder.—(Hear, hear.) But he would pass to the red charge against Sir J. Brooke, which seemed to be t hii, The Hon. Member for Montrose said that these tr ibe" the Sarebas and Sakarrans, were not pirates, but 1 0 1 less unoffending people, and perfectly incapable, f r° , want of civilization and development, from doing and harm to any one, leas , of all to Europeans; that all tads had done was to carry on intertribal wars, and 0 0 they had never committed piracy; that at all ev eli ii they had not committed any at that time, and even 0 they bad that an unnecessary degree of cruelty bed 130 : 0 exercised. What evidence had they on the subject ?the addition to the abundant testimony already - before tu House, documents had been laid on the table that ea which most completely confirmed that testimony ° it , respect to the cruel massacres perpetrated by the,et pirates. Borneo, as the Honourable Member I ° o Montrose observed, was a large place; but he, were references to the very tribes and places ,"; question by their names.—(Hear.) It appeared tho; though the Dyaks from Sarebas and Sakarran were ° l/ themselves very strong in arms, they were joined be Malays and Arabs shereefs. In the papers laid bef nr them that morning, he found a report quoted, dated t ot tober, 1830, which recommended that these pirate should be attacked when they bad returned to their re; treats. Great stress had been laid upon the fact til e d there were several vessels from this country which 11 . s never seen any pirates; but it should be re member s ; that piracies in these seas took place only during a CC , tarn period of the year, and it was absurd to say that tarn vessels having seen no pirates, therefore none e i isted there. Why, so far back us the year 1834, we w ere in treaty with the ling of the Netherlands for the es press purpose of putting.; down piracy in the MalaY e d Archipelago, and the King of the Netherlands adePS' e d measure:, for suppressing it. In addition to this, we ut i a treaty with Borneo to put an end to it. Sir Jam`' „ Brooke had received instructions from the N 0 Lord at the Foreign-office to use his po w er and l; fluence with the same object in view, a n d numern" e" representations had come from the mercantile ear muuity complaining of piracy. Under these c ircern; i stances it was that Sir James Brooke, when h e had adopted the very best mode of suppressnS piracy, was deno u nced in this House and before tl re country as the murderer of an uncffending race of meni (Hear, hear.) The Hon. Memb e r th en rea d a let l !,'", which had b ee n written by a n ava l o ffi cer at p re sent the coast guard, and formerly serving on board O. Ariadne ship of war in the Indian Seas, i n w hich 111 writer bore his personal testimony to the existence ° pirates on the coast of Borneo, and stated that on nil . occasion he himself narrowly escaped with his life fr'r e them; and that at another time an attack upon t he Ariadne by three prahus filled with men was prevent% only by firing a 24-pound shot across their bows. Iv ,writer added that he thought an instance like the' ; where a vessel of war had deen attacked by the° "daring robbers." was sufficient to convince even Die. !Cobden himself of the piratical character of the t r ibes.;' Captain(Laughter, and Hear, hear.) In the year 1844, Captain Keppell was engaged in similar operations against the tDe lass of Sarebas, and his conduct was then acknoi r ledge(' and approved by the company at Singapore, th e ( commander-in-chief on the station, and the Lords the Admiralty. Captain Keppell said that on that ced e eion the pirates were the first to fire, and that is lest than a quarter of an hour they were driven from th e ' s guns. Mr. COBDEN (we understood)—You said just O W they bad no fire-arms. Mr. HE ADLAM—No. What he bud said was that . the D} aks, taken by themselves, had not many fire-arm s '' but that they were in communication with and under the influence of the Arab shereefa, and that when the Corr bined fleet went forth—composed of Dyaks and shereg e and Malays—they were armed with fire-arms.—(Hea r ' hear.) Captain Keppell then proceeded to say that PO less than 56 guns of various sizes were taken, as well al i , a vast quantity of ammunition; that a ton and a half 01 gunpowder fell into the hands of our people, and th° besides this 200 piratical boats were destroyed. After having punished the two principal tribes of the pirate.' Captain Keppell next determined on attacking the tribe's who furnished the fire-arms, who mustered 10,000 v , i l r; riots, and could put to sea with a hu n dr e d p ra h u s; and he stated in his report that the interests of British coal' merce Would be greatly advanced by the continuance of measures for the suppression of piracy in those seas. A n he meant by that was, that after making these example s sEirete slight supervision might be exercised, s o as to prevent the renewed growth of these piratical corona; nitiea and their return to their former practices; an' Captain Keppell and Sir J. Brooke seemed both to enter fain the opinion that very little force would be necessary for that purpose. But this plan was not adopted, and the result was, that the tribes, forgetting what had taken place, agai_n resorted to their old practices, and in, consequence a similar example of them was require d to be made in 1849 With regard to this question of " piracy," he confessed that he was a little stir prised at hearing the doctrine which had been pro pounded by the Hon. Member for Montrose. The Hon. Member seemed to think that in respect to pirate s who roamed about the seas murdering men and women , and destroying all the vessels that came within tbeil reach, no step was to be taken except to capture them and bring them to trial under the 3d and 4th Victoria -a' (Hear, hear, and a laugh)—that when the pirates w ere returning from a marauding Expedition to the river from which they had sailed forth, a steamer and one or two boats were then to catch them; that instead o f pre venting their issue from the river in the first place, the forces were to wait until they had seen the act of piracy committed, and afterwards proceed to capture and try them according to law. He (Mr. Headier's) could not agree that that was the best mode of suppressing piracy' He did not thirk that such a course bad ever heel adopted by any na tion in the hi story o f t h e wor ld, on °1 he did cot believe that that was the intention of the treaties_ between this country and the Netherlands, end Sir James Brooke and the. Sultan of Borneo. A quer tion might arise as to what constituted piracy, and Sir James very properly stated that it appeared clear to him that the plunder or seizure of a peaceful trader on the high seas constituted an act of piracy without referenc e to colour or nation. The good effects of Captain Kep pell's operations against the pirates were stated by Si r James Brooke to consist in the fact that they no longer ventured to take the sea in force, and that the loss of life and injury to commerce had greatly diminished. nes° good effects, he said, continued for two years; but in 184 6 he was convinced that the former habits of the people were too strongly planted in them to be eradicated by peaceful means, and that the impression produced WV ° them had gradually worn off. In that year their depre' dations at sea became more frequent, though not 0 ' a formidable character, and after his departure for England, in 1847, the pirates threw off all reserve sad hara,sed the trade as much as before. In consequence Sir James made representations to the Commander-in-Chief in the Indian seas, who, after satisfying himself of the facts, ordered Commander Parker to make a similar at tack to that which had been made with so much success in 1844. These instructions of Rear-Admiral Collier had been produced. and they completely justified Come mender Parker in the course he had pursued—(Hear) —and not a word was contained in them which showed that the admiral entertained the slightest doubt of the Propriety of making such an attack. It was said thiss European vessels bad not been assailed in the Malayan' Archipelago. But let the House observe the mode its which the trade was carried on in those seas. Vessels' were sent from this country to Singapore, and from thence their merchandise was conveyed in small Dyak boats, to the coast cif Borneo, and it was against those small boats that the acts of piracywere committed. And if the pirates put a stop to this trensit of European goods from Singapore to the coast of Borneo, surely it WO practically the same, as far as injury to commerce and to particular trans was concerned, as if European yes sets themselves had been attacked. But, in point of fact. European vessels had been attacked, though he ad mitted ihe number wits not very great.—(Hear, hear-) With regard to the allegation of cruelty which had been brought against Sir James Brooke, the Hon. Member quoted a passage from a letter of Commander Parker , to the eff, ct that when a consultation took place on board of one of her Majesty's ships on the Borneaa coast, with the view of making arrangements for a cut ting off" about 3,000 of the pirates who had escaped in the action of the previous day, Sir James Brooke de' cidedly rejected the proposal, as one which was calea; lated to occasion "an unnecessary effusion of blood; The Hon. Gentleman then read a letter from the Bisho2 of Calcutta to thaw that the rule of b'ir Joao Brooke ill Baral chart 4. crate 880. I !tat(' indef Rev. try, even, ray f t of th. has