The Sun. — London, England, 1845-11-01 00:00:00

TILE CORN TRADE. (From the MaeJa-lane Express.) The fine weather experi.enced during the past fortnight bas in some measure allr4red the uneasiness previously felt 'respecting the fate of tliat portion of the crop so long exposed In the fields, and w` thin the last eight days harvest opera pions havti t ain 'oedh resumed. That all the corn not secured rev ious t e 13th of September must have been materially fnjured by e almost constant wet weather which prevailed reom that time till the termination of the first week in the ipreeent month, is greatly to be feared, and though the grain = n ay, under the improved aspect of affairs, be carried in rather better order than appeared probable a fortnight ago, OA it is much to be apprehended that the result of the har vest will prove even worse in the northern parts of the king dom, than is unfortunately the case in the southern districts. its yet, little can be known as to the extent of the defic i ency In the more backward parts; but, judging from the almost %universal complaints of the yield from those counties where ea comparatively good return was expected, there is too much reason to conclude that the total growth of wheat will this -year fall very far short of that of average seasons. The trade lb the article has, nevertheless, lost some portion of the ani mation by which it has of late been characterized, not, we believe; from any change of opinion respecting the deficiency in the yield and quality of the crop, but owing to a somewhat economise( consumption, in consequence of the very rapid and material rise which has already taken place in the value of bread stuffs. This is a perfectly natural state of affairs; an advance of 15s. to 20s. per quarter in the space of a couple sof months must, it may readily be conceived, cause many Fellers to come forward, whilst parties having stocks on hand )nay be expected to feel a disposition to work them up pretty ctosely, before entering into fresh investments at so greatly enhanced rates. Nothing has, however, transpired to allow ass to hope that the reports of the defective nature of the wheat crop have been in the slightest degree exaggerated; inn the contrary, every day furnishes fresh evidence that the 7ield per acre, as well as the weight and quality, are to the a 3 inferior as was at any time anticipated would be the case. ' Relative to the failure of the potato crop, the complaints have also become more and more serious ; we are therefore inclined to think that the slight check which has this week been given to the upward movement in prices will prove only temporary, and are by no means inclined to alter in the slightest the substance of our previously expressed opinion regarding the probable range of the value of bread stuffs later in the year. At the same time we must remark that we deem it by no means unlikely that when farmers shall have finished the autumn sowing, and have leisure for threshing,' the deliveries may, for a period, exceed the quan tity immediately required, and by this means they may cause a small decline in prices ; but knowing that we can have no important supplies from abroad before late in the spring, we feel pretty certain that quotations of wheat will be higher in December and January next than they are at present. Considering the favourable opportunity which has been afforded by the fine weather of the last fortnight for pre paring the land, the supplies from the growers have been rather larger than might have been anticipated, and at several of the leading provincial markets the quantity of 'wheat brought forward, has more than kept pace with the uiry. Of spring corn en the other hand, the deliveries been short, and an impetus having been given to the demand for all articles suitable for feeding, in consequence of the spread of the potato disease, barley and oats, as well as beans and peas, have commanded advanced rates in all parts of the kingdom. We observe from some of our Scotch letters that a new :source of uneasiness has sprung up in that country, viz. the safety of the turnip crop. There are well authenticated re ports that this bulb has been attacked by worm to an extent threatening materially to det.act from the produce; but as these complaints apply only to a particular district, we trust the mischief will prove of a local character. The potato disorder, or murrain, as it is there termed, seems to be quite as serious in the north as in the south, and the excitement occasioned thereby had, by the latest advices, in no degree abated. At Edinburgh, on Wednesday, all descriptions of grain were in active request. The value of wheat under went Is further rise of 2s. per quarter. Barley was quoted ls. to 2s. higher than on that day week, and a similar enhance ment took place in prices of oats, beans and peas. The ad vices from Glasgow of the same date are of an equally ex citing character, and quotations are now higher in the northern than in the southern markets. From Ireland the letters confirm to the fullest extent the previous statement regarding the potato rot ; in many dis tricts which were supposed to have escaped, the disorder is reported to have shown itself; in addition to which, a further cause of uneasiness has arisen, owing to the manner in which the potatoes, apparently sound when dug, had afterwards gone off; this circumstance having given rise to a doubt whether the seemingly healthy portion of the crop would keep through the winter, holders of corn had refused to sell 'except at very high terms, and important as has been the re cent rise in prices in the English markets, the upward move ment on the other side of the Channel has more than kept pace with the advance here. The arrivals of wheat coastwise into London have amounted 'to 14,709 starters up to this (Saturday) evening; a large proportion of the supply has gone direct to the millers, and the quantity exhibited at Mark-lane has been quite moderate. On Wednesday the show of samples consisted of a few runs from Essex, Kent, and Suffolk, mostly of ordinary quality; the millers were certainly less inclined to purchase than in the beginning of the week, and some difficulty was experienced in effecting sales at Monday's quotations. On Friday, how ever, the trade again resumed a more healthy tone, and the little wheat offering was easily placed at former terms. Foreign free wheat has throughout the week been saleable in spell quantities at previous prices. Bonded parcels have 'been a good deal inquired for, but the exorbitant demands of Id/tiers have tended to check business. On Friday there was scarcely any kind of red wheat offered below 545. to 555., and it was reported that 60s. per quarter had been offered for a very superior sample of Rostock. Dantzic, of which there is rather more than of other descriptions on the market, was also held very high, and really good qualities could not have been purchased lower than 58s. to 60s. per quarter. The duty fell a step on Thursday ; the weekly average pried for the kingdom, 58s. 3d., was not so high, however, as expected ; the very inferior condition in which the new wheat continues to come to hand is abundantly proved by this return. At none of the leading consuming towns is good wheat obtainable at present much under 70s. per quarter; still the general weekly average of the kingdom but little exceeds 58s. per quarter. That the duty must sooner or later fall to a very low point is now deemed certain ; and with this pros pect there is little probability of any part of the bonded stocks being for some time entered for home consumption. The nominal top quotation of flour is now firmly fixed at 60s. per sack, and the bakers have paid the enhancement more readily than is usually the case. Ship flour has also been in good request, and has commanded very full terms. American in bond has found takers at 305., and Canadian free at 355. per barrel. The market has been sparingly supplied with barley, and having, in addition to a pretty active inquiry from the dis tillers and maltsters, experienced a speculative demand for this article, factors have been enabled to realize enhanced terms. The recent advance in the value of malt has been well supported, and from present appearances we deem a further rise by no means improbable. The arrivals of oats have fallen short materially of the weekly consumption, and the continued unfavourable ac counts from all quarters relative to potatoes, rendering an unusually large consumption of oatmeal probable, prices have run up very rapidly. The sales made on Wednesday were generally at ls. per quarter over Monday's currency, and on Friday a further rise tofully the same extent was established. Fine corn brought 355. per quarter on the latter day, common new Irish sold at 305., and for foreign feed as much as 255. to 265. per quarter was paid in bond. Some very low returns from Wales caused the last general ackrage to ba only 235. sd. per quarter; but there can be no doubt that the recent important rise in prices must soon in fluence the returns sufficiently to occasion a fall in the duty. Beans have come to hand sparingly, and the business done in the article has been at rates not previously obtainable. Peas have commanded prices nearly as high as those rea lised when the excitement caused by the export demand was at its height—say 555. to 575. for white boilers, 545. to 58s. for large blue, and 445. to 465. for maples. THE FOREIGN CORN TRADE. The prospect of Great Britain being likely to require a supply of wheat, and the fact that the harvest has terminated so unfavourably in Holland and Belgium as to induce the re spective Governments of those countries to admit grain free, have, as may easily be conceived, caused prices in the Baltic to rise materially ; indeed, at many of the ports from which, if our wants should prove urgent, we must draw our supplies, qmitations are actually higher than the prices of similar qua lities at Mark-lane. The latest accounts from Dantzic are of the 18th of Oc tober, and inform us that, though little or nothing had during the preceeding fortnight been brought for shipment to either England or Holland, about 1,500 lasts had changed hands on speculation, at very high terms. Really fine sam ples, the growth of 1842, had brought 565. to 575. ; mode rately good parcels of high-mixed 535. ; and inferior sorts from 475. to 50s. per quarter free on board. When to these rates we add freight, insurance, and other charges, it will be seen that, high as/bonded wheat now is, fresh imports can not be profitably made unless the duty falls to a very low poiht. The supplies of wheat into Dantzic from the inte rior had been small ; the qualities of the new wheat is no longer so well spoken of as was the case immediately after harvest. The few lots received had; however, met a ready sale at terms quite equivalent to those at which old wheat had been sold. Rye is reported to have turned out a short crop in that neighbourhood, and fair parcels had brought equal to 345. per quarter for local consumption. At some of the lower Baltic ports supplies of new wheat had, by the latest accounts, begun to arriveA farmers having been i i ndueed to thrash early by the tempting prices. At Stettin, on the 18th instant, there were a good many parcels of new wheat offered, of capital quality, weighing from 621 b. to 631 b. per bushel. The finest lots had been sold without difficulty at 505., and new Uckermark, of 621 b. weight, ...4t 49s per quarter, free on board. Of old the stocks were Tltogether exhausted. The accounts from Rostock speak equally favourable re lative to the quality of the new wheat ; but, as but little had been brought forward by the growers at the date of our last letters, the transactions had been trifling. At Hamburgh considerable excitement appears to have "been caused by the continual advance in the English markets. Our advices thence are of Tuesday last; all sorts of spring corn, pulse, and wheat, were then in lively request. Of the latter article several purchases had been made, it was said, 00 British account, at 51s. to 525. per quarter for good red Upland wheat. At the principal Dutch and Belgian markets the value of wheat appears to have been well supported, notwithstanding the remission of the duties. _ From the Mediterranean the reports are quite as lively as tilbse from the Baltic, and wheat as risen as rapidly in that quarter as in this country. Letters from Leghorn, of the 14th instant, inform us that rather important contracts had been closed there, partly on British account. For the finest sorts of Polish, Odessa, and Marianople, 425. per quarter had been paid, free on board ; and secondary sorts had brought equally high terms. Egyp tian beans had also been in request, and as much as 265. 4d. per quarter had been paid for fine new. TUNNEL UNDER TUE CLYDE.—It has been pro posed to form a joint stock company for the purpose of con necting the north and south sides of the Clyde by means of a tunngl. The point selected for this new undertaking is that part of the river a little aboveGovan, at or near the lands of Heatherby Hall ; and it is proposed to be formed with approaches from Dumbarton-road on the north, and from Govan-road on the south. The projectors contemplate a large traffic through the tunnel, in passengers, goods, cattle, carriNges, &c.—Scotch Reformers' Gazette. A S,CHOOL FOR MAGISTRATES.—Mr. Hardwick, of Marlborough-street, has been the first magistrate with sufficient jus tice and moral courage on his side to commit " a gentleman" to the Mouse of Correction, for a brutal assault on a policeman and others— very much, as it appeared, to the astonishment of the aforesaid gen tlwt an, Illaom we can now fan c y sea t e d on th e same ground with - vulgar, permilcie misdemeanour, manipulating his oakum, hardly yet recd l led to the fact that the forc e o f money has, f or onc e, failed n y him. e understand that Sir James Gr a h am i ntends to I ns tit u te an ,ant school for magistrates, that they may be the better in. ,Wected. Mr. Hardwick will be appointed schoolmaster. It is te tie h6Wed that Twyford, Greenwood. and other old boys we could ame, will attend regularly, and profit by the lesson.; of their tee. MU . *row). THE POTATO, ITS HISTORY AND CHEMICAL 'COMPOSITION.- MANUFACTURE OF POTATO STARCH. (From the Northern Whig.) • As, at the present time, anything connected with the potato excites general attention, it may be interesting to bring before the public some notices of its history. A native of the mountainous parts of Chili and Peru, in South America, and, also, according to some late authorities, of the Pic de Illrizaba, in the Mexican territory, this now so valuable plant appears to have been first brought to Europe by the Spaniards, from the mountains near the city of Quito, about the beginning of the 16th century. From 'Spain, it has - been traced to Italy, where it was cultivated as food both for man and animals. Into Germany, we learn from the botanist ali gns, the first writer in whose works any mention"of it ap pears, that it was introduced by a person connected with the suite of the Papal Ambassador at Vienna about the year 1598 ; and that, in a short time after that, it was exten sively diffused through the Germanic empire. Thus it seems that Ireland, though at the present time the chief nursery of the potato; was not the first to receive it; 1584, the adventurous Raleigh, returning from his voyage* Virginia, brought with him some seeds of the plant; At placed them in his garden, at Youghal, in the county of Cork. It is related that the seeds flourished, and that Sir Walter, having sent for some of the produce, his gardener brought to him the small apples produced upon the stem, upon which he imagined that the seeds which he had brought home were not those of the plant which he had seen growing in America, and directed the man to root it up; but when he proceeded to tear it away, some of the tubers came up with the roots, and Sir Walter at once recognised the valua ble fruit which he had eaten in his travels. Gerard, the old English herbalist, whose quaint history of plants appeared in 1597, gives a description of potatoes, a specimen of which he bad received from America, under the name of Virginia Potatoes—a name which they had received to distinguish them from the sweet potatoes, the produce of an entirely different plant, which had been, long before that time, ex tensively used in England. These sweet potatoes are alluded to by Shakspeare, when, in The Merry Wires of Windsor, he makes his valiant Sir John exclaim, " Let the sky rain potatoes." Old Gerard recommends the potato as a delicate dish, but net as an article of food, for common use. "It is, he says, "an excellent thing for making sweet sauces, and also to be eaten with-sops and wine." Indeed, their price in the reign of the first James was so high—two shil lings the pound—that they could be introduced only at the tables of the rich. • The first extensive supply which Eng land received was from an Irish vessel, wrecked with a cargo, on a part of the coast of Lancashire, called North Meols, about 1605 ; but for many years their cultivation was con fined to the gardens in the neighbourhood of London. In 1663, the attention of the members of the Royal Society of London was directed to the importance of cultivating the plant extensively over the kingdom, for the prevention of famine ; but, notwithstanding their recommendation, very few persons were induced to grow it; and even some writers, of a later date, as Evelyn, in 1f.89, seemed to have been pre judiced against it. In fact, we do not find its value ap preciated before 1790, in year it appears, for the first time, to have been cultivated, to any extent, in the open fields. It is remarked that Scotland, which, at pre sent, takes the lead in agricultural improvement, should be among the last of the European Kingdoms to avail itself of this important vegetable—its introduction into that country being delayed until 1739 ; and, even then, religious, or, rather, an irreligious bigotry, opposed itself to its use as an article of food, and stirred up the people to reject it with abhorrence, because it was not mentioned in the Bible ! In France, its use, as an article of diet, was, also, but for different reasons, strongly opposed, and its cultivation con demned by many who considered themselves men of judg ment; but, through the zealous efforts of a chemist—M. Parmentier—who had the sagacity to perceive its value, it was finally established in public estimation. One of the expe dients adopted by Parmentier to overcome the prejudices of those who obstinately opposed its use, is interesting and instructive, and might, occasionally, be advantageously copied in our own times, as it is a good example of the pro per way of treating those who differ from us. He invited all who scoffed at, and all who opposed, the potato cultivation to a sumptuous dinner, at which he gave them nothing either to eat or drink but what had been prepared from the potato. We have, as might be expected, had a great many inves tigations of the chemical composition of the potato. M. Parmentier, to whose enthusiastic advocacy of its value, in France, I h ave above alluded, published an elaborate trea ties on its culture and chemical properties, in 1776 ; and, a great many years ago, Dr. Pearson presented the English Board of Agriculture with an essay on the same subject. The leading constituents of the potato tuber are the same which we find in the grain of wheat—viz., water, starch, starchy fibre, gum, sugar, albumen, and salts. The follow ing analysis of M ichael's, published in 1837, will give an exact idea of its per-centage composition : Starch and starchy fibrin ...... ....... 30.469 Albumen _ .503 Gluten .055 Fat .056 Gam ...... ......... .020 Asparagin Extractive - • Citrates, silicates, and . phosphates of potash, soda, lime, magnesia, alumina, and pro toxide of iron and maganese .815 Chloride of potassium Free citric acid Water N 66.875 100.000 It would occupy too much space to enter, at greater length, into the chemical history of the potato. I may, however, remark, that it belongs to the same family of plants of which the deadly nightshade is a member, and that it has been discovered to contain a small quantity of the same poisonous principle which exists in that plant, termed solanin. The principle is, however',' fortunately, removed, in cooking. I had resolved, in the present paper, to consider the value which science shews us should be attached to the chief con stituent of the _potato tuber—its starch in the nutrition of the body; but I have, within these few days, received so many communications from parties anxious to obtain infor mation respecting the manufacture of that article, as a means of enabling them to convert their crop into a form which will resist decomposition, that it will be more advantageous to give a description of the simple apparatus required for that purpose. The potato tuber, when examined by the aid of the micro scope, is found to consist of small cells, in which the sub stance, which we term starch, is contained. This substance does not, however, appear equally distributed over every part of the tuber; when we examine a slice of the potato, the starch is found in greatest quantity near its exterior, while the centre contains so little of it, that it is almost transparent. When a potato is grated upon any kind of grater, its cells are torn in pieces, and the little grains of starch which they contain liberated. These grains are ex ceedingly small—indeed, not larger than the two hundred and fiftieth part of an inch in diameter ; so that, if we place the pulpy mass, consisting of the broken cells and the libe rated starch, upon a hair sieve, placed over a pan, and water it from a watering-pot, so long as the water which rims through has a milky colour, we will find that all the starch will be washed through the sieve, and that it will be deposited, in the form of a fine white powder, at the bottom of the pan. It is truly a most fortunate circumstance for the potato cultivator, that microscopic examination shows the starch contained in potatoes affected with the prevailing disease to be perfectly uninjured, even when the tissue of which the cells are formed was quite brown, and its smell most dis agreeable. I would, therefore, earnestly advise our farmers, at once, to convert their diseased crop into farina; or, in cases where the disease has only commenced, into the more nutritious and easily-prepared potato meal, as practised on the Continent. The process, which I have described above, represents the preparation of starch in its most simple form ; but it is obvious that, in the present circumstances of the potato crop, in this country, the farmer must have recourse to a less troublesome and more expeditious method. The manufac ture on the large scale, however, presents no difficulty, the essential operations in the process for preparing a ton of starch being precisely the same as those employed in making a few ounces with the cottage grater; the main requisites to the perfection of the work being extreme attention to clean liness, in all its parts, and an abundant supply of pure water. The operations required in the manufacture may be conve niently considered under five heads Ist. The washing of the potatoes. 2d. The grinding, or rasping of the potatoes. 3d. The washing of the starch from the pulp. 4th. The washing and purification of the starch sth. The drying. 1. Suppose a farmer wishes to convert the half-rotten portion of his crop into starch, he must, in the first place, carefully wash the potatoes, so as to remove all adherent soil, &c., in the common potato-washer of the farm, or in any convenient way. In large manufacturing establishments they are placed in a cylindrical cage or wooden puncheon, bored with holes, which is made to revolve in a trough filled with water, and into which a current of water flows, from a cis tern or mill stream. When thoroughly washed, the potatoes are to be removed to the rasping machine. 2. The object of rasping or grinding the potato is, as I have already explained, to break up its cells, so as to libe rate their contained starch. It will, therefore, be obvious, that the more effectually this be accomplished—the more perfectly the fibre be reduced to a fine pulp—the greater will be the quantity of starch produced. The rasping ma chine usually employed, and which will be most conveniently prepared for the purposes of the farmer, consists of a wooden cylinder or drum, about 2 feet long and 14 feet in diameter, covered on its circumference with sheet iron, converted into a rasp, by being punched with holes from the opposite side. The potatoes are supplied from a hopper, like that of a common mill, placed above the rasp, and with its bottom nearly in contact with it. In Germany, in the small manufactories, a machine is employed both for rasping po tatoes for starch and beet, for the preparation of sugar, nearly similar to that just described, but constructed of cast iron, and armed with saw teetb. During the rasping, to prevent clogging, a small stream of water, from a cistern, is made to drop from a tube, perforated with holes, placed over the drum. The rasping machine may easily be worked by a horse; but it will be more advantageous, when local circum stances render it possible, to connect both the washing and rasping machines with a water-wheel. 3. Under the rasping machine must be placed a convenient wooden tub or vat, covered with a fine hair or wire-web sieve, and so arranged, that a pipe, conveying water from the cistern, may discharge itself over it. Upon this sieve, the pulp, consisting of the cellular tissue of the broken-up potatoes, is caught ; while the fine grains, liberated from these cells, are washed through by the current of water, and deposited at the bottom of the tub. When this tub is full, it is either removed, and another substituted, or the starch is stirred up with the water, and run off, by means of a trough, into large wooden vessels, where it is washed and purified. 4. In the purifying vats, the particles of starch gradually deposit themselves from the water ; and, if this deposit be examined, it will be found to consist of two layers, that at the bottom of the vessel being composed of white shining grains , of pure starch ; white, on the top, we will have the starch rendered impure and dirty-looking, from containing bits of fibre not removed by the sieve, flakes of albuminous matter, &c. In the water, covering the starch, will be found all the soluble ingredient of the potato. To remove these impurities, it will be necessary, in the first place, by means of a plug hole in the vat, to draw off the discoloured water ; after which, the vat should be again filled with pure water, the starch stirred up through it, and the milky liquid, if a par ticularly nice article be required, passed again through the sieve. This additional operation is, however, but seldom ne cessary ; as, by mixing the starch with clean water, two or three times, and drawing the water off, if impure, the starch will, in general, be deposited of a good colour. It has been suggested to wash the starch with water containing a little chlorine, but we cannot expect our farmers to attend to this direction ; indeed, it is only required by the large manufac turer, who wishes to send his starch into the market as a substitute for " tine Jamaica arrowroot." _ _ _ 5. Having prepared the starch, as I have described, the next matter for us to consider is, the beet method of drying it. On this subject I have received several communications from farmers, who imagined that it would be impossibl;, in a farm establishment, to contrive any proper arrangement for this purpose. When the quantity prepared is not very great, it may, without difficulty, be rendered sufficiently dry, by placing it in shallow wooden trays, supported on shelves in a room heated by a stove; but, when the manufacture is con ducted on a larger scale, it Nvill be the intireat of the wax to construct a proper drying chamber, heated by a stove the funnel of which should be made to pass in several directions: round the walls, upon which sliould.be fixed shelves, for sup porting drying trays. On the Continent, where this manu facture has been carried to great perfection; the starch, when removed-from the vats; is placed upon a floor, constructed either of half-burned porous tiles, or well dried plaster, which dries it with great rapidity, by absorbing its moisture. It is, indeed, for many purposes, not necessary, to dry the starch completely, as it will keep well, even when it contains a large amount of water; and, in France, where it is extensively employed for the preparation of sugar, it is frequently sold as " green starch," containing 30 per cent. of water. I must, for the present, postpone my observations on the different forms in which the potato may be preserved for food. &c., as this notice has extended to so great a length. The g reat im portance of the subject, and interest which it now excites, will, I trust, however, prove a sufficient excuse. JOHN F. HODGES, M.D. Downpatrick, October 22, 1845. THE POTATO MURRAIN. (From the Medical Times.) Our leader of last week, it will be remembered, had refer ence to the damaged state of the present crop of potatoes. We enumerated with some care, and not a little curiosity, all the learned_ opinions which have been lavished upon this common-place subject, and, after discarding such sublimities as we had no occasion for, came to the unpretending conclu sion that the potatoes are rotten I Whether the potatoes complained of be really rotten, as we say, or in a " morbid state," as some other people say, has little to do with two questions naturally arising out of the circumstance, viz., are these potatoes fit to be eaten, and what are the poor to do without them? The former is espe cially a query for ourselves to answer; the latter rather be longs to Ministers of State, political economists, and parish guardians. That potatoes in their present bad condition are totally unfit for food, might almost be assumed a priori. It is well known that vegetable matter in a state of putresence, either commencing or confirmed, is not only for the most part in nutritive, but .is also capable of irritating the alimentary organs, and even of poisoning the system. " Sprouted wheat," as the farmers term it, never bakes into spongy, substantial bread, but remains "sad," soft, and nauseously sweet. The refermentation which bread undergoes when kept in a warm,, damp atmosphere, and which is succeeded by "ropiness," as it is called, is an approach to the same con dition. Either is unfit for food, and serious mischief has often been known to follow its use. History is familiar with instances of epidemics consequent upon eating the unsound cora grown during wet and cloudy seasons. One of the most figurative adventures in the classical writings is amongst the earliest references to this well-known fact. The most an cient plague mentioned by profane authors occurred during the sovereignty of King .6..thamas ; it desolated Thebes, and was the occasion of the Argonautic expedition for ob taining the Golden Fleece and consulting the oracle at Col chi& That plague is said to have been occasioned by the wrath of Imo, who, to revenge herself on Nephele, produced the pestilence of poisoning all the grain which had been sown in the earth. It is not necessary to inform the classical reader that Nephele signifies a "cloud," and that hence, as an old scholastic observes, in this tradition of a universal ma lady is shadowed forth the vitiation of grain by means of clouds, showers, and inclement seasons, as well as in the same legend are detailed the terrible effects which grain so dis tempered is capable of producing. We learn from Proco pius (Persia. lib. ii., cap. 22), that during the reign of Justi nian a fearful pestilence swept through a vast portion of the Roman empire, and seemed to be referrible to no cause ex cept the use of unsound grain. When Cresar besieged Mar seilles, a pestilence prevailed, and affected his whole army, and was supposed to be owing to a bad kind of farinaceous food. "Panico enirn retere, atque hordeo corrupto, omnes (Scil Massiliences) alebantur," !ire.. (De Bello Civili., lib. ii. 22). In 1529 an epidemic disease spread throughout Nor way, Denmark, Holland, and Flanders, and appeared at Ham burg, Bremen, Lubeck, Dantzic, and Cologne. In those dis tricts birds were frequently seen to fall dead from the trees, and were found to have small abscesses about them, espe cially under their wings, and Schiller (de Peste Britannica) attributed all these things to a moist cloudy state of the at mosphere long prevalent; but other more accurate observers referred them to the use of impoverished and rotten grain (Schenck. Obs ) p . ., 764). The pestilential disease which ra vished Messina in 1554, so well described by G. Agricola (apud Schenck., p. 764), seemed to be for the most part at tributable to the use of deteriorated farinacea. Forestus im putes the plague which appeared at Delft in the year 1557 io the eating of mouldy grain which had long been kept up by the merchants in a time of scarcity. At the same time a similar disease prevailed in Spain ; many died of it, and their bodies were found covered with purple spots. Coinci dent with this visitation was a rotten and mouldy state of the grain, the consequence of a cloudy wad very wet summer (see De Thou's " History of his own Times," vol. 2.) Sir John Pringle remarks that he has heard of dysenteric affections being frequent among the common people on the Continent, who chiefly live on grain, and that these affections are especi ally prevalent when the crops are found to have been injured by wet and cloudy weather. An epidemic fever, described by Silvius de la Boe, raged at Leyden in 1669, and was gene rally attributed to the unsound vegetable food. In 1690 the summer was very rainy and hot in Italy, and most of the crops were rotten or mildewed. In the year following, when this grain was eaten, a general and fatal epidemic prevailed (Webster on "Epidemic Diseases," vol. i., p. 332). In 1693, the corn in various places was gathered in an unripe or rotten state, and, subsequently, those places were visited by putrid fevers and dysenteries—wounds degenerated into ulcers, blis ters were followed by mortifications (Webster, op. cit). In the description given by Gregorius Horstius of a fatal epidemic, the malady is chiefly attributed to the use of a bad farinaceous food. " Causes hujus affectus quod attinet, ex cegrotantium relatione scire licet, quod externa cause com muniter in aliment°, ad nutriendum minus idoneo et impro • portionato, consistat dum pauperis rebus ad vitam necessariis destituti, panem impurum et male coctum longo tempo dem pore in summa famis urgentia, devorant," &c.—(Greg. Horst. op. vol. ii., lib. 8.) A similar report upon this epidemic is made by Sennertus in his chapter, "De febre malign cum spasm , : In 1816, the crops in this country were seriously injared by the profuse rains which fell, and, subsequently, when the grain was made use of, dysentery . and typhus fever became prevalent. In the following year, in consequence of the heavy rains which fell between the months of January and March, most of the crops in Bengal were vitiated ; and shortly after this, and seemingly as an effect of it, came the cholera. And the laborious train of investigation pursued by Dr. Tytler, renders it more than probable that fatal disease owed its eastern origin and progress mainly to the use of de teriorated grain, chiefly rice. (See Tytler on the Morbus Oryzeus, passim.) Dr. Tytler fed a healthy younggoat with Ouse rice ; it caused a diminution of appetite, excessive thirst, weakness, stupidity, watery eyes, and apparent suf fering. The animal died in forty-two_ hours from the com mencement of the experiment. The only morbid appearance of moment was an " erythematic inflammation," extending from the stomoch to the intestines. In several instances mentioned by Dr. Tytler, the effects of this rice upon the human subject were very serious. (Op. cit. p. 10.) Some very remarkable cases in proof of the bad effects of unsound grain taken as food are recorded in the Philosophical Trans actions, Nos. 83, 84, 85, and 98 ; and in Med. Museum, tom. ii., p. 441 The particulars are briefly these :—ln 1762, J. Downing, his wife, and six children, residing at the village of Watishara, were seized with violent pains m the feet, legs, and thighs, the other parts not suffering materially. The affected limbs grew black, gangrenous, and fell "off. The father, most triflingly attacked, was fortunate enough not to lose a limb. A. child, four months old, died before any of the members separated. The mother, three girls, and two boys lost, collectively, seven legs and four feet. The Rev. Mr. Bones, minister of the parish, in answer to questions put by Dr. Baker, states that they made their bread, the summer before, of what is called clog wheat. The grain was da maged; it had been laid, gathered, and thrashed separately ; it was not mildewed or grown, but discoloured, and smaller than the rest. It made bad bread and worse puddings. We have not space to go further into detail, or we could give many more examples derived from history, and some from personal observation, of the baneful or fatal consequences which have followed the alimentary use of unsound grain. Ex uno disce omnes—others of the farinacea, similarly dis eased or rotten, would be likely, if taken as food, to be pro ductive of equally , bad effects. Hence, as we said at the outset, we might a priori assume that the present dete riorated potatoes would not only furnish little nutriment, but might be actually poisonous to these who partook of them. The assumption would be perfectly logical, and we should be as perfectly justified in making it, did we not prefer the ci posteriori argument as being more in accordance with the matter-of-fact subject of which we are treating. And it is one not to be disregarded or trifled with ; calamitous conse quences may, and most likely will, follow the eating of these corrupted . potatoes ; already, indeed, they have begun the work of mischief; and it behoves the profession to consider well the circUmEtances. What further we have to say upon these will be continued in our next article. THE MORMONS. (From the New York Journal of Commerce.) Everybody will inquire for the causes of the exasperation which exists against the Mormons, and none of the Western papers furnish an answer to the inquiry. We can see one feature in their mode of operation which is calculated to produce general opposition—it is their mixing their religion with politics. They combine upon their sec tarian affinities, and go to the polls as Mormons. They constitute a majority in the county, and so we see that Backenstoss, the sheriff, is a Mormon. The judges of the local courts are also Mormons, and the laws are administered according to Mormon principles. As the Mormons adopt the notion, not peculiar to them, that theirs is the 'only true church—that they are the saints, and all others the enemies of God—they come very readily to the same conclusion which Rome made from these premises, that it is right to join with God in punishing His enemies; and that so, to lie to heretics, to cheat them, steal from and rob and even kill them, when the good of the Church would be promoted by it, was only doing God service. In Mormon courts it has been quite out of the question to get anything like justice in cases between the true Church and the Dissenters. A letter from a gentleman in the neighbourhood, whom we know, states the fol lowing incident :—" A farmer had a very fine horse. It was stolen, and taken into Nauvoo. The farmer hired a neighbour's horse, and went to Nauvoo in pursuit. Finding his horse, he appealed to the laws for redress. But, instead of having his property restored, the Mormon court accused him of stealing the horse he rode, took it from him, fined him ten dollars for contempt of court because he dared to protest against this villany, and so sent him away." The same letter says that when the Mormons have wished to buy farms in their neighbourhood, they have stolen the pro perty of the owner, and even set fire to his buildings, and by vexations for which there was no redress, compelled him to sell out on any terms which the Mormons chose to prescribe. Such a community would of course draw to itself the thieves and banditti of the country, and arouse the indigna tion of honest men. It is however not improbable that the Mormons are often 'misrepresented, and that their con duct is less flagrant than rumour proclaims it to be. In the West, among the pioneer settlements, there will now and then be combinations formed among villains to put down the laws. These combinations are too strong for indi viduals. At Vicksburg, for instance, any citizen, judge or sheriff; who dared to enforce the laws against them, only sounded the note of his own assassination. If there is a - Government of any sort which authorises revolu tion, it is such an one as this. We do not say that the Mor mon fraternity is such a combination ; though we are afraid it comes pretty near it, . CHINESE FILTBRING.—The waters of the Wangho and Yang-tee-kiang are highly surcharged with mud, the former containing one-seventeenth part, and the latter one ninety-sixth of earth. This renders them both unpleasant and unwholesome to drink; and to it may possibly be attri buted a portion of the sickness we sustained. The Chinese have adopted a very simple remedy for this evil, one far simpler and equally efficacious with our filter, but which, Un fortunately, was not discovered until we wore leaving the river, but which it will behove any one who may chance to visit muddy streams to remember. Into about a quart of water they throw a small pinch of alum, leaving it to stand a few minutes; it becomes as clear as crystal, a considerable sediment being. found at the bottom. Not even the poorest fisherman hut is always provided with a small portion for this necessary purpose.—. Cunningham's Sigyice in China. SLAVERY. INTERESTING NARRATIVE OF A FUGITIVE SLAVE. (Frthn the Cork Southern Reporter.) On. Tuesday an influential and numerously attended meet ing of the citizens was held in the City, Court-house, to hear the statement of Mr. Frederick Douglas, himself " a fugitive slave," relative to slavery in: America, and also to give expression to public opinion against that atrocious and cruel system. The meeting was announced for tiro o'sloak, but long be fore that hour the Court-house was densely crowded in every part. The grand jury gallery was thronged with ladies, who seemed to take the liveliest interest in the pro ceedings. His Worship the Mayor entered the court a little after two o'clock, accompanied by Mr. Buffum, an American gentleman, and Mr. Frederick Douglas, who certainly ap peared a noble specimen of the race to which he belonged The oratorical powers possessed by Mr. Douglas were a mat ter of admiration, nay, astonishment, during the progress of the speech he delivered. To facility and power of expression he joined a mqst impressive and energetic delivery, with the most humorous method of exposing the hypocrisy and duplicity of some of the American slaveholders. In fact, his powers in this latter respect literally kept the meeting in a roar. The MAYOR, 011 taking the chair, explained the object for which the meeting had been convened. - The cause of human liberty should not be limited to any country or clime, and he was sure it would be readily taken up by an Irish audience. Whatever might be the condition of men who were badly fed, and badly paid, still they stood intellectually and every other way higher than those who were made mere chattel goods, and beaten without mercy or consideration.—(Cheers.) They, had many things to do to elevate their own country, but they had not to get rid of the lash, and the privilege they enjoyed of personal freedom they should strive to ex tend to all mankind.—(Loud cheering.) They were only asked to extend to the American continent the exertions and influence which worked so much good in their own islands. His Worship here alluded to the exertions of Mr. O'Connell in the cause of freedom, observing that it must be gratifying to him to reflect that those exertions had been attended with many and signal triumphs.—(Loud cheers.) He (the speaker) held it to be spurious philosophy, and worse morals, to suppose that he, into whom the Deity had breathed a living soul, should be less than man, merely because of the darkness of his skin. They, had many instances to show that, however they differed outwardly in colour, the soul was of one colour, and that was bright and noble.—(Applause.) Mr. MARTIN proposed the first resolution. The Rev. Mr. WnrrLEGG seconded it. He wished to express the pleasure he felt in attending such a meeting. It was said if they went abroad to look for grievances they would be neglectful of their duties at home ; but facts disproved the assertion, for among the most:strenuous advocates of freedom abroad were to be found the most untiring supporters of liberty and peace at home.—(Cheers.) Mr. BUFFUM proposed the next resolution. The kind and sympathetic manner in which he was received in Cork more than compensated him for all he suffered in the anti-slavery cause. He was mobbed, his life was in danger, but what of that, he felt it a glory to mingle in the strife—(Applause) — to take part in the emancipation of his countrymen in bonds. The cause of freedom in one country was intimately con nected with the same cause in another, and if they con tributed to break off the shackles of American slavery, the latter country would then be better able to assist them in turn.— (Cheers.) How could America labour for the eleva tion of any class of people, while she had in her own bosom three millions of slaves? The speaker here observed that Frederick Douglas, who had been twenty years in slavery, and had experienced its horrors, would address the meeting, so that it would not be necessary for him to tresspass on them further. Mr. BESNAND said that justice was so fully understood by a Cork audience that he would say no more than merely second the resolution. Counsellor MAGUIRB proposed the third resolution. It was a matter of record that in spite of the renown of America —(Cheers)—her slavery system made her the most degraded country on the face of the earth. The boasted free institu tions of America were only a mockery and a scorn, because they were tainted with slavery at the heart's core. Mr. FREDERICK DOUGLAS then came forward amid loud cheering. He said—Sir, I never more than at present lacked words to express my feelings. The cordial and manly reception I have met with, and the spirit of freedom that seems to animate the bosoms of the entire audience, have filled my heart with feelings I am- incapable of expressing. I stand before you in the most extraordinary position that one human being ever stood before his race—a slave— a slave not in the ordinary sense of the term, not in a political sense, but in its real and intrinsic meaning. I have not been stripped of one of my rights and privi leges, but of all. By the laws of the country wheriCe I came, I was deprived of myself—of my own body, soul, and spirit, and I am free only because I succeeded in escaping the clutches of the man who claimed me as his property. There are fourteen slave States in America, and I was sold as a slave at a very early age, little more than seven years, in the southern part of • Maryland. While there I conceived the idea of escaping into one of the free States, which I even tually succeeded in accomplishing. On the 3rd Sept., 1838, I made my escape into Massachussets, a free State, and it is a pleasing coincidence that just seven years after I stood up in the Royal Exchange in Dublin, to unfold to the people of that good city the wrongs and sufferings to which my race in America were exposed.—(Applause.) On escaping into Massachussets, I went to work on the quays, rolling oil casks to get a livelihood, and in about three years after, having been induced to attend an anti-slavery meeting at Nantucket, it was there announced that I should go from town to town to expose their nefarious system. For four years I was then engaged in discussing the slavery question, and during that time I had opportunities of arranging my thoughts and langulge. It was at least doubted if I had ever been a slave, and Ms doubt being used to injure the anti-slavery cause, I was induced to set the matter at rest by publishing the nar- rative of my life. A person undertaking to write a book without learning will appear rather novel, but such as it was I gave it to the public.—(Hear, hear.) The excitement at least increased so much that it was thought better for me to get out of the way lest my master might use some stratagem to get me back into his clutches. I am here then in order to avoid the scent of the bloodhounds of America, and of spreading light on the subject of her slave system. There is nothing slavery dislikes half so much as the light. It is a gigantic system of iniquity, that feeds and lives in darkness, and, like a tree with its roots turned to the sun, it perishes when exposed to the light.—(Loud cheering.) We want to arouse public indignation against the system of slavery, and to bring the concentrated execrations of the civilised world to bear on it like a thunderbolt.—(Loud cheering.) The rela tion of master and slave in America should be clearly under stood. The master is allowed by law to hold his slave as his possession and property, which means the right of one man to hold property in his fellow. The master can buy, sell, bequeath his slave as well as any other pro perty, nay, he shall decide what the poor slave is to eat, what he is to drink, where and when he shall speak. He also decides for his affections, when and whom he is to marry, and, what is more enormous, how long that marriage covenant is to endure. The slaveholder exercises the bloody power of tearing asunder those whom God had joined together—of separating husband from wife, parent from child, and of leaving the hut vacant, and the hearth de solate.—(Sensation.) The slaveholders of America resort to ever y species of cruelty, but they can never reduce the slave to a willing obedience. The natural elasticity of the human soul repels the slightest attempt to enslave, it. The black slaves of America are not wholly without that elasticity; they are men, and, being so, they . do not submit readily to the yoke.—(Great cheering.) It is easy to keep a brute in the position of a brute, but when you undertake to place a man in the same state, believe me you must build your fences higher, and your doors firmer than before. A brute you may molest sometimes with impunity, but never a man. Men— the black slaves of America—are capable of resenting an in sult, of revenging an outrage, and of looking defiance at their masters.—(Applause.) Oftentimes, when the poor slave, after recovering from the application of the scourge and the branding iron, looks at his master with a face indicating dissatisfact ion, he is subjected to fresh punish ment. That cross look must be at once repulsed, and the master whips, as he says, " the d—l out of him ;" for when a slave looks dissatisfied with his condition, according to his cruel taskmaster's idea, he looks as if he had the devil in him, and it must be whipped out.—(oh, oh.) The state of slavery is one of perpetual cruelty. When veryyoung, as I stated, I was - sold into slavery, and was placed under the control of a little boy who had orders to kick me when he liked; whenever the little boy got cross, his mother used to say "Go and whip Freddy." I, however, soon began to reason upon the matter, and found that I had sag ood a right to kick Tommy as Tommy had me.—(Loud lghter, and cheering.) My dissatisfaction with my condition soon appeared, and I was most brutally treated. I stand before you with the marks of the slave-driver's whip, that will go down with me to my grave ; but, what is worse, I feel the scourge of slavery itself piercing into my heart, crushing my feelings, and sinking me into the depths of moral and intel lectual degradation.—(Loud cheering.) In the South, the laws are exceedingly cruel, more so than in the northern States. The most cruel feature of the system in the northern States is the slave trade. The domestic slave trade of Ame rica is now in the height of its prosperity from the annexa tion of Texas to our -Union.ln the northern States they actually breed slaves, and rear them for the southern mar kets; and the constant dread of being sold is often more terrible than the reality itself. Here the speaker proceeded to comment upon the law of America relative to the punishment of slaves, and read the following : " If more than seven slaves are found together in any road, without a white person—twenty lashes apiece. For visit ing a plantation without a written pass—ten lashes. For letting loose a boat from where it is made fast—thirty-nine lashes; and for the second offence, shall have his ear cut off. For having an article for sale without a ticket from his master—ten lashes. For being on horseback without the written permission of his master—twenty-five lashes." I saw one poor woman (continued the speaker) who had her ear nailed to a post, for attempting to run away, but the agony she endured was so great, that she tore away, and left her ear behind.—(Great sensation). This is the law of Ame rica after her declaration of independence—the land in which are millions of professed Christians, and which sup ports their religion at a cost of twenty millions dolfars an nually, and yet she has three millions of human beings the subjects of the hellish laws I have read. We would not ask you to interfere with the politics of America, or involve your military aid to put down American slavery, No, we only demand your moral and religious influence on the slave in question, and believe me the effects of that influence will be overwhelming.—(Cheers.) We want to awaken the slave holder to a sense of the iniquity of his position, and to draw him from his nefarious habits. We want to encircle Ame • rice with a girdle of Anti-slavery fire, that will reflect tight upon the darkness of the slave institutions, and alarm their guilty upholders.—(Great applause.) It must also bo ;stated that the American pulpit is on the side of sla very, and the Bible is blasphemously quoted in support of it. The ministers of religion actually quoted Scripture in support of the most cruel and bloody outrages- on the slaves. My own master was:a Methodist class-leader—(Laughter, and "Oh")—and he bared the neck of a young woman, in my presence, and he cut her with a cow skin. He then went away, and when he returned to complete the castigation, he quoted the passage : " He that knoweth his master s will and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes."—(Laughter.) The preachers say to, the slaves they should obey their masters, because God commands it, and because their happi ness depended on it.—(A laugh.) Here the speaker assumed the attitude and drawling manner so characteristic of the American preachers, amid the laughter of all present, and continued—Thus do thesehypocrites cant. They also tell the slaves there is no happiness but in obedience, and wherever you soe poverty and misery, be sure it results from dis obedience.—(Laughter.) In order to illustrate this they tell a story of a slave having been sent to work, and when his master came up, he found poor Sambo asleep. Pictnre the feelings, say they, of that pious master, his authority thrown off, and his work not done. ' The master then goes to the law and the testimony, and he there read the passage I have already quoted, and Sambo is lashed so that he cannot work for a week after. Your servants continued the preacher, "To what was this whipping traceable, to disobedience, and if you would not be whipped, and if yen bask in the sunshine of year master's favour, let me exhort you to obedience. Yu should also be grateful that God in his mercy brought you from Africa to this Christian land."—(Great laughter.).. They also tell the wretched slaves that God make them to do the working, and the white men the thinking. And stieli is tilemixtrsace which the slaves are held that some of them go home and say, "Me hear a good Berman to-day, de minister make ebery' thing so -clear, whiteman above a nigger any day.—(Roars lad g hter.) -It is punishable with death for the second attempt to teach a slave his let ters in America—(Loud expressions of disgust)—and in that Protestant country the slave is denied the privilege of learn ing the name of the-God - that made him. Slavery, with all its bloody paraphernalia, is upheld by the Church of the country. We want them to have the Methodists of Ireland speak to those of Amerlea, and say, " While your hands are red with blood, while'the thumb-screws and gags, and whips, are wrapped up in the pontifical robes of your Church, we will have no fellowship with vou, or acknowledge you Chris tians."—.(Great applause.) There are men who come here and preach, whose robes are yet red with blood, but these things should not be. Let these American Christians know their hands are too red to be grasped by Irishmen. Presby terians, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, and Roman Ca tholics, stand forth to the world and declare to the American Church, that until she puts away slavery, you 'can have no sympathy or fellowship with them.—(Applaasa.) For myself I believe in Christianity. I love it. I love that religion which is from 'above, without partiality or hypocrisy—that religion based upon that broad, that world-embracing prin ciple, "That whatever you would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."—(Lond cheering). In America Bible and slave-holders go hand in hand. The Church and the slave prison stand together, and while you hear the chaunting of psalms in one, you hear the clanking of chains in the other. The man who wields the cow-hide during the week, fills the pulpit on Sunday—here we have robbery and religion united—devils dressed in angels' garments. The man whe.whitlped me in the week used to attend to show me the way of life on the Sabbath. I cannot proceed without alluding to a mann, who did much to abolish slavery, I mean Daniel O'Connell.—(Loud cheers.) I feel grateful to him, for his voice has made American slavery- shake to its centre. I am determined wherever I go, and whatever position I may fill, to speak with grateful emotions of Mr. O'Connell's labours.—(Cheering.) I heard his denunciation of slavery, I heard my master curse him, and therefore I loved him. —(Great cheering.) In London, Mr. O'Connell tore off the mask of hypocrisy from the slaveholders, and branded them as the vilest of the vile and the most execrable of the execrable, for no man can put words together stronger than Mr. O'Connell.—(Laughter and cheering.) The speaker proceeded at some length, and related amusing anecdotes connected with his history in the United States. In one instance he was travelling to Vermont, and hav ing arrived at 'a stage, they took in five new passen gers. It being dark at the time, they did not know the eolour of his (the speaker's) skin, and he was treated with all manner of respect. In fact he could not help thinking at the time that he would be a great man if perpetual darkness would only take the day of place. Scarcely, however, had the light gilded the green mountains of Vermont than he saw one of the chaps in the coach take a sly peep at him and whisper to another " Eead, after all, 'tis a nigger."— (Great laughter.) He had black looks for the remainder o the way, and disrespect. That feeling of prejudice had now changed, and he could now walk through Boston in the most refined company. The speaker concluded by saying that he would again address them during his stay in Cork. Mr. VARUN proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Martin for influencing Fred. Douglas and Mr. Buffum to pay them a visit. Mr. W. C. LOGAN seconded it. It was owing.to the ex ertions of the " Friends " that West Indian slavery was abolished, and surely as one of that community, the citizens of Cork could not withhold their thanks and admiration from William' Martin.—(Cheers.) Allusion was made to Mr. O'Connell, and he had also the pleasure of hearing him in London, and of listening to his eloquent denunciations of slavery, by which the spirit of the nation was roused against the systom.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. MARTEN said he did not expect the vote of thanks, but all he had to say was, that he was an abominator of slavery for the last fifty years.—(Loud cheers.) Alderman T. LYONS was then moved to the chair, and a vote of thanks proposed by Alderman A. ROCHE to his Worship, for his dignified conduct while in the chair, and his efforts in the cause of suffering humanity. The vote of thanks was carried by acclamation, and the meeting adjourned. THE BITER BIT. A circumstance has taken place within these few days which has formed a very general subject of conversation. From the reports in circulation, we learn that a gentleman who was staying at a fashionable watering-place, having more plate than he required, resolved to sell some of it, to the value of about 300/. For this purpose he applied to a certain silversmith, who made the purchase for the above sum. The plate was ac cordingly sent to him, and the following morning the gentle. man called for the money. The silversmith declared that he had had an unexpected call for money, and asked him to take two bills ' 1501. each, at a short date. The gentleman expressed hims& somewhat surprised, but, after some hesi tation, he took the bills, waited till they became due, and then presented them for payment. Again an excuse for non payment was made, and the gentleman was requested to hold over the bills. In this, too, he acquiesced, thinking more, however, as it subsequently appeared, on the matter than he said. He held the bills some time, and the matter slept. One day, however, another gentleman, quite a stranger to the silversmith, called upon him, made some purchases to a considerable amount, and then asked very coolly whether the silversmith could supply him with some silver .goods of a certain pattern ? " Certainly, Sir," said the silversmith very blandly, " and to any amount." A pattern was ac cordingly sent to the silversmith, and goods were ordered to the value of about 1504 with orders for them to be sent to the same hotel as soon as finished. The silversmith ac cordingly hurried up to London, had the goods made per pattern, and when they were finished he took them him self to the gentleman, No. 2, at the hotel ; saw him ; pre sented the goods, and the bill for them. " Very well, Sir," said the gentleman, " and now, waiter, take the goods to my room, and I will pay you for them," turning to the silversmith. The bill amounted to 3041. odd, and he told the silversmith to give him a receipt for the amount and the balance out of a 5/. note, which the silversmith having done, the gentleman handed him over the odd sovereigns and silver, and two long strips of paper. The silversmith exa mined them. In an instant his jaw fell—his face assumed as many hues as a peacock's tail—his eyes flashed with fury— his hands trembled—his whole frame shook with rage. " What are these, Sir?—Why ! Why 1 They are my own bills !" "Yes, I suppose you will not object to your own bills ?" " What do you mean, Sir? They are of no use to me." "If not to you to whom else ?" "Sir, you are a rogue—a swindler. I will see whether there is no law for you, Sir." Those who witnessed the scene say that Shylock, when done out of his pound of flesh, was far less furious than his descendant on this occasion. The bills were, in fact, the same that he had given the gentleman No. 1 for his plate, which now made their appearance in this horrid form and shape. He went off like a culverin to fetch a lawyer. One came, and on introducing himself to the gentleman No. 2, he very coolly referred him to his solicitor, in the adjoining room. They had an interview, and the silversmith's lawyer, finding that he could make nothing of such a case, abandoned the field. The silversmith fetched another, andhe, too, had an interview with the gentleman's solicitor, but who, after some conversation with the' second lawyer, quitted the room, placing the tip of his right-hand thumb to his nasal promon tory, and spreading his fingers in a very significant manner, as urchins do in the streets, to intimate to the silversmith's lawyer that it was " no go." The circumstance getting wind brought the silversmith's creditors, it is said, about his ears, and the shop is closed. It seems to have been a well-concerted plan between the gentleman No. 1 and No. 2 to recover, at least, a portion of the value of the plate sold to the silversmith. We say a portion—as the goods bought by No. 2 could not be worth 300/., and then there was the expense of the lawyer, and his journey down and up, to bring the transaction to a climax.— Brighton Herald. CRIMES OF RESPECTABLE PEOPLE.—M. L—, a jeweller, was in the habit of dining every 'Sunday in the Palais Royal, at the restaurant Fournier. Dor some time the master of the establishment had remarked that a number of spoons and forks constantly disappeared. Each time that the family L— dined there he had recommended his waiters to exercise the most strict surveillance. Last Sunday M. L— entered with his wife, children, and female servant, and the waiter followed his master's instructions in all things. After the dinner he found that five articles were missing. As it was impossible that they could have gone unless taken by M. L—, or one of his party, that gentleman was asked to step into a private room. When informed of what was suspected, M. L— exclaimed loudly against such an accu sation, but M. Fournier insisted on both him and his wife being searched, and on Mme. L— were found the five missing articles. M. L— was horror-struck; he endea voured to justify the act of his wife by intimating that she was enceinte. The commissary of police was sent for, and search being instituted at the residence of Mme. L—, an article of plate was found which had been taken away a fortnight before from M. Fournier. It had been placed in the shop-window, amongst the second-hand goods. Mme. L— being questioned, stated that she had purchased the article from a man whose name she had not taken down, because the article was only imitation, and of little value. It• is difficult to comprehend Mme. L.'s conchat, when it is stated that the other articles were also imitation, and that she could not possibly be mistaken in them, being constantly in the habit of handling gold and silver articles in her hus band's business. The commissar) , of police has thought it his duty to place both M. and Madame L— at the dis posal of the Procureur du Roi. Their shop has, in conse quence, been shut up, and the children, one thirteen years of age and the other thirteen months, left with their servant. This sad event has thrown the family of Madame L— into consternation. M. Fournier himself experienced great regret when he heard that Madan - .e L— was the daughter and sister of two persons of his acquaintance, of irreproachable character.—Gazette de Tribuneaus. DECLINE OF SOCIALISM.—ROMSET, OCT. 25.—The formidable building at Tytherley, in this neighbourhood, con•• strutted for, and some time since tenanted by, members of the " New Moral World," has already out-lasted its original uses, and not a few of its former inmates are seeking other habitations, with curses both loud and deep at the delusion of which they have been the dupes. The society is generally understood to be insolvent, or nearly so, nor would • it appear from evidence recently given before the revising barrister, that the finances of its founder are in a very flourishing con dition. The estate of Rose-hill, near Broughton, was pur chased for and presented to Mr. Owen, who claimed in July last to vote in county elections in respect of ownership ; this claim was objected to, and on the examination by Mr. H. L. Footner, of Stockbridge (an adjoining parish), it was stated by the occupying tenant, that no portion of the rent was paid to the soi-disant proprietor, but that all of it went to the mortgagee. Many shattered fortunes, and much con sequent • distress, are the results of this effort to establish Socialism in Hampshire, and a huge impracticable edifice remains as a monument of its folly and its fallacy. We re cently mentioned the circumstance that a few late residents at Harmony Hall have found a " local habitation" at Bent ley, not far from their old dwelling, and are acquiring a " name" for peculiarity of opinions and mode of life. The patriarch of the party (a Mr. Galpine), and the principal features of his teaching and example are—the practice of abstinence and entire denial of luxuries, with the adoption of the New Testament as an exclusive guide-bok.—Hamp shire Advertiser. [ADvERTIsEmaNT.]—The Atrapilatory, or Liquid Hair Dye, the only dye that really answers for all colours, ant: does not require re-doing, but as the hair grows, as it never fades or acquires that unnatural red or purple tint common to all other dies. Ross and Sons can, with the greatest confidence, recommend the above dye as infallible, if done at their esta blishment ; and ladies and gentlemen requiring it are re quested to bring a friend or servant with them to see hew it is used, which will enable them to do it afterwards without the chance of failure. Several private apartments devoted en tirely to the above purpose, and some of their establishment having used it, the efeet produced can be at enee seen. They think it necessary to add, that by attending strietly to the in strnetions given with ea‘th bottle of dye, numerous parsons have !mewled equally well without corning to then. Address Ross and Sons, 119 and 120, Bishopsgate-street, the celebrated Perms:Niers, Perfumers, Hair-cutters, and Hair-dyers. N. B. Parties attended at their own residences, whatever the distance. THE NEW DEAN - of - WESTMINSTER Dr. Bull is to be appointed Dean of Weitminster, in the stead of Dr. : Wilberforce, who hath , been appointed Bishop of Oxford. Dr. Bull is a high-minded man, but always esteemed for his straightforwardness, which shone remarkably when contrasted with the' conduct of our. Right Reverend and "respected Diocesan. Dr. Bull's claims upon the Minister rest, we presume, upon his or thodox Protestantism, and the good service which he did in the early part of 1845, by taking the conceit tout of good Bishop Phillpotts. This high dignitary had or dered, or rather encouraged the inferior clergy to turn right about face. He was stoutly opposed by the Chap ter of Exeter Cathedral, of whom Dr. Bull was the leading spirit. The . Bishop wriggled, and twisted, and shuffled, and evaded, after his own fashion. But Dr. Bull pursued him, tossed him, trampled on him, and left him in the mire—the stains of which he hath never yet been able to get rid of. This promotion of Dr. Bull must be very discouraging to Bishop Phillpotts, who likes to have it believed that .he is powerful enough to require respectful. treatment from the Government ; whereas the great Tory GOvernment hath treated him more like an article which had been bOught in the market and had not proved worth the purchase. Bishop Phillpotts huh been fostering the party which seeks to elevate the Church above the State, and which de nounces the Protestant Reformation—the greatest event since the foundation of Christianity—because it placed all men on an equal footing with their Maker, and showed that under the Christian Dispensation a privileged and exclusive priesthood could not be tolerated by the State. Bishop Phillpotts rode into distinction on the back of the Protestant principle: after encumbering it with his weight till it carried him to the height of his ambition he abandoned it, and turned round in order to get distinction from his advocacy of the prin ciples which he had hitherto derided. Conduct of this -kind must have ensured the contempt of all honest men ; and the Government though not very nice itself in mat ters of principle, is evidently ashamed of the deep-dyed treachery of Bishop Phillpotts. It cannot degrade him in office nor lower hfm in public estimation, but it does what it can to mark its opinion of the prelate, by exalt ing the man who most effectually resisted his treacherous vagaries at the right time, and placed on record that estimate of his character (in the exposure of A Pre bendary"), the justice of which all impartial men frankly admitted.— Western Times. SERIOUS CHARGE OF ASSAULT AGAINST FIVE SOLDIERS OF THE SIXTY- NINTH REGIMENT. On Wedneaday, five young men, privates in the 69th Regiment of Foot, stationed in Birmingham Foot •Bar racks, were .placed in. the dock before Charles Shaw, Esq., and Dr. Melson, charged with the following se rious assaults :—Their names were Michael Brinkworth, Michael Brophy, Patrick Kelly, William Kelly, and. James M'Nally, all natives of Ireland. They had been taken up just before on a warrant signed by Dr. Melson. W. Dele, whose lip was cut through, and his clothes covered with blood, deposed to being in the Cock beer house, in Lichfield street, soon after six o'clock the night before. He had left his work only a short time, and was having a pint of ale in the tap-room, when suddenly ten or a dozen soldiers, all of the 69th, rushed into the room armed with sticks. He was immediately knocked down ,by Patrick Kelly, and remained senseless some time. While in that state he was struck and kicked all over. He had - never had a word with any of them. They came into the tap-room brandishing their sticks and shouting something like " Hugh ! hugh !" He never saw or heard any insult offered to them. He heard one of them say, " The not dead yet," and they beat him again as he lay on the floor. Thomas Lowe said he was in his y shop at the back of the Cock beer-house. He heard the cry of "Murder !" and on running in saw the last witness on the ground bleeding, and saw him again abused by Brophy, who made use of the language described by Dale, and he was himself knocked down. Henry Caldicott was in the house when the soldiers came into the room ; one of them said, " What have you got to say against or about soldiers?" He was knocked down instantly, and beat dreadfully with their sticks. Those who had no sticks got hold of the poker and shovel. No one had spoken a word to them. He was badly hurt, and his coat (produced) was torn to rags. He saw no woman with them. Brinkworth was one of the party. William Harley next appeared, with his head badly cut, and said he was waiting to grind malt, when the soldiers came in shout ing, knocking all down before them. James Booth (with broken nose and injured jaw) said he saw the soldiers come down stairs and commence the attack, without pro vocation. He was knocked down senseless. The soldiers used the house.. John Gold corroborated the previous statement. Mrs. Maria Wood, the landlady, deposed to seeing one of the soldiers go into the kitchin and imme diately return, and then they all rushed in. Two of the soldiers (none of the prisoners) begged for mercy for her, as she was threatened to be done for. Parts of the sticks, loaded with lead, were produced. There was no qnarrel previous to the attack ; the prisoners were all there When she went to the barracks that morning the prisoners drew their bayonets, and made use of threats towards her. The prisoners,' who had declined to have the hearing postponed, or to call witnesses, made some statement of Dale having struck one of them with the poker, and seemed to make light of the affair altogether. After a consultation with Mr. Gem, Mr. Shaw said, " We con sider the assault proved, and fine each of you 51., or two months' imprisonment." One of the soldiers observed, " We won't pay the fine," and they were taken from the dock apparently enjoying the thing as a joke.—Birming ham Adzes tiler. LINCOLN CATHEDRAL.—On Sunday last a long printed document, addressed "To the vergers, stall-keepers, and other officers," was placed in the stalls and pews, signed " Charles Goddard, D.D., ' sub-dean and canon in residence, in which that dignitary remarks that he has had complaints from several respectable quarters, and he has also seen him self, that persons are placed in the stalls, or most distin guished places of the Cathedra ',who do not come within the rule of Church discipline, which supposes every one to be seated according to his " rank, quality, and station." Hence arises the disregard of the rubric, persons sitting during the service, instead of standing or kneeling when prescribed ; also talking and laughing during service to the annoyance of others more devout, and postures which would be unbe coming even in a private house. Dr. Goddard goes on to state that, on remonstrance, some persons have expressed their determination to resist all attempts to reduce them to better order, and therefore he enjoins on the officers of the Cathedral to use their best judgment and discretion, and not to admit to their stalls any person who has not the character of a gentleman. He reminds them that no one but the dean and canons have any right to the stalls, or whom they may appoint to occupy them ; others are by sufferance, for use, but not for abuse. The document goes on to order that those who sit during service, or. who persist in laughing and talk ing, after having been once spoken to, are to be removed, and, if need be, by the constable, with as little disturbance as possible to the'congregation. The same instructions are made in a less degree as it regards the pews and benches. The officers are finally reminded that they will be only doing their duty, and will be held harmless.—Hal Advertiser. The inhabitants of Williton and neighbourhood were not a little surprised last week, at the walls being placarded with notice of a sale by auction, of the late Lord Egremont's wearing apparel, by the executors of his late butler. Being of so unusual a character, we transcribe the advertisement entire for the amusement of our readers : « WILLITON.—For sale by auction, in the great room at the Egremont Hotel, in Williton, on Saturday, the 18th Octolier instant, by Mr. Porosity, a • very large and desirable wardrobe of wearing apparel, in the posses sion of the executors in trust of Mr. Woods, butler to the late Earl of Egremont, deceased ; consisting of several dozen Holland shirts ; about 150 pairs of trousers, in cloth, fcstian, cords, sea duck, drill, summer cloth, and mackintosh; a large collection of vests, in drill, jean, valen cia, kerseymere, &c. ; several cloth grant coats, pilot coats, a large assortment"of close coats and jackets, in various fabrics, a quantity of hats and caps, a pair of antigropelo mud boots, several pairs of other boats. A large quantity of shoes, slippers, clogs, &c., &c.—Monksilver, Oct. 14, 1845." We understand that great competition arose for the various lots, especially the 150 pairs of breeches, so anxious were the as sembled dealers to possess themselves of these appurtenances of his late Noble Lordship.—Taunton Courier. _ _ IMPUDENT ROBBERY.—AS Mr. William Gould, of Charlton Mackral, was returning from Glastonbury market on Monday last, about seven o'clock in the evening, he was met at ButleighWooton by three men, who pulled him from his horse, tied his legs, blinded his eyes, stopped his mouth, and threatened, if he made the least resistance, to knock out his brains. They then rifled his pockets of a cheque for 321. and seven 51. bills, amounting altogether to 67/. ; also an engine-turned silver watch, maker's name William Tyas, No. 9,635, a pair of silver spectacles, a pocket knife with two blades, and one other knife with two blades, and a comb and pencil-case, with which the rascals made off across the fields in the direction of Glastonbury, leaving Mr. Gould to extricate himself as he could. On his making the alarm, Sir Alexander Hood, who lives near, with truly manly spirit, aroused the whole neighbourhood, and toge- ther with his servants and others, started in search of the robbers, but we are sorry to say, without effect. Sir Alexander Hood having taken Mr. Gould to his own man sion, kindly afforded him all the consolation in his power. We are happy to say Mr. Gould escaped with a few slight bruises. He is a man much esteemed and beloved, and the greatest sympathy towards him pervades the whole neigh bourhood. As yet, the scoundrels have escaped detection, although several persons have been apprehended on sus picion.—Somerset County Gazette. COST OF THE SLAVE^TRADE SUPPBESSTON.—The following is a table of the deaths from fever on board vessels employed on the coast of Africa during 1837-38, comprising eighteen months, being a very sickly period. C ases s i m il ar to the Eclair, f vessels losing more than half their crews, will be seen to be too common. There are, more than double the number of men employed on the coast than there were at that time.. If - this epidemic equals the former, the mor tality will be fearful : Vessels' Names. Officers Men Tot a l O r i g i nal died. • died, deaths. No. of crew. Raven 4 • ... .21. ... 25 ... 42 Bonetta 5 '2B ... 34 ..• 52 Buzzard.. Forester - ... 27 ... 30 ... 52 Dolphin Fair Rosamond 1 ... 14 ... 15 .. 41 Viper - 5 ... 8 ..• 13 ... 52 Scout Waterwitcli Pylades Pelican Atna 6 ... 25 ... 30 150 Brisk Curlew . 7 .. 30 ... 35 ... 52 Total 52 285 ... 886 ... 4000 'Tampshire Telegraph _ . Em;vEßnsEmENT.]—Ax EXTBAORDIIPARY CURE or A DISORDERED 'LIVER AND STOMACH DV HOLLOWAY's PILLN.—" To Professor Holloway.—Sir,—Seting that the Earl of Aldborough was cured of a liver and stomach com plaint by means of your Pills, I was induced to try them, and I have the fiatisfaction to inform y ou t h at your Pills have cer tainly, in a very . short time, don e won d ers f cr me in a similar complaint, when cait:::"el and ether medicine at last failed to give me any relief. I I,nd you ray name and address, but would rather that you did net m,:.!ce them public."—N.ll. This eencrannieatiea is from a eotmsellor Pr barrister, of great emi nence, of the Inner Temple, whose letter' would be shown to any respectable persol• Sold (also Holloway's Ointment) at Pro fessor Holloway's Eo.4b)i4brosnit p 44, Strgntls and by all 7endela of medicinal' COURT-OF COMMON COU.Z•iCIL. Yesterday a Court was held. THE LORD MAYOR AND CHRIST'S HOSPITAL, The LORD MAYOR made the following statement to the Court " October 30. ' " I have now to report, according to my statement made - to the last Court,.l caused a General Court of the Governors ' of all the Hospitals to be called by the Town Clerk by letters to, the Pre-itlents, to meet in the Guildhall, on yesterday, at. one o'clock precisely, when I was attended by "fir Chapnrui-Marshall, Knight and Alderman, - " Mr.• Prendergast, Mr. • Groicher,. Mr. Deputy Storms, Mr. Deputy Westwood,* Mr. 'Jolt,* Governors of St. Bar- "tholomew '; • "Mr. Colson, Mr. Mortimer, Mr. Bill, Mr. Deputy OhlAard, Mr. Deputy Evans, Mr. Deputy Mitchell, Mr. Deputy Dixon, •; Mr. Parker,* Mr. Laurie,* Go-errors of Bridewell Bethlehem; • • • "Mr. Jerram, Mr. Prior, Mr. Lister, Mr. Deputy Bedikil, • Mr. White, Governors of Christ's Hospital i "Mr. Bennett, Mr. Jnpp, •Mr. Phillips, Mr. Braes, Mr. Muggeridge, Governors of St. Thomas%; No lists were delivered in, but communications Were re. • eeived from Bridewdl, St. Thomas, and Christ's Hospital, ' addressed to the Town Clerk, and are now in Court to read if required. The Court will remark that different real sons are assigned by the different hospitals for not delivering f the lists, which is a circumstance worthy of observation. when it is recollected that all the hospitals had one common i origin, were all originally under the same Government, and are still under the same agreement and Act of Parliament, ", which, although it gives the management to the Governors of the several hospitals, leaves untouched the title to the property, the general superintendence of the Corporation, and their interest in the incorporated body of all the hospitals. "It was observed by two Governor% members of the Common Council, and by one of the other Governors, that they were not a sufficient number of Governors present to constitute a Cond. I have only to say, as to the discharge of my duty, that the Governors who were summoned by the Town Clerk were more than sufficient to form a proper Ge neral Court, had they attended to the summons. "For myself, my course is clear ; my term of office will soon expire. I have only interposed officially, being deter mined, that during my year of office the rights and privi leges of the Corporation should not be weakened or usurped without my resistance. It is impossible not to say (whether intentional or not) that the rights of the Corporation; have been infringed. It is, therefore, my duty to report the pro ceedings to this Court, having no doubt that proper steps will be taken to secure the rights and privileges of the Cor poration." Mr. Lorr, the Chairman of the Royal Hospitals Committee, then rose and stated, that the managers of the hospitals had, by their crowning act, consummated their contumacy to ' their legitimate head, the Lord Mayor, and reiterated their defiance to the Corporation, and their determination to re cognise them in no other light than as ordinary governors o , the hospital. Mr. Lett. in analyzing the replies of the various officers of the different hospitals in excuse for not delivering in the lists, stated that they presented the revere of the proverb, that "in the multitude of counsellors there is wisdom." The reply of Christ's Hospital, that the lists were delivered in according to ancient custom, was incor rect. The innovation, which, mole-like, was imperceptibly widening the privileges of the Corporation, was the subtle creation of the last three years only, the ancient custom foe' upwards of. 200 years being to place the Lord Mayor at the head of the lists. The authorities of Christ's Hospital said truly they had placed the whole management in the almoners, ; but from whom had been carefully excluded the corporate Governors, the original and legitimate trustees of these royal foundations. The reply of Bridewell and Bethlehem Hos pitals s was a mere quibble, they asserting they wou4l, have - made, the return. at Christ's hospital (whance the Laird Mayor was shut out),.but would not do so at Guildhall; Ai I St. Thomas's, .took time to consider that which require s ' t little time to deliberate upon. M r . L o tt mo y e d th a t " the ' whole matter be referred to the Royal Hospitals Committee: ' with power to consult counsel thereon ;" and he trusted the ; Court would now proceed with zeal and dig n ity to vindicate 1 their much abused rights and privileges. Alderman WILSON was strongly in favour of supporting l the dignity of the ICrayoralty, and opposing the arrogance ' ! and pride of Christ's Hospital. It had, he said, been stated ; upon a former o c ca s i on , th a t if any c h ar it y i n th e kiggdom , required to be looked into very particularly, Christ's Hospital : was that institution.—(Hear, hear.) He completely agreed I with that opinion, and h e b e lie ve d th a t it was th e b oun d en duty of the Corporation to do all they could to control the extraordinary efforts made to destroy that power.—(Hear.) Mr. GADSDEN said he had been given to understand that the legal opinions delivered to the Court of Aldermen upon the subject of the right of the Lord Mayor were decidedly in favour of the Corporation. He bad been also informed that the opinions of the law authorities consulted upon the part of the Governors of the Hospital were as decidedly against the City.. He spoke as an impartial person, and he could not but say that while the Corporation gave 100/. within the last ten years to, support the charity, the Governors not con nected with the Ccrporation gave 100,000/.--(" No, no.") Mr. R. TAYLOR said, the purchased Governors of the Hos pital were wrong in the course they had adopted, and hoped that the Corporation would make every effort to regain their lost rights.—Hear, hear.) The communication of the Lord Mayor was thee referred to the Royal Hospitals Committee. THE PROPOSED TERMINI IN FARRINGDON. STREET. Deputy 3EDFORD presented a petition from the tenants and occupiers of Faningdon-market, for provision to bp made for another market in the event of the erection of the proposed railway terminus. Mr. NORRIS asked whether the petition was signed by persons who had a public meeting on the subject? The answer was, that such was the case, and the petition, was signed by 24 or 25. Deputy BEDFORD proceeded to state that the petitioners required nothing but remuneration in case the change con templated should take place. Here a member stated that there was no Court, there being but one Alderm an p resen t b es id es t h e L or d M ayor. , The LORD MA You said there was no Court. Several members of the Court rose and expressed the strongest indignation at the absence of Aldermen when busi ness deeply affecting, the Corporation was coming on; but ~ the Lord Mayor repeat e d that there was no Cou r t, an d the business terminated. ,1 * Not Corporation Governors. f BRITISH PHILANTHRO PIC PEN- , SION SOCIETY. TESTIMONIAL TO MR. PHILIP LEWIS. A party of the leading gentlemen of this prosperous and excellent institution dined together on Thursdaynight, at Mr. J. Titchiner's, the Britannia Tavern, Bishopsgate-street With- out. They had assembled for the purpose of presenting their late treasurer, Mr. Lewis, with a mark of their esteem for the generous and kind manner in which he had discharged his duties in that capacity. The excellent din- ,• ner which their host had provided, was sufficient in itself to account for the good-humour which prevailed throughout the evening; but it is only reasonable and just to assign for it a far , nobler cause, arising from the intense satisfaction always in separable from benevolent actions. Few societieswhich have commenced on equally small beginnings, and have derived strength from the same number of years, can boast se proud a title to the respect of the country. It was established in the year 1838, for the. purpose of affording relief to the infirm and needy. Within the space of five years twelve' pensioners were on their books, and at the end of that time their subscriptions had so far increased as to enable them to allow ss. a week instead of 2s. Where could the philanthropist look for stronger encouragement, or for more judicious Estruction in the direction of his energies? Societies of this description always formed a prominent trait in our national characteristics; they remove an astounding mass of misery, and entitle their members to the respect their fellow citizens. • The chair was to have been taken by the President of al Society, Peter Morison, Esq., but a fall from his horse had unfortunately prevented him from attending. Mr. Wallace, Chairman of the Licensed Victuallers" Asylum, was called to the chair. • The cloth having been removed, and the usual loyal toasts proposed from the chair and enthusiastically drunk, The CHAIRMAN rose and said, that an important task had devolved upon - him in his having t o p resen t M r . L ew i s witha testimonial of respect from the members of the Society,. He felt extre me pleasure in taking that duty upon himself' though he deeply deplored the absence of the President/ f who would have discharged it more efficiently--( ° ' , no.) But he regretted it the more that it should have ' been occasioned by a severe fall from his horse. The Oen' sure of the present occasion was, however, some compel sation to them, and, for his own part, he esteemed it en ' honour to present so excellent a man as their late treasure!' with this testimonial of his merit. Charity, the brightes t diadem of the Christian, and the surest indication of pure reli gion, was of him a token and a sign. On all oceetsiont - he ready at his duty, distributing to the poor their usual allow' ante; and when the carelessness of a secretary had left hit' unprovided with the necessary means, he had un he s itatinglf, supplied them from h is own purse.—(Cheers.) He had 11°'• even contented himself with that, for lie had on many 006 : sions repeated his benevolence. Under those circumstanq: he proud and happy to present Mr. Lewis with t h e 81' of the Society. et The Chairman then handed Mr. Lewis a handsome sl-y snuff-box, •of large dimensions and elegant design. Mr. Lewis rose to receive the box, and thanked the 0 0111- pany in warm language for the highly complimentary : ner in which they had expressed themselves on his disehe r b" of duty. A The CHAIRMAN next proposed the h ea lth o f the rilletiue— 'at, which was drunk with three times three. Mr. PERRIN acknowledged the toast on behalf of g r Morison. Mr. TITCHINER begged leave to propose the health of 4 Chairman, to whose s t renuous exert i ons i n the i r cause - vie; were deeply indebted, and without whom their rension would not now be receiving so much as they did. Drunk with three times three. The CHAIRMAN then proposed the health of the Hon. ,As Harley, the l a dy Patroness, and concurred in a sincere vf,'4 for her recove r y f rom a di sorder of the eye, under w hich was her misfortune to labour. The toast was drunk with three times three, after wh.,, ic 0 .. 11 those of the l a di es an d v i s i tors were proposed and duly " noured, and the evening was spent most agreeably. PERILOUS SITUATION OF TO GREAT BRITAIN STEAM-SHIP. ure a The Manchester Guardian says—We have been fa",„ with the followi ng ex t rac t from a letter written by one' the passengers in the Great Britain steamer, in her oat",i - to passage, dated Holme's Hole, Mass., October 12. wiit , T says— " On that day (d a t e l e f t bl an k) we made C ape 'ace, Nei: foundland. At that time our compasses, tee., were fit feet order. On S un d a y , t h e 1 2th, when we took o bservatT itc s proved we were forty miles farther north than the die u ld we had run by th e l og , an d t h e cou r se we h a d s t ee red so% it have placed us. Thi s ma d e t h e captain more alert , o n was remarked. Ab ou t s i x o'clock this morning, l i c i l ie - Ard deck. When I awo k e , th e eng i nes were s to ppe d. an d t at We the boatswain ca lli ng th e soun di ngs. K now ing t" fig , I could not be in so un di ngs un l ess some thi ng was we re dressed hurriedly, and on reaching the deck, found ty e kne W close to land, with breakers all around us. No °lle t han 11 where we were, nor could any one hazard more d then guess. At eight A.M. we made out a lighthouse, and ifs it was proved to be Nantucket; it was now ordir i t,"" o , on knew we were on the most dangerous coast and 9 1, ga l the Atlantic (West). We fired guns and,,hoisted t cttr ect for a pilot; at nine A.M. sent a boat ashore, and Pr:eever, s tion a man, who, on boardi ng us , sa id, i n r eply to he ,i 9 ," w " What are you ?" "A f armer an d a fi b h e rman." nu vo ter• t he proved good at the b o tt om , an d pl a ced us in del ) . .. j ot. , We then dodged abo u t, firing guns, &c., un til at elev el ' e k to a pilocwas placed on board; he would net take trtDe.bs.lael ___— _ — -- NEWS' ifs,, SEE THE T 0 mag mFORTHEREN - 41iNDEIRipTHE 0. 1 THIS DAL v .go 4 Of London : Printed and Published by KURD° . 3r°,`" -- 11 1, No. 112, Strand, Printer at The Sun Office, ~._,,_,°' ~,, of Strand, in the Precinct 'of the Savoy, in the uoi“'"" Middlesex, Saturday, NoTember 1, 184$• THE StTN, LONDON, SATURDAY yEVENING, NOVBNIBER 1, 1845. , r e( hi l bu ch, fet i 84 tb, bal