The Sun. — London, England, 1850-02-21 00:00:00

th, "e orb e. --- ti e* e tie el, who will shortly put forth an appeal to Ik e '" E ctt ef lerigl,nd at large to aid, according to their ise ie n : , ,ihe . requisite preparations for an exhibition in el , !tie indust r y and it:e.nutty of their sex is likely ih h ' ec uPe to distinguished a place. The Noble Lord r e ; l "e'it on to say, that having dealt with what ho b el tee filleted and prm tical grounds that could i e to r ti t 'ght f nes are in aid of those contributions, he would tine, h uPen one tnore b. fae he concluded his observe tele': wl tich he would terra the moral grounds. It was tee Ifi l;( licious to exaggerate the (-fleets of mot al causes,. h e w, '''Y must never expect to put an end to the evil the el,"( 1 inclinati ons of mankind, or finally to lead to I.44easolution of the war and bloodshed which bad . fl ue I " the world, by any other motives and in te,:be,es except the highest ; but in the complex le e i r r Y ( f this world so much seemed to lit h i e u enced by secon d ary causes and subsidiary n ei-ticee that, they s h ou ld a l ways d o we l l to en li st t h em tha t t i } : "ide• The olive-branch is of so prec i ous a growt h or to - eeY should lose no opportunity to drop its seeds, die te ". l :ain its suckers and tendrils.— (Cheers.) Now he T O tak e this uaderiaking was mainly calculated to peace and harmony of nations.—(Cheers.) 4 thee the very lowest estimate, our good offices would titrutu'lle exchanged, valuable acquisitions would be it gc e ' 4111 triendly intercourse, which might again and tesitie he re ewd, woe! I be accomplished. Then, te ',Le , felt that we should bo disposed • to have Re 8 increasing dislike to cut off supplies which tight rid our own experience, and by our . own to 04 eee handling, were necessary to contribute li eth reciprocal comfort, benefit, and enfightenne nt. tee h°4h.t see hould have a repugnance to engage . in ocilt, ostilitie hich might prevent us enjoying those e tue i ti relations with other races and nations from which . dit ee the h at ) application of industry, the glorious keei e t s erie s , f P e Y eience,and the bright emanations of ke y _ ,Te(Cheers.) They thought sincerely and hope eel ' i f uat if we threw open our doors to the competi ell of the world, we should have the spirit to contend, lea % e ° ,grace to submit, in this benignant and blood obt4aFY.—(Cheers.) He could not better sum up the wore at '°ne which he had mace than by quoting some 81 1 4 8 which had been written near a century osp t „ 4 half ago b y a poet , w h o a l wa y s Ple te ?d hims e lf w i th more po i n t an d com itex'ande's tha n any other he knew—he referred to , 11, er 1 3 P ~„..._ (Cheere.) P . tie the balm shall bleed, and amber flow, goh6 "el redden, and the ruby glow; d Pearly shell its lucid orb unfold, Tee Plicebus warm the ripening ore to gold." p ' titne or, ~,, Ivollid come when they would listen to see if I r; 'IC I as good a prophet as he was a poet : l ' e ii r time shall come, when free as seas or wind, : We -e l uti ded Thames shall flow for all mankind; e e t ' r eee nations enter with each swelling tide, Ea rth , but join the regions they divide; 4 1 , 1 ' distant ends our glories shall behold, _ [Or eat . -4 , the new world launch forth to seek the old." i i "' r e tl e e n h ee ring.) Now (continued the Noble Lord) we ee 'l i Pie ,„ a PPiness of seeing—l hope we shall have the ke it etri e ,,hearing—many representatives of foreign ,7 th e ije s ". Weibicl through them an anticipatory welcome ;Se,ee°lltltryneen and productions; and I must allow ;"Pe e " "d with reference to that new world to which 'eke " referred in the passage quoted, that I uniformly oli ttle there the utmost kindness and goodwill among all ibliehtettsr i nhabitants; and I rejoice sincerely at the nation Ste Matter by which my countrymen may contri cement the link which unites the two great . Th e (Loud cheers.) ' t 's,oti e e'ueernetart then read a list of subscriptions, -1 - h "' d ell were 2001. b the Duke of Sutherland, AtTirlto.:eYeyt.hoeeahla4qttu, Marquis of Westminster, and 1001. by the Th e Ipt was received with applause. ke „. aerse A e l t - te e - 1 1 ..MRASSADOR then came forsTardento wNaa i second resolution, and was received with Oh t h t : c heering . He could assure them that it was ,wi t) , greatest pleasure that he proposed the fol- Fse‘teselution it is the opinion of this fol io thel t t hst the opportunity given by this exhibition mote "ill ercourse and peaceful rivalry of various na tlhettthe the most effectual step towards the accom- Wide , -- ",. 0 universal peace throughout the civilized b .,..ulti on li,le remembered with pride, that the first Ex- Vecieje°'• Industry, though on a less extensive bii 4 Rls s t i d"' „took place 9 in France—(Loud cheers)— hS e - ',' °llo wing the example on a much larger scale, ler_fes t e a r °ll the nations of the world to compete with 'ete ee l Prize that was offered to all.—(Hear, hear.) .Octet. - th lu d, in his opinion, be no better arena for the peter „, sn the metropolis of England—(Hear)—and no eis r e ' i ' l e ee to erect a building, in which the wonders of ,meit4u would be exhibited. A magnanimous nation e lttl t' , o' her shores all nations to give them the re illese ''" : their skill.—(Hear, hear.) Such a el t :e it Z s _ beyond all praise. Half a century k ih 'lke s ee 'Lee of the house of Coburg led a t 7 all ii" n ° ll, a Prince of the same house was t el..-.tr e _eeuld to cultivate peace with the whole red ~,w.r, hear.) In moving this resolution he e de e l r e t t h e e President of the French Republic, who seefarettee,e that a meeting like the present was a meet k ti l i lle . Li s " i l i o hand,, Peace.—(Hear, hear.) tie ulste r e s' °I LONDON seconded . the . resolution. As e' ()teen ce religion , he unhesitatingly declared that iste l i t ,a which th meeting bad in view would pro 4111e,'°,1,"gion and ' good feeling over the whole C t . . t ; h .. ° B °eiety, in his opinion, was in the strictest e' et P e ace sectety--(Hear, hear)—and would have kes,e ttre,f_ leading - men - of different nations to cultivate te:seh ...' °°e 'etY.— (Sear, hear.) Ie the olden times, 0 k t i" e aB thought of the sacred games that enemies 17 1 'lk le o ". Yule during their continuance, how much more tkote„uhl part' meet as friends when the object was Ne --Ot With parties other in the arts of peace, and when 14114411,"41 Objec t a to bring all the nations of the earth ll lPte e, h o l / V j to c g t e w th a e s r.—(Hear, hear. ) . He admired the -11, L the Noble Earl in seconding the first resolu lea, be le i llet el at the same time he must confess that he had s t ,fs et. ''Y cut all his ground of argument from . under the tb t io or - _ u_e would take the liberty of quoting ci tt oee t h e Greek poet, which he (the Bishop of London) ll e ,s % w e re strougly upon the enterprise in which they h % Pe tt engaged. Speaking of the games of G . reece_, osi ti liti e li t 4id in substance that they tended to extinguish Cie to eetween men, to renew ancient friendships ''' se t ' l4 new ones, and to bring into generous rivalry tlth di lle .,, t ition the skill and qualities of those who en 7 , te/j4sero. Whatever k tended to remove . national t ,te and to lessen national animosities, and the %It tither the people of different countries in . et i t a e,ernmon object, would bind them insensibly, tele . t ie`e lees effectually, in the bonds of amity and ' ttie e e'neer s ) The Right Rev. Prelate concluded Ali e. 4 p di ng the . resolution. l it il "'En GRAHAM moved the next resolution, k ' ot i :o 4 , B o B follows -- q."Q:krtie"."4l meeting tenders its loyal gratitude to her I),, iti ttie he '''us Majesty for the support given to the above . L tee." k rt iW.Y. i ssuing:a Royal Commission with the Prince oCsti oo i ts head, and for her Majesty's gracious . con- ON . I n contributing to the funds for defraying the i til te eh ts of the exhibition." 1 14 k11 4 .4 the proposed exhibition would give a great k tia t i o ° trade and employment, and tend to improve tert!tett,,teete. He visited the French exposition in 'IOR k 4 s : l4 , and he felt deeply mortified at the corn- IP tesPeen the exhibition and the state of industrial II er, k ivi tlid. Put l e t , l ' e n briefly seconded the resolution, which 4 04 4 A $ e," carried unanimously. " t% f -6814 N AMBASSADOR moved the next resolu op e l) t i !nees...... ‘. 4l` ). Rti -:!;is .theearnest hope of this meeting that all isizti n io ., oons will cordially promote .the endeavour of \ (e es t kee a „ ! i rrY out an undertaking in which all na- N t 4 . 4 h \'` i nterest. ,, k i k t ,e. -.) Ile felt a confident hope that this would be 'tei'dier l d ie thought they could not have expected . at , 4 4t i littt; 1 , 44 to have an expression of the feelieg of ee e „ - gle ee t 'S on this subject. He believed that a frank 'NV ll a ;:e Peal to the best interests of mankind would Leett-eteekLo.etitcorresponding response . from the human , itl n gj e „ e cheers.) It was his conviction that this Vete ''' w ould c duoe to our own benefit and that i t 4 4 t . i e oatio uu He approved of the liberality and Il ei, l te tY ,.?„ l ,t it s s p . rin li ciple though the preparations for Nel l et k .' n . It was offered to the whole world, but gyt thi s was borne by England.—(Cheers..) He k t 'uter„ l- , e ,uterprise symbolized the inauguration of 'kstoth'.Leeeea"enal amity and peace.—(Cheers.) 'te t re .11 NcE the American Minister, seconded the tio -tI tY ll : I P doing so he said he porformed an . agree iltsall'ePtie``,„ e had watched this great enterprise from 'NI; thi i - " , and he would say that the mind that con ki, feeeth,,,geeat project, and the individuals who had i it h ' l ttit o v e 'eled the preliminary arrangements, deserved ' 1'14 44 -.1e(1 his profound admiration.—(Cheers.) ' itf,t " there as the representative of a youthful but ee tl / 4 1014 114ti en--(Cheers.) He came there to -.4 eek Peop letelee e 8 to Prince Albert and the V'''t for the magnanimous proposal; and . tie !teecif th e le sh TN re N o d o ut people of tne' United States he came _Nici Ple the hand of good-fellowship to the 1 I,' no- 04 • lie looked upon this exhibition not as Or' 6 0, 1 2 to benefit industry and art, but as a great set` I ll i l4 ° l l- All that now was wanted was h e el ace between latlens between nations. Let nations 041 1 4tio see l°, face in a great country like ' i.tee et tkee - " e a in arms and famous in lite ilth. ou% Pro ' ele good would come of it. It was 7te i t ; l'eseetP°sel, indeed its generosity was as broad ek et( e s,°f th - l eteelf, and he could promise them the . ik _ltZr, 11,,,,uoited States would readily respond to it. atee t e e 2.,e) Ile did not apprehend that in the arts i lql t i`Zeorie'e feeple of the United States could teach e a s e ."uPert u ' u eln but they would come here to learn, N e s'ent eeli toe they would bring with them inventions te 'et '' le e 43 ge t o that would command universal admi 71thtleleetla!' n over sanguine of the results of Oirue e hetue Inn when this great meeting OW N * l%b o td think the world would recognise the et ie cor e lir a m tve lt t r eze e of the advantages of commerce, that n ti er ° , th e mankind.—(Cheers.) It was for the t let h 'tetia of the w to secure peace, and the securit of t !tet ee . e r t o "le world now depended on their meeting . nil h e Per Petstat e 't (Cheers ) He closed his v t -e i Or the U n i te d his t .— thanks, on the part of the 'e nte e . nited States, for the proposal of this t seee n natio e t e e en ee eat exhibeion of industry.—(Cheers.) ki t .1 0 le Itit AN int • uk to ere , i ,, 'mated, that for the convenience of te of , te o ae time was never his own, but always h to rt i t t l er‘ uu lles the next resolution would be taken ee lh et" 4°l 4l ger toti this i1 , 1:(4 e, 3 1 , ,, i1l moving the following . resolution . : Ik. lty shat; tg views with great satisfaction the h il elkt . e ' e l ?Y c w ill be given for the promotion of „et , ' 4%10 14 °ellearison of the merits of those inven °le : . 'bt ee ,„2 B hoped will be found in the exhibition of 're v ere ee eteet to a d, p ki . lit an..„ . e. uressa few words to the meeting upon .shone le eeeiel°,lous occasion. In the first place, he il,:u4 bleb he not to them so much as to those d been under the painful necessity (fie t tlle R t ° s ti h e based,, for having made e,n exception to 14t. , .YeEirp . ..,! laid down for himself, for the last 14 4. , ?r._ refusing to attend a public meeting.— i Ate resettle of this exception was this, 11111106... not merely the importance of the occasion which called them together, but he had happened ri peatedly to express an apprehension amounting to a claim on the Fart of his worthy fellow•countrynn n that this exhibition of industry of sill nations might. perad venture, prove less beneficial to them than he would have hoped it would prove. The ground of his appre hension was this—it was not material now to state it because to be forewarned, as the proverb said, was to I e forearmed, and the ground of it might be removed. It arose not from any narrow-minded selfishness, any exclusive national feeling, but from a real feel ing. that the interest in the preference for which he was bound to give to the industry of his own countrymen, without excluding the competition of others. —(Hear, hear.) He did feel this apprehensior, that we might appear to be defeated in the contest, in the honest contest and rivalry with our r eighbours, when in reality we had not sustained any defeat at all.—(Hear.) He thought that the public exhibition, addressing Welt' only to the sense of sight, would tend naturally to prevent our great fundamental substantial merits from being seen as well as felt, and if these merits consisted as they did, not in outward, gaudy show, but in the wearable, durable nature of the pro duce of our home industry, he had season to appre hend that we should appear to be worsted by those who judged only from outward show.—(Cheers.) Now that was his only ground for being apprehensive of a bad result from the present great movement, to use an or dinary expression of the day.—(ll( ar, hear.) He wished ho could approve of sill movements as well as he did of this ; and since he had been led to believe that his apprehension was ill founded—whether it was ho would not decide now, but would wait till the year 1851—he gave it his most hearty support.—(Hear, hear.) He could not suf ficiently express his delight at eteing surrounded by the representatives of Foreign Powers, because though it was the primary object of this movement, so to speak, to promote industry and increasing skill by competition, there was yet a secondary object, of primary importance in itself, which was to increase that material good understanding and enlightened friendly feeling between this country and all the other nations of the world. (Cheers.) As had been observed by his Honourable Friend the re presentative of our kinsmen of the United States, and who never could have been our enemies but for the im policy of our rulers of one period of our history, and perhaps he might add, the impolicy of their rulers at another period, the people of America would come here to take a leaf out of our book, which we could not consent to give them saving upon the true spirit of trade, without taking in return, lie hoped, a leaf out of theirs.—(Cheers and laughter.) They have one practical illustration of our power to manufacture in the right way—they would see the manu facture called British freedom, that is enjoyed in this country—(Cheers)—they would see a constitution working amid the storms of faction unmoved—(Cheers) —they would see a constitution which defies all at tack from without and within.—(Loud cheers.) They would see what he hoped he should not have the trouble of showing them; and if occasion arose for it, he would show them the noble spectacle of the 10th of April, 1848—(Loud cheering)—when no doubt pre parations were made to prevent the possibility of the Queen's peace being broken, but when they found that those preparations were absolutely superfluous fur the Queen's peace, which was never in better keeping than in the hands of the Queen's people—(Cheers)--and when that most miserable and despicable attempt was made to commit an infraction of the peace.—(Cheers, and cries of "No," and "Ques tion.") It was to be laughed at from one end of the island to the other—(Hisses and cheers)—and if any thing could have matte it more despicable in itself, and make them more proud of it, it would have been the miserable contrast—the unhappy contrast, he grieved to say, which the proceedings of a neighbouring nation a few weeks before had offered, and of which that nation now most heartily repented.— (Loud cheers and hisses.) And if there was one thing to which he attached more importance than another it was the fact that a foreigner, come from what quarter of the globe he might, and though he might have been a slave before, as soon as he touched the Bri tish soil, his fetters fell off, and he became a free man. He was asked to more the reso lution which he thought embodied a most important expectation—the expectation of 1851—that the interests of science would benefit incalculably by an exhibition of the inventions of various countries, which he hoped and trusted would not be without their salutary effect in quickening the inventive faculties of our artists. He spoke' from practical experience when he said that we had much to learn from the inven tive powers and admirable workmanship in scientific matters of foreign art zaps. He could speak with most grateful recollections of the practical benefits'which he had derived, in his late scientific researches, from the inimitable inventions of Frenchmen. It was therefore with peculiar satisfaction that he discharged this debt of gratitude to them by moving the resolution which had been entrusted to him. He ought not to have trespassed so long upon their time, but he could not do otherwise when he was called upon to speak. He had been called froth his judicial• labours in the House of Lords, and he hoped his retiring immediately to re sume them would be taken as a sufficient apology, and that his withdrawing would not be reckoned inconsistent with those warm feelings of interest with which he re garded the present movement.—(Cheers.) The BELGIAN AMBASSADOR seconded the resolution, and in doing so said he was particularly struck with the contrast which the position of inventors of the present (lay presented to that of inventors in former periods of the world's history. It had teen the custom formerly to conceal under the veil of mystery the most useful and meritorious discoveries, but now neither the gaze of the multitude nor the calm and impartial eye of the scientific man was dreaded, and the consequence was that mankind throughout the world had been greatly benefited. In seconding this resolution he considered he was only paying that debt of gratitude to the illus trious Prince the Consort of the Queen of England which was his due, and whose conduct had endeared him to every one. The resolution was then put by the Chairman, and declared to be carried unanimously. The Bishop of OXFORD moved the following resolu tion :—" That this meeting is of opinion that all con sumers, especially the working classes, will be mate rially benefited by such an exhibition as that of 1851, from the tendency it will have to bring into general use the best productions." He believed that manufactures increased the be nefits of the lower classes, and he must deprecate any attempt at saying that to support an institution like the present was against Christianity. He considered that in supporting such an institution they were doing all they could to uphold Christianity. Nothing could be more noble than industry and work it was better to work than to talk. In supporting the industry of all, they were performing one of the greatest attributes of Christianity; ho there fore felt that be was pursuing his proper vocation in advocating the great work, by which the attention of all would be called to the dignity of labour.—(Hear, bear.) He saw other advantages connected with this object. That long struggle between skill and capital, which was not of a pleasant kind, would be softened in its asperities by the proposed exhibition. It would bring together the great capitalist and the small, and the skilled pro ducer, who worked together in producing great fabrics, works of art, and the necessaries of life. He wanted the poor artizan to give his shilling to this exhibition, in order that he might feel that he was one of the inviters to this great international feast.—(Cheery.) He depre cated the wealthy being alone asked to contribute to the exhibition. Ile looked upon this enterprise las tending to regain for a man his hereditary dominion over nature.—(Cheers.) What was the whole work they were engaged in, but to do in their sphere of hard labour what the Almighty did whets he sum moned from the chaos of nature its sun, its flowers, its order, and its beauty.—(Cheers.) Lord AS LEY seconded the resolution. If the ten dency of this exhibition would be to establish a principle of reciprocity he could have no doubt of the groat benefit that would arise from it to the working classes, not of this country alone, but of the whole civil ised world, in the more easy interchange of their indus trial products, which it would offer up for the future. H. hoped this exhibition would be the commencement of a new order of things, and a general combination of all mankind to magnify the Almighty in the exposition of his works.—(Cheers.) Mr. LESLIE moved the next resolution as follows: " That this meeting is of opinion that the funds re quisite for carrying out the exhibition should be pro• vided by the voluntary liberality of all classes of the community, and not from the public revenue ; and that this meeting engages to use its strenuous exertions to promote the success of the exhibition by every means in its power, and that for this purpose a committee be now formed to aid in the collection of subscriptions, and to afford any other assistance the Commissioners appointed by her Majesty may require." As an instance of the benefit that might result from the proposed exhibition to the British working men, he mentioned that almost all the men who exhibited their productions at the Exposition of Works of Industry and Art in France in 1797 had subsequently earned a Euro pean fame. The exhibition of 1851, rightly understood and appreciated, might be attended with similar advantages and renown to the English working men. Lord CANNING seconded the, resolution, They were obliged to acknowledge that France bad been be fore them in this movement, but it should be remem bered that while the French exhibitions bad been sup ported by Government funds, and confined to produc tions of French industry, the exhibition of 1851 would be open to all the world, and supported by the voluntary contributions of the people.. (Cheers.) Ile need not remind them that Queen Elizabeth was the first person who ever wore a pair of silk stockings, and that she wore the first manufactured pair till they could be worn no longer ; and yet, at the present day, scarcely a lady was without many pairs manufactured at Nottingham—or that Pepys, a secretary of the Admi ralty, in his time bad related the pleasure with which ho received his first cloth coat, while no man in the present day was without a uselul garment of that sort ; or that that useful ar ticle, the umbrella, which has saved many a man a hat, or a bad cold—to convince them, that an exhibi tion, which most have the effect of still further improv ing the necessaries and luxuries of life, could not fail to be of the utmost advantage to every member of the community.—(Cheers.) On the motion of Dr. LANCASTER, seconded by Mr. FREEMAN, a committee of noblemen and gentlemen were appointed to carry out the objects already stated. On the motion of Mr. GRACE, seconded by Mr. BYNG, it was unanimously resolved— " That the High Bailiff of Westminster, I. K. Brunel, Esq., and Mr. D. Colnaghi, be requested to act as Trea surers, and, ahem defraying the expense"! 'sanctioned by the committee, to ply the balaneo of th , money re ceived to the ireksurers appointed by the Royal Com mission." Thanks were then voted to the High Bailiff, who briefly acknowle:lged the compliment, and the meeting broke up. SIR JOHN FRANKLIN. Dr. King has forwarded the following letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty : " 17, Saville-row, Feb. 18, 1850. " Sir,—The period having arrived when a search may be made for the Franklin Expedition by an overland journey across the continent of America, I am anxious to refer my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, for reconsideration, to my plan, dated February, 1848, and published in a return to an address of the Honourab!e the House of Commons, of the 21st of March following. " The opinion of Captain Sir E. Parry, published in that return, was highly ftvourable to the position I assigned 0 the lost exhibition—the western land of North Somerset, and to the mode in which I proposed to reach it (by the Great Fish River); but the gallant and intrepid officer,' agreeing thus far, was compelled todifl4r with me as to the reediest mode of reaching that coast, because he felt satisfied that with the resources of the expedition then equipping under Sir J. Ross, the energy, skill, and intelligence of that officer would render is a matter of no very difficult enterprise, to examine the coast in question, with his ships, boats, or travelling parties.' " In the plan to which I am now asking their Lord ships' reconsideration, this question, which I premised might be raised, is thus argued by me :—` Does the attempt of Sir J. Ross 0 reach the western land of North Somerst t in boats from his station in Barrow Strait, render that proposal unnecessary ? (to reach the western land of North Somerset by the Great Fish River). Here the fscts will speak for themselves : First, Barrow Strait was ice-bound in 1832, it may, therefore, be ice-bound in 1848. Second, Sir John Ross is using the same means to relieve Sir John Franklin which have led the gallant officer into his difficulty ; the relitf party may, therefore, become a party in distress. Third, The land that is made on the south shore of Bar- row Strait will be of doubtful character, the natural con sequence of discovery in ships; the searching party, at the end of the summer, may, therefore, find they have been coasting an island many miles distant from the western land of Borth Somerset, or navigating a deep bay, as Kotzebue navigated the Sound named after him, and as Sir John Franklin navigated the sea called Melville Sound. The plan which I have proposed is, to reach . the Polar Sea across the continent of America, and thus to proceed from land known to be continent, where every footstep is sure. If that plan be laid aside, the lives of our lost countrymen will depend upon a single throw, in the face of almost certain failure.' " This only point of difference between Sir E. Parry and myself in 1848, is now, in 1850, at an end. Bar row Strait was ice-bound. The single throw fell fir short of its mark. Captain Sir J. Ross failed in afford ing the least succour to the lost expedition, and I am thus spared the painful necessity •of replying to the gallant officer's remarks expressed to their Lordships, in no measured terms, upon that plan which, in fact, Sir E. Parry has done for me—the plan of one who learnt his lesson in active discovery hi an overland journey in search of the gallant officer when the whole civilised world was as anxious for his fate as it is now for the gallant Sir J. Franklin. " All that has been done by way of search since February, 1848, tends to draw attention closer and closer to the western land of North Somerset as the po sition of Sir J. Franklin, and to the Great Fish River as the high road to reach it. Such s plan as I proposed to their Lordships in 1848 is consequently of the utmost importance. It would be the happiest moment of my lite—(and my delight at being selected from a long list of volunteers for the relief of Sir J. Ross was very great)—if their Lordships would allow me to go by my old route—the Great Fish River—to attempt to save human life a second time on the shores of the Polar Sea. What I did in search of Sir J. Ross is the best earnest of what I could do in search of Sir J. Franklin. " That the route by the Great Fish River will sooner or later be undertaken, in the search fur Sir J. Franklin, I have no doubt. That high road to the land where I have all along maintained that Sir J. Franklin would be found, and in which opinion I am now associated with many others, including Sir E. Parry himself, cannot much longer be neglected. " For some time past it bas been the cry, even in the highest official quarters, that the Government will not again attempt the discovery of the North-west Passage, and the fate of Sir J. Franklin is invariably referred to as an example of the fruitlessness of such an attempt. " The fruitlessness of Sir J. Franklin's attempt ought not entirely to discredit the service in which he has been engaged, but rather to awaken us to the grievous error committed in the instruetions which he received, and upon which it is impossible to look back without the most painful feelings. The gallant officer was, in fact, instructed to lead a forlorn hope. The discovery of the North-west Passage is the certain result of so over whelming a catastrophe. " In the absence of authentic information of the fate of the gallant band of adventurers, the terra incognita of the northern coast of North America will not only be traced, but minutely surveyed, and the solution of the problem of centuries will engage the marked attention of the House of Commons and the Legislative Assem blies in other parts of the world. The problem is very safe in their bands, so safe, indeed, that I venture ti assert, five years will not elapse before it is solved. " I may be allowed to state, in urging my claims to conduct an expedition down the Great Fish River, whenever such a service is determined by their Lord ships, that in addition to my intimate knowledge of that stream, I persisted, almost single-handed, for several years prior to the discovery of three most im portant features of the northern coast of North America, the Peninsula of North Somerset, the Great Bay of Simpson, awl Cape Brittania, all of which are now esta blished geographical facts.—l have, &c. " RICHARD KING. " To the Secretary of the Admiralty." SIR JOHN ROSS'S EXPEDITION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—ln reference to the article which appeared in your paper of the 18th, I have only to say that it never was my intention to establish that dogs were used to draw sledges in Sweden ; the mistake has arisen from the monosyllable " and" being left out iu copying the manuscript for the newspapers, which I thought would have been perceived by the reader. What I wished to establish was, that I had more ex perience in sledging than any other officer, be it by horses, dogs, or men, namely by horses in Sweden, dogs and men in the Arctic Regions, which can be easily sustained. I indeed saw the mistake when too late ; but as I did not think it would raise the "ire" of my friends the Swedes, I did not think it worth while to correct it; but if your anonymous corre spondent's object was to prevent the public from sub scribing to my expedition, I am happy to say he has signally failed in that ungenerous proceeding.—l am, your obedient servant, JOHN Ross. 267, Strand. P.S.—Be it clearly understood that my expedition is in aid of the Government one commanded by my gallant friend Captain Austin. INTELLIGENCE BY BALLOONS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sta,—fie experimental balloons for the convey ance of intelligence do not, according to the last ac counts published, appear to have answered. A range of some four or five miles has only been reached, in stead of its being satisfactorily shown that as many hundreds are probably within the bounds of attain ment. Jai the absence of information as to the size of 14- loons employed, the material of which they were made, kind of ♦arnish used, and other particulars, I may venture to state, from the authority of one who has experimented with small balloons of different ma terials, that paper ones are incapable of long flights. Balloons made of thin calico,and of about 50 cubic feet contents, properly varnished (perhaps a varnish of gutty percha may be found to be well suited to the purpose), will probably attain ranges of four or five hundred miles, when set free under a condition of a very strong breeze or gale of thirty miles per hour. It will, I am assured, be found to be a waste of time and money to try to attain ranges that are likely to afford useful results, unless the balloons are of suffi cient strength and buoyancy suited to a velocity of wind above stated. With many thanks fur the space you have afforded me upon this subject, I remain, Sir, yours much obliged, Feb. 19, 1850. NAUTICUS. SAVINGS' BANKS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sxn,—The National Debt Commissioners are now calling for returns of friendly societies who have in vested in banks for savings, with the date when the societies were enrolled. _ It is a " great fact" that numbers of unenrolled societies have invested in those institutions; and, let me ask, wby should they not, just as well as clothing clubs, cow clubs, church Sunday schools, dissenting chapels' schools, provident societies, and a host of others not enrolled ? I cannot discover any reason why they should not. They may give a receipt when they withdraw equally as safe to the trustees and ma nagers as any enrolled societies. It is the security for safe and certain refund of in vestments in banks for savings which is needed, not a mass of returns nor a multiplicity of quibbles. Yours obediently, OBSERVER. February 21, 1850. CITY COURT OF SEWERS.—At the Court held on Tuesday, the Chairman read a report from Mr. Hay wood, the surveyor of the commission, which gave an outline of the transactions and the works executed by the commissioners during the past year. The report included statements of the improvements effected in the City slaughtering houses and churchyards, and con tained copious details of the steps taken to procure the abatement of nuisinees, and the carrying out of various remedial measures enumerated. The court expressed their approbation of the report, and directed that copies hould be sent tl all the members of the corporation. GLOUCESTER, AEERYSTWITH, AND CENTRAL WALES RAILWAY. —Yesterday the Master in Chancery (Tinsley) intimated his intention of enforcing his order on the soliciters fir the production of the books and papers of this company, without which the affairs cannot be wound op. LORD NELSON AND HORATIA. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—May I be permitted to request that you will give my unqualified contradiction to a statement in the Times of yesterday, extracted from the Liverpool Albion, relative to myself? I have never had anv communication with the Rev. Erskine Neale. I have never seen or even heard of him. May I, also, at the same time be permitted to express my thanks to those unknown friends who have, in the pages of the Times, interested themselves in my welfare ?—I have the honour to remain your obedient servant, HORATIA NELSON WARD. Tenterdcn-vicarge, Kent, Feb. 19. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—lt was with much surprise that I read in some of the newspapers the statement so confidently expressed, that " Horatia," the acknowledged daughter of Lord Nelson, was also the child of Duly Hamilton. Yet, notwithstanding the reason I had for believing the contrary, I did not at first consider it worth while to contradict this statement, thinking that the indirect testimony cf so humble nn individual would have little effect in upsetting a received opi nion. Since, however, another has come forward in denial of the tact, I now beg to state, in corroboration of such denial, that I have frequently heard the sub.. ject mentioned in presence of my late father, Dr. Scott (vicar of Catterick, Yorkshire, and formerly private secretary and chaplain to Lord Nelson), and that to all queries respecting the parentage of " Ho ratia," his answer invariably was, that " she was not the daughter of Lady Hamilton." This reply he bas often made in presence of his family, even to more di rect questions as to Nelson being the father, evading the latter query by asserting in the most positive manner that " he knew all'about that matter, but that Horatia' was not Lady Hamilton's daughter." There was evidently a secret, with which he was as evidently acquainted, but which was of course never divulged. From all we could gather at differet times, however, there was an impression in our family that the mother of "Iloratia" was a foreigner (if not a Nea politan), and a lady* of very high rank. At this distance of time I can give no especial reason for such an im pression, but can only state the fact that it existed. My father was much loved by Nelson,f who em ployed him in many intricate and delicate negotia tions, and/we have several precious, relics of the hero in our family ; a few letters in his (left) handwriting, some of his hair, and the old black leather chairs (still untouched), which so often served him for a couch on board the Victory.—l am, Sir, your very obedient servant, HORATTA SOPHIA ELDER (née SCOTT). 9, Verney-place, St. Sidwells, Exeter, Feb. 18. * See also "Recollections of the Life of the Rev. A. S. Scott, D.D., Chaplain to Lord Nelson," pages 128 to 132. Published by Saunders and Otley, 1842. f Ibid, page 193. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN SlR,—Knowing your readiness to expose wrongs in any shape, I have presumed to address you on a subject which may not be considered obtrusive. A relative of mine, residing in the village of Chew Magna, about seven miles from Bristol, of the Baptist persuasion, loses a niece at the age of two years, to whom the vicar of the parish refuses a Christian burial, on account of the child not being christened (the Baptists' custom being to baptise their brethren at a mature age), and tells the relatives they must bury the child themselves by night, or between the hours of six in the evening and six in the morning. The child was accordingly buried between six and seven in the evening, without the funeral rites or the tolling of the bell, which is usual in all cases in the village ; and after the vicar claims the full fees, as if he had officiated on the occasion and with the usual formalities, which claim the relatives refuse, for the reason above described. _ _ You will therefore oblige your humble subscriber by informing him whether or not they are obliged to pay the demand. Your answer in your widely circulated journal will greatly oblige, Your obedient servant, A CHURCHMAN, BUT A LOVER OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. London, Feb. 20, 1850. P.S. —I should have informed you that the Bap tists of the village, being so few, had no burial-place of their own. [As to the legality of the fees demanded, that will depend on their nature, which our correspondent has not explained. The vicar is entitled, we believe, to certain charges for " opening the ground" for the reception of the body ; but we do not think he can make any claims for services which he refused to render.—En. Sun.] CATHEDRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL.—We are enabled to state upon good authority that the Rev. Henry Meeres, whom the Dean and Chapter have declared that they have selected and duly 'appointed to be the head master of the King's School, is, notwithstanding, still the chaplain of the Bucks comaty gaol. Leave of tem porary abseace from his duty in the prison was granted to Mr. Meeres by the county megiotrates on his repre sentation that the mastership tf the school had been offered to him by the Dean and Chapter, and that he believed that the litigation on the subject would be shortly determined. Mr. Meeres further assured the magistrates that he should fjrthwith resign his chaplaincy in the event of his being confirmed in the head mastership offered to him by the Chapter. The result of this temporary absence from the prison is that there are now two schools in the cathedral precinct, one holden in the cathedral school-room, with a very large majority of foundation and other scholars, under the direction of a master who has been twice " amoved, re moved, deprived, and displaced" from his office; the other over a gateway, and under the chaplain to a gaol. His room is small and his scholars few. Mr. Whiston, in whose favour the Court of Queen's Bench has made the rule absolute for a mandamus, still occupies the head master's place inthe Cathedral, and Mr. Meares has been promoted to the corner stall near him.—Rochester Gazette. MIDDLESBOROUGH AND REDCAR RAILWAY.--TllO ordinary half-yearly general meeting of this company took place on the 19th instant, at the office in Darling ton, J. C. Hopkins, Esq., in the chair. The share holders of this company are, for the most part, pro prietors of the Year Valley line. The statement of ac counts for the half-year showed that the: receipts had been 81,9951. 55., and the payments 82,112/. 18?. 3d., leaving a balance of 1171. 13s. 3d. A dividend of 30s. per share (less innome-tax) was declared fur the half year ending March 31, 1850, the said dividend to be paid on the 18th of April to such proprietors as aro re gistered on the books of the company on the said 31st instant. LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM EXTENSION RAILWAY. --Yesterday the, affairs; of this undertaking came on be fore the Master in Chancery (Blunt). About 33,000 L was received by the directors as deposit, the greater part of which was expended in railway and engineering expenses. The existing liabilities remaining to be de frayed by the shareholders amount to 10,0001. There were upwards of 400 shareholders on the list of contri butories, and the Master fixed on the list as liable all those who paid the deposit and signed the deed, reserv ing for argument and consideration the cases of those who appeared and who object on various grounds to be held liable at all. WEAR VALLEY RAILWAY.--The half-yearly ordi pnaanryy,gewnaearalhmeledetaintgpoaf Stobart, chairman of the b oard o f di rectors , pr e sided. r t i h in e g W to e n ar , on Valleyßailw Tuesday; The accounts of the receipt and expenditure of the com panyandalafm-yotaanrt e s d ta t t o e d B6 th B 7 2 t 4 t 9 h l e . receipts Oa.l d.t dur ingandperiod a past the expenses to 821,7721. Bs. 6d., leaving a balance in hand of 46'4764 12s. sd. The • land capita. revenue se thatfor ac counts were also read, and their details laid upon the table for the inspection of the shareholders. The follow ing dividend was declared, viz., on the 50/. shares paid in full, 11. 10s. per share; on the 251. shares paid in full, 155.; on the 25/. shares, calls duly paid, 10s.; the said dividend to to paid on the 18th of April, to such pro prietors as may Le registered on. the books of the com pany on the 31st March, 1850. SCHEME FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF LADOUR IN MANCRESTER.—A public meeting was held on Monday evening to take into consideration the necessity of a general grganizstion of labour in Manchester. Mr. Lindsay, a journeyman tailor, moved, and Mr. M`Na mare seconded a resolution condemning competition as " unjust in principle, immoral in its tendencies, and cal culated to deprive the poor man of a fair remuneration for his labour." Mr. L. Jones supported the resolution, and attacked Mr. Macaulay, charging him with various misstatements concerning the working classes in his recently published history. The speaker compared the present state of the working classes, with their condition in the reign of Henry VII.; and concluded by regretting that in a time of such boasted civilization as the present the working men of England were so de graded and oppressed. The resolution was carried unani mously. Another resolution was carried, proposing as a remedy for the existing evils, " the adoption of a system of trade organization on the go-operative system ;" and a plan was proposed whereby such a system might be carried into effect in Manchester. The meeting Ras also addressed by 1% D. se. Hilaire, who detailed the success of the co-operative system adopted by the work ing classes in Paris. Specimens of the manufacture of a similar association in Salford, were produced by a Mr. Stork; after which the meeting terminated. CULTIVATION OF FLAX IN IRELAND.-At this moment, when a growing appreciation is experienced in foreign countries for our yarns and linens, and just before the flax• sowing season:, the following particulars cannot fail to be interesting. At the monthly meeting of "The Royal Flax Improvement Society," a gentleman pre sent remarked that he bad sold his crops of flax straw, grown near Carrickfergus, pulled and dried, to a steeping company at Cregagh, getting 121. per Irish acre for it, which paid him better than any of his other crops. He had since been told by the purchasers, that they were offered 81. for the seed of an acre of this flax; and be had himself seen some of the fibre, which they had steeped and scotched, and which was of , such good qua lity as to be valued by the spinners at 635. per cwt. It was producing from the straw at the rate of about 80 stones of 161bs. to the acre, which would be 281. worth of fibre, and, adding 8/, for the seed, the Irish acre would bring 361. , INDIA. The following summary from the Bombay Over land Times of the 17th ult. will be read with iute- rest : "We have once more got rid of the wars and rumours of wars which were, but are now no longer, the invariable concomitants of the cold season. The Eusoofzae revenue recusants having been chastised and humbled, the force lately in the field under Colonel Bradshaw has returned to Peshawur, the Bombay portion of it being by this time on its way to the Presidency. The Fusiliers were to leave on the 30th ult., the Artillery and Sinde Horse on New Year's-day, the 19th Native Infantry when relieved, and the 3d about the end of the present month. Drs. Campbell and Hooker being now safe at Darjeeling, the insults and indignities they have suffered become known. It was, it seems, for no fault of theirs that they were seized on and imprisoned : the attack was as wanton and unprovoked as it was cowardly and cruel. It remains to be seen what chastisement we shall deem requisite for the Sikkimites who abused them. A misunderstanding is said to have arisen betwixt Government and the ruler of Khyrpore, the faithless Ali Moored, the betrayer of the other Ameers. The nature of this has not been made known, but that the Khyrpore Chief could long speak the truth or act honestly is a thing not to be looked for. The "Black Act " agitation continues the theme of dhcussioo. Bombay has now followed Calcutta in presenting a memorial to Government, pointing out the inadequacy of the Company's Courts, and adverting to the illegality i f Parliament vesting the Legislative Council of India with powers which Royalty itself never claims, and the reforms in our tribunals have hitherto been over looked which were considered by the Charter Act essential preliminaries to the extension of their juris diction. Sir C. Napier, in reviewing the troops now quartered at Lahore, has fulminated a general order against the state of their discipline such as is without precedent in our military annals. Sir - Charles states that he never before, in the course of half a century of service, wit nessed such a scene, and feels assured that in no other regiments of the army could such misconduct have occurred. He winds up by saying that troops in a state of undiscipline, such as some of the regiments he reviewed, would in the field prove dangerous to their friends and contemptible to their enemies. The Governor-General is expected to leave Kurrachee to day or to-morrow, and to be in Bombay about the '2oth. He will remain here for two or three days, and no more, and most likely keep himself strictly private. The health of the Noble Marquis is, we rejoice to learn, almost entirely restored ; he will, after leaving us, take a short sea voyage, and then return to Calcutta, whence he will proceed to Simlah as the hot season approaches. The Ruler of Goozerat, his Highness the Gwicowar of Baroda, is on his way to Bombay, to be presented to the Governor- General. Five steam-boats have been dis patched to bring down his attendants, amount ing to several thousands. While here, they will have assigned to them the Government-house at Malabar Point—the hot weather residence of the Governor. He is about to propose that the British Government should afford a guarantee of five per cent. on the portion of the Tankaria and Baroda Railway which - passes through their dominions—about one half—he providing for that of the half which passes through his own ; making up, besides, all defi ciencies in the share list. The offer seems a mcst liberal one. Pity it is to 'see the Prince who makes it about to squander on a pilgrimage to a village of prostitutes in the Deccan as much almost on elephants, horses, and women, or gifts to the idle and the disso lute, as would cover all the outlay he proposes to incur in public improvements. On the morning of the sth the ship Dartmouth was burnt, as is believed, by incen diaries, in Bombay harbour—being the seventh in the port, and ninth belonging to it, that has thus perished within these eight years, the value cf the property thus destroyed exceeding a quarter of a million sterling. MajorEdwardes and Captain Nichol son—two of the officers who so eminently distinguished themselves throughout the Punjauliwar, and received brevet rank, and the former a C.8.-ship have been residing for some days amongst us and receiving the honours and attentions that are their due. They re turn on a twelvemonth's leave to England to take breath after their adventures. The Commander-in- Chief of the Indian Navy has addressed a very able letter to the Government on the subject of ship. burning ; pointing out that in the majority of vessels no proper regulations are observed, that there is no floating engine belonging to the harbour, such as is considered requisite at every extensive shipping port, and that there are no means of compelling the ser vices of seamen in the harbour in cases of emergency. A remedy for all these is suggested, which, if adopted would most assuredly go far to diminish the magni - tude of the mischief or danger. The results of the census taken in May last have been published, and it lippears that in the little island of Bombay, com prising in all twenty square miles of ground— four-fifths of which at least are uninhabitable iivearnp or rock—there are in all no fewer than 366,11, inhabitants, of whom 354.090 are males, and 212,029 females. Of these 6,936 are Br.hmins, 289,995 are of other castes of Hindoos; 1,902 are .rains or Bhuddists ; 124,155 are Mahomedans; 114,691 Parsees; 1,132 Jews ; 7,456 native Chris tians; 1,333 Indo-Britons ; 5,417 lndo-Portuguese ; 5,088 pure Europeans; 889 Siddees, Negroes, and Africans; and 7,118 of other castes unspecified. The Europeans are thus less than one in a hundred of the whole population. Cholera has greatly abated, but has not yet quite ceased. The staff of engineers for the railway is expected by next mail. Mr. T. J. A. Scott has been appointed secretary on a salary of 1,0001. a year, and there are five directors who re • ceive each 1001. per annum. So much of the season has been lost by delays at home that little will be done before October. The inhabitants of Calcutta have presented Si r John Littl e r w ith a sp l en did p i ece of plate in test imony of their esteem." CHINA. CANTON MARKET, DEC. 27. IMPORTS. Cottons—We have this month to report a healthy change in favour of these goods, the rise in prices being attributable entirely to the reduced stocks, and the small supplies expected. Raw Cotton—The partial failure of the native crop must natui ally increase the demand for the foreign arti cle and even now shipments are being made to places which hitherto have been supplied from Shanghae. The moderate quantity expected from India likewise tends to give confidence to the dealers. _ Cotton Yarn—The market for this article shows a slight improvement, notwithstanding the very large stocks; but until these are considerably reduced, no great rise in prices can be looked for. Long Cloths—These goods are in demand at a consi derable advance on last month's quotations. Woollens show no improvement, and the stocks are still very large. Opium—Malwa, stock small, and all refuse—a little new came on per steamer, but we have heard nothing quoted. Nominal price 630 dolls. to 640 dolls. For Bengal drug the demand is good, and stocks small, but the extreme pressure for money brings sellers of both Patna and Bermes forward at 475 dolls. t 3 480 dolls. EXPORTS. Teas—Black—The small stock and the high rates for which these are held, check purchases, and but little bat been done in them since our last. Greens —The:teamen having shown a desire to meet the views of shippere, some considerable transactions have followed for the American market. Fre:ghts—To England 21. 15s. to 34; to the United States 20 dolls. Exchange—On London 48. sd. for bank bills, and fs,r private bills 4s. 4d. to 4s. 6d.; on India, Company's ac cepted have been sold at 226 per 100 dolls. Sycee 5i per cent.; Gold leaf 20 dolls. 50c. per tael. SHANGHAE MARKET, DEC. 20. IMPORTS. Cottons—The heavyTtocksOf English goods must prevent any considerable advance in prices, but the pros pect for American is more favourable. Opium—Market dull. Patna is quoted 505 dolls., and Malwa 630 dolls., with a stock of 1,000 chests of the former, and 2,800 of the latter. EXPORTS. Tear.—Black—During the early part of the month considerable improvement took place in Congous, which was somewhat influenced by the tenor of the last over land advices. At one time ear market was entirely cleared, 40 to 43 chops having been settled. Common descriptions show an advance of say one tael on the rates of last month, and other kinds may be quoted a shade higher; but only four or five availa ble cho p s are left, though musters of other ten have been received. Quota tions: Good ordinary and but middling, 10 to 12 taels; blackish leaf, Hohow kind, 15 to 13 taels, cash rates. Total settlements to date, 265 chops. Souchong: 2 chops sold at llf for common, and for fair 14 taels. Greens—A good inquiry still exists. The settlements have' not been on so large a scale as the two preceding ,months. About 18,000 to 20,000 packages have been taken, and previous rates well supported. The stock is much reduced, and it seems doubtful whether many more chops of consequence will be seen here this season. On hand of all kinds there are 8,000 packages, and of rather inferior quality. Silk—it is supposed that private contracts have been entered into for ttis article. The stock is market is small and of inferior quality, and the rumour as to the short crop is confirmed. The dealers demand 210 dolls. to 300 dulls. for common to good, and 346 dolls. for in ferior Taysaam; and 380 dolls. to 400 dolls. for third quality Tsatlel. Freights—To England, 3/. 10s. to 41. Tonnage abundant. Exchanges—On London, nominal at 4s. 51d. to 4s. 7d. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is going on favour ably towards recovery. The Finance Committee of the Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, consisting of Earl Granville, Sir Alexander Spearman, Mr. Jones Loyd, Mr. T. F. Gib son, and Colonel Reid, E.E., met at the Board of Trade yesterday. Mr. Francis Fuller, of the Executive Com mittee, had an interview with the Finance Committee. LITERATURE. ELLEN CLAYTON ; or the Nomades of the IVest. By S. h. S. Huyghue. 3 Vols. "I have," says the writer ut these volumes, "lived in the wigwam of the Red Man; I have smoked, talked, and hunted with him ; I have trusted him with money, and, whenever uncontaminated by inter course with his white neighbours, I hare invariably found him to be a happy and a noble man." In ano ther place, also, the author of this picteese of the No mades of the West speaks of the strong and craving interest which he feels in " everything that relates to the perished races whose ruined cities strew the forests of the western hemisphere." " The mournful sense of those deserted abodes (he goes on) has hovered about our heart for years haunting it like a dirge. This has impelled us to the effort, feeble as it is, of casting from our shoulders a fraction of the ancestral debt, by striving to breathe again life into the trodden clay, and to fill once more with their ancient denizens the mansions of a for gotten people." These feelings have invested the book with a twofold character: it simultaneously makes us acquainted with the red men of the present day, and introduces us to the American aborigines as they were in their days of ancient glory. It is difficult to say in which of these endeavours the author has best succeeded in attaining his object, and in imparting to his subject a most enthralling in terest. Not even in the narrrtives of Cooper are the native hunters of the prairies and forests of the West invested with a more simple sublimity of character. It may be said of them as a class, as it is here said of an individual :—" There is that about their nature which the dwellers of the cities have long since lost. It bears upon it, as on a coin, the stamp of the Creator, fresh and clear, show ing it to be sterling gold." One of the most attrac tive of these Nornades of the West is Sewantus- Walie, a young Mohawk, in person characterised by that national symmetry of frame so vividly impressed upon the recollection of the painter West, when he exclaimed, on beholding the Apollo Belvedere, " A young Mohawk warrior !" In mind and heart also Sewantus is endued with the same graceful manli ness. In such sketches as this Mr. Huyghue has ex hibited to us the noble characteristics of the red men, with whom he has familiarly mingled, but in so doing only half his desired object is accomplished. Accordingly, towards the close of the second volume the heroes of the nar rative, in consequence of various cir cums t ances w hi c h it is here unnecessary to particularize, find themselves strange guests in the city of an isolated people, in a region wholly shut out from communication with the rest of the world as the Happy Valley, ruled over by fEgle, into which King Arthur intruded, or the re mote territory of Astarte, into which Tancred found his way. The chapters descriptive of this American fairyland read likepages from the " Arabian Nights." On every side we are astonished with glimpses of Eastern luxury and evidences of European refine ment. Gold and pearls, and rich embroideries, and waving feathers adorn the inhabitants of this sumptuous land, and the manners and customs of the wearers are not at variance with the skill and taste displayed in their habiliments. While we are yet pondering with amazed admiration over the splendours thus displayed to us suddenly the convic tion is forced upon us that we are reading no Eastern tale • this is, in fact, a picture of the co n ditio n o f the barbarians of America before the advent of the civilized Europeans. We have only to open the pages of Prescott, and we shall find a similar account of similar scenes. Mr. Huyghue, anxious to inspire his readers with some of his own sympathy for the original American races has very skillfully made use of a most felicitous idea. He has imagined a remnant of the ancient people still existing in some undiscovered region, and preserving the laws, customs, arts and sciences of their ancestors. Instead of borrowing the splendours of Lahunzel from imagination, he has " re-peopled it from the past," and thus has exhibited to us, side-by side with the simple red men of the forest, "an Indian city such as existed in the time of Cortes and his companions." Happily conceived, the scheme has been most happily executed. As regards the story which serves to string together these rich materials we need say little. Ellen Clayton, the heroine, is of a character eminently well suited to the simplicity and sublimity of the scenes through which her strange destiny conducts her. In a consider able degree the story of " Ellen Clayton" re sembles that of Longfellow's beautiful "Evangeline." Like Evangeline and Gabriel, Ellen and Conrad be come separated, and wander tor years through the prairies and forests. In the poem the reader follows the wanderings of the maiden as she heroically fulfils the advice given her : "Patience, - accomplish thy labour—accomplish thy work of affection. Sorrow and silence are strong, and patient endurance is godlike." In the novel, however, the reader like the hero, loses sight of Eller, and for six weary years seeks for her in vain. Evangeline only meets with her Ga briel in time to receive his parting breath. Conrad and Ellen, on the contrary,• forget the sorrow of their separation in a life of happy com munion. Still there is a similarity between the histories of Ellen and Evangeline. Beyond this the story of " Ellen Clayton" iF, as a story, somewhat in consistent in many parts, but we very willingly pass over any such deficiencies, the rich, natural, and his toric treasures which it groups together, and the beautiful lunguage in which they are described, ren dering " Ellen Clayton," as a whole, a most charming and interesting work. We have said it is narrated in beautiful language, it is moreover imbued with a pure and elevating spirit, and in many pages we meet with happy thoughts happily described. Truly it is observed, when speaking of the rapid flight of time in the estimation of Conrad and Ellen, when "Love took up the glass of Time, and turned it in his glowing hands." They kept no account of time. " Time is for the wretched, and they were happy." Again, it is yet more truthfully and beauti fully said, when alluding to the sorrows which occasionally chequered the lot of the heroine— " Such' is human life. There are also some tender flowers which shine only in the shade, and the heart, in its afflictions, grows prolific of gentle feelings, not the less beautiful because their nourishment is tears. Adversity is a solemn teacher, reminding us, from time to time, of what we are and what is expected of us, which we might otherwise forget ; it deepens the home-love, and unfolds its purest treasures that in prosperity lie dormant and unrevealed." With the following allusion to the peculiar advantages of the British colonist we take leave of " Ellen Clayton," a book which has made us pleasantly ac• quainted with some of the noble and attractive charac teristics of the Nomades of the West : " The British colonist enjoys a peculiar exemption from those prejudices, which, fns so many ages, have re tarded progress, and are successively being overcome by the convictions of a more enlightened ere. There is a ♦oice in the woods and mountains of a great solitude that elevates the soul and fortifies it with courage in the time of need. The great tomtits and inland seas of that noble country have schooled the generation, nur tured by their side into a strong conception of freedom." DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE OF JOHN EVELYN. Vol. I. The first volume of a new edition of Evelyn's Diary has just been issued. The proposed serie s , will be uniform with the recently published " Pepy s Diary." It is to be comprised in four volumes, edited (from the original manuscripts at Wotton) by Mr. Bray ; it will contain also the: private cor respondence between King Charles 1. and Sir Ed ward Nicholas, and between Sir Rdward Hyde, afterwards Earl of Clarendon, and Sir Richard Browne. So much we learn from the title-page, and on referring to the volume itself we find the quaint diary, of Evelyn set forth in large clear type, and accompanied with necessary but brief annota tions. This first volume begins, like "iDavid Copperfield," with the birth of the autobio grapher. " I was born," writes John Evelyn, " (at Wotton, in the county of Surrey), about twenty minutes past two in the morning, being on Tuesday, the 31st and last of October, 1620." At seventeen he was a Fellow-Commoner of Baliol College, Ox ford, and thence we follow him to London, Amster dam, Paris, Pisa, Rome, Venice, and many other celebrated cities in France, Germany, and Italy, the peculiarities of which are set forth in Evelyn's pecu liar manner. The close of the first volume leaves Evelyn in London in a momentous epoch-1665. To readers as yet unacquainted with Evelyn this edi tion will be a valuable acquisition. It is embellished with a portrait of the author of " Sylva." THE PHYSICAL ATLAS OF NATURAL PHENOMENA. By Alexander Keith Johnston, F R.G G.S. Of all the changes which our progressing and stir ring times are called upon to witness, none strike us more forcibly than the efforts made by eminent men in the various departments of science to make the world at large acquainted with the results of their patient investigations, persevering researches, and frequent discoveries, no longer, as of old, through massive and costly volumes, intended only for the se clusion of certain libraries, where they might he consulted by the few who had time, and were willing to devote it to a special purpose, but in such forms, on such terms, and with such taste, as regards execu tion and liberality, as regards choice and abundance of matter, as to make them extensively popular, in the fairest sense of the word, and thus further to pro mote the ends of science by making it fascinating as well as accessible to all. To such men, and they are many now, mankind seems to us to be much indebted, and we trust the rising generation is fully sensible of the many intellectual advantages it possesses in that respect. Who, that remembers the means that were within our reach, only a few years back, of gaining information CR fail W be Struck with the woncleatil change which has taken place in this respect ? and who, to come more particularly to the subject under our present consideration, can for a moment compare books, such as were placed in our hands in-our youtb, with those which the present generation have at their command, without being impressed with a feeling of thankfulness that the present opportunity is his own ? In support of the appeal to the admira tion and gratitude of the youth of our own times, we could name m any o f t h e pu bli cat i ons, per i o di ca l or otherwis', intended to diffuse the taste for all that is greet and good, emanating from men who, having found happiness in the prosecution of study, make it a duty to impart what they know to others. But'our business is more especially with the book bearing the above title, and we must preface all further observa. tions with the expression of a conviction, that a more splendid and more inviting incentive to the study of a sciencr, so interesting in itself, though hitherto much neglected, never was yet produced ; and we can scarcely credit the evidence of ourown:senses, such is the force of habit, on finding it announced in its title-page, that the " Physical Atlas," now before us, is a book intended for schools, colleges, &c. How ever, so it is ; and we admit our willingness to re sume our long foregone studies, and not only continue but in many respects extend our acquaintance with the subjects of W hich it treats. Nor should we omit to say, that it is with a high degree of satisfaction that we find in a work professedly reduced as to size and costliness from the edition in imperial folio, so much in the present edition to admire on the score of execution, which were, however, but poor praise, if we did not feel bound to laud it upon much higher grounds—upon the intrinsic worth of the vast and well-digested fund of information it contains. It may be little to our credit, but we were not prepared to find that our mother earth, as we were wont to call the soil we trod in our youth, was likely to furnish us with so many and such deeply interesting materials for reflection as those we find in the course of the Atlas before us. But let us not digress ; rather let us remember that we have now to do with the said Atlas, and not with the earth ; and, fearing we cannot do better justice to the work than by quoting a short passage in its introduction, we will do so : " To the student who has hitherto only been accus tomed to the dry details of geography as usually taught, the study of physical geography must open up a to tally new and most interesting field. He will here be come acquainted with the living and active operations of nature, and the beautiful and appropriate bearings of all her relative dependencies, instead of poring over her dry bones—her unconnected, isolated, and consequently barren facts, &c." To which unpretending., but most true and proper address, we would add our own testimony, and say that not only will the student find the work submitted to his notice replete with information 'upon every subject that may in any way or degree be taken in connexion with the earth—not only will he find each separate subject tangibly and fully elucidated by clear and concise statements—not only will he find those statements borne out and illustrated by a series of maps as beautiful in their conception as unrivalled in their execution, but he will find the various parts of the work successfully tending to the formation of a harmonious whole, resting upon unde niable evidence, resulting from the author's patient investigation of its multifarious topics, supported by the combined testimony of preceding and contempo rary writers ; and whether we view it as regards clearness of style, comprehensiveness of subject, ela borate details, soundness of views, or as a happy and harmonious combination of parts, which, however widely distant from each other in the scale of those things which make up our habitable world, yet are not only linked with, but inseparable from it, whe ther we look upon it as a source of information and serious study, or as a book of reference to appeal to in the hour of doubt, or as an ornament (we love that happy blending of first-rate execution with a noble simplicity in the ornamentation of a book) for the shelves of our studio, we feel in justice and duty bound to say that few works equal and none surpass the " Physical Atlas of Natural Phenomena." COURT CIRCULAR. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the Queen and Prince Albert yesterday morning at Buck ingham Palace, previous to her departure for Frogmore. The Royal Duchess left town at half-past one o'clock, attended by Lady Fanny Howard and Sir George Couper, for her residence at Frogmore. . - Her Majesty had a dinner party yesterday evening at Buckingham Palace. The company included his Excel lency Mona. Drouyn de Lhu3s, their Excellencies the Baron and Baroness de Brunnow, the Marchioness of Normanby, the Marquis and Marchioness of Kildare, the Earl and Countess of Hardwicke, the Earl and Coun tess Granville, the Right Hon. William S. and the Lady Caroline Lascelles, Lord George Lennox, the Right lion. Sir James and Lady Graham, Colonel the lion. C. B. Phipps. and Colonel Wyldc. The Queen's private band attended in Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening, and performed the following pieces Overture, "Faust" Selection from "Faust" Ballet music, ‘• Gaii,liaume Teli" Roseibi. ThP., Royal Children took pony arid walking exaciee yesterday in the garden of Buckingham Palace. -- Sir %Alilium C. Hess, R.A., had th. honour of taking the first antinc yesterday, for a miniature of her Royal Highness the Princess Louisa, to be Fainted by command of her Majesty. A deputation from the Quebsc and Afelbourre Rail way Company, consisting of Mr. W. J. C. Benson, Mr. George Pernhertor, Mr. Edward Bur tall, Mr. Edward Ryan, Mr. George Bcswick, and Mr. Edmond Mat kir, of Quebec; and Mr. William Chaprca , ', and Mr. Robert Carter. of Londor, had an intervi, w with Earl Grey yesterday at the Colonia'-office. A deputation with reference to the bonding in Man chester, consisting of Sir Elkariah Arraita2e, Mr. Alder man Watkins, Mr. Alderman Bancroft, Mr. Councillor Gibbs, and the Town Clerk of Manchester; and also Mr. Atherton (on behalf of tte Manchester Commercial Association), accompanied by the Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, M.P., and Mr. Bright, M.P., and also by Mr. W. Tatton Egertor, M.P., Mr. Brotherton, M.P., and Mr. Kershaw. M.P., had an interview with the Right Hon. H. Labouchere yesterday. at the office of the Board of Trade. The Cabinet Ministers dined with the Right Hon. H. Labouchere yesterday evening, at his residence in Bel grave-square. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes terday, and resumed and concluded the hearing of an appeal from Bengal, " Grant v. tLe Chief Justice of Bengal" (part heard). LOCOMOTIVE SLEDGE. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) In order to forward the searches of the Arctic Expe dition, a novel mode is suggested for travelling on ice, which appears sufficiently feasible to warrant a trial. The lehicle proposed for that purpose is a light loco motive sledge, capable of containing one person, pro pelled by the rotatory action of a single wt.eA, placed in front, and prepared with small cogs. The moving power is composed of the combined agency of double springs, one fixed on each side, and a mechanism somf - what [similar in principle to that used in the common spring jack, but perfecte with superior ingenuity. As the success of tie whole contrivance depends entirely on the efficiency of the springs, the utmost care, skill, and judgment must be employed in the manufacture of those indispensable article e Vast improvements have lett ly been introduced in this branch of business, butte with regard to the form and application t.f springs, us well as the quality t f the steel, which is of a promising character, and leaves little room to doubt the attainment of the object desired. The suffice of ice being in general smooth, level, and slippery, presents less friction than any other substance with which w e are acquainted, and the necessary force and traction will, in consequence, bo proportionably diminished. With a moderate weight, and few encumbrances, a sledge set in motion, will rapidly glide along, traversing in a short period an ex tensile range over a wide field of frost, and can be easily guid tbe guided, regulated, n la e t e ed, be performed or stopped.errined withTh process iaeility of by winding upmeans of a key and lever, whenever occasion demands the ope ration. It may be requisite to have the aid of two or more men, which can always be supplied, as prudence would direct that no journey should be undertaken for a distant length except in parties. A portable engine of the kind described is simple in its construction, can be executed at a trifling cost, seeds no replenishing. and requires only to be kept in order. Its nature and design are exactly adapted to the peculiar circumstances ited exigencies of the case in question, uniting the advantages of safety, speed, and convenience, while it removes in a want and supplies a experienceddeficiency,long however, exploring the frozen regions. The scheme , to its a p ff r o a r c d t i c o a ce b i u l i p t a y : when relieved s from duty. Such a cheerful and animating pursuit, will t d i e o even n e andrshould pleasuretcteir withotor prove the e a g merelyviewall sn calculatedtos h f t i p e s s t c n crews, w s , constitute e xereis of an excursion is well suited to invigorate a new and refreshing source of enjoyment. health, and to exhilirate the spirits of individuals unac customed privations, and subj ec t e d to a suffering e monotonous course of life in an isolated position, during a prolonged engagement in a glorious, but solitary enter price. Under these impressions the project is respectfully submitted for examination, accompanied with the indul geuco of an anxious hope, that no untoward or unfore ieen obstacle may arise, or defect appear, that shall dt f at its purpose, and mar the prospect of a fortunate and happy result. K. R OTAL LYCEUM THEA TRE .—W e understand her Majesty . and his Royal Hi g h ness P r i nce Alb ert h ave sig nified their intention cf honouring the theatre with their presence this evening, to witness The _bland of Jewels, and He would be an actor. RAMSGATE.— A seaman named 'John Hunter was landed at this port last week, by a fishing smack, having been picked up in the North sea, floating on a small piece 01 wreck, and from his statement it appears that he belonged to the brig Anne Maria, of and from South Shields, for London, with coals, and that his vessel was run foul of by the barque Ben Nevis, off Yarmouth, during a gale of wind in the night. The brig having received much damage, the crew with difficulty could only succeed in keeping her afloat until the middle of the next day, when she foundered, and the whole of her crew (excepting himself), together with two of the crew of the bar que w h o had got on board during the coll4ion, w ere ee f ertf k.astely drowned,—Mailieftni Garkp. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 21, 1850