The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-31 00:00:00

.RAMSGATE HARBOUR.

As the case of Ramsgate harbour will most likely be
prominently brought before the public view during the
present Session of Parliament, and all its faults exposed,
we trust that its merits (however partial they may ap-
pear to some people) will not be passed over entirely
unnoticed.

We would merely ask any one interested in ship-
ping to see it at the present moment, with its basin filled
with vessels of all sizes and all nations, and the outer
harbour affording shelter to many others, and then say
whether this noble harbour ought to be allowed to go to
ruin, or be rendered useless, as there is every probability
of its being reduced to this state, if the proposed mea-
sure of entirely abolishing the passing toll be carried
through Parliament?
Has Government so little to do that it is anxious to
take the harbour under its own protection ? or has it not
had quite enough experience in constructing dockyard;
harbours, and breakwaters of its own ?

Surely, quite as good or as bad a case might be made
out against Dover harbour, which, notwithstanding the
immense sums already laid out and now annually ex-
pended on it, is very often during a south-westerly gale
such as we have lately experienced (and to all appear-
ances are likely to experience again before long) unap-
proachable even by its own mail-packets—an instance of
which occurred on Monday last, when the French and
Belgian mail-steamers were both obliged to run for
Ramsgate, not being able to enter Dover harbour. The
English mail-boat of that day is understood to have
landed her mails and passengers at Margate.
It rarely happens that any of our English boats come
into Ramsgate ; the captains being mostly, if not all,
Dover men, seem to prefer the risk of landing their
mails and passengers either in open boats on Deal beach,
or else, passing by Ramsgate, run on to Margate ;
thereby giving those who are consigned to their
care the benefit of at least an extra hour at sea
in a gale of wind, or the chance of being swamped off
Deal ; and most likely this state of things will last till
some accident of this kind happens to the mail-bags, or,
it may be, to an unfortunate passenger.
One advantage might perhaps result to the town if the
harbour were to fall into the _hands of Government'
Its utterly defenceless state is well known most likely to
foes as well as to friends. It has been visited lately by
three or four French war-steamers. What they came for
nobody knew ; it was reported that they came to look after
the French fishing-boats, but the herring fishery has
been over some time. One thing is quite certain, that
they employed their spare time in taking soundings of
the approaches to the harbour, &c.
Now if, instead of spending money in raising a useless
militia, batteries were placed on different parts of the
coast, some real security would be granted to the coun-
try at large, and especially to this part, which, with all
due respect to the principles of free ,trade, is really in
want of protection of this description. It would be
hazardous to trust volunteers with great guns, and as
we supply the navy with men and boys to a considerable
extent, the country might grant us a few artillerymen in
exchange.
We have nearly 300 sail of vessels in the harbour at
the present time.—From, a Correspondent.

AUSTRALIAN MAILS AND POSTAGE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR, —Would not a reduction to threepence (if pre-
paid, sixpence if not pre-paid) increase the number of
letters to Australia more than fourfold, and thereby in-
grease the revenue, besides conducing to the interests of
trade, and inducing many emigrants to keep up a eon-
stant and regular correspondence with their families, in-
stead of their letters being, as at present, "Like angels'
visits, few and far between ?"—I am, Sir, yours respect-
fully, AN EMIGRANT'S FATHER.
Strand, Dec. 30, 1852.

THE ORLEANS FAMILY.—No right-minded or right-
hearted Englishman or Englishwoman will hear, with-
out a mixture of indignation and regret, that the collec-
tion of pictures made by the late Duke of Orleans, with
a view to the encouragement of French art, is to be sold
by auction for the benefit of his widow on the 18th inst.
in this metropolis. The amiable, excellent, and univer-
sally respected Duchess, to whom they were bequeathed,
is understood to have been driven to this step by con-
siderations of prudence. The collection consists exclu-
sively of pictures of the modern French school. Amongst
the most remarkable are, "The Francesa di Rimini,"
and " The Christus Consolator of Scheffer ;" "The
Death of the Due de Guise," by Delaroche ; "The
cEdipus," and the " Stratonica of Ingres," &c.
CASUALTY AT SEA.—lntelligence was received at the
Liverpool Underwriters' Room yesterday, t announcing
the total loss, in the late gales, of the barque Lily,
which sailed on the 23d inst. from Liverpool for Africa.
It appears, from what we could learn, that she went
ashore at night between the Calf and the Isle of Man,
when the captain and crew (with the exception of five),
got safely to shore. In the morning the people from the
shore, with that portion of the crew who were saved (in-
cluding the captain), boarded the vessel, and were on
board about an hour, when she blew up, destroying every
person who happened to be in her at the time. We
have not heard how many lives have been sacrificed,
but it is feared that the number is considerable.
SEVERE STORMS IN NORTH WALES.—The violent gales
which have been so prevalent in most parts of the king-
dom have been severely felt in many parts of North
Wales. In the neighbourhoods of Ruthin and Denbigh
the country is one mass of water, the high winds being
accompanied by heavy and almost incessant rains. The
beautiful vale of Clwyd is so completely inundated as to
resemble a large lake ; and in the vicinity of Holywell
the depth of water is such that not only boats but large
vessels might sail upon its surface. A most terrific gale
has been experienced at Carnarvon. The force of the
tide was such that the massive wall which forms the quay
was forced' down in five places, huge stones being scat-
tered in all directions, and the spray dashing furiously
up to the walls of the ancient castle. Many houses were
partially unroofed, and windows in some instances were
blown in. The landing-stage of the pier was detached
from its position, and now floats like a raft on the Menai.
A vessel of 900 tons' burden, the Onward, bound from
Liverpool for New Orleans, in ballast, has been driven
ashore off the bar, her sails being blown to atoms. On
Tuesday the weather had somewhat moderated, but to-
day (Wednesday) it is blowing strongly, accompanied by
heavy rain,
SANGUINARY RIOT IN DERRY.--A serious riot, attended
with bloodshed, occurred on Christmas-day last, at Cas-
tledawson, in the county of Londonderry. According
to the custom of the district on this anniversary, a
number of young men assembled to shoot a mark for cer-
tain prizes. For some time the amusement proceeded
happily enough, but as the day progressed and the com-
petitors refreshed themselves with whiskey, disputes
arose, which appeared to have caused no ill-feeling be-
tween them, and they separated. However, about seven
o'clock in the evening a quarrel ensued between the
Catholics and Protestants, and shots were freely ex-
changed. The result was that five persons were seriously
wounded. Their names are Mary Brown, shot through
the lungs ; Thomas Murray, leg fractured ; Catherine
Spear, a ball in the body ; William O'Hara and Marga-
ret Beckas, slightly wounded. Several others were
more or less injured by the stones and other missiles dis-
charged during the fight. The police stopped a party of
upwards of 50 armed men, who were coming into the
town to aid their side. Three of the leaders were ar-
rested. On Monday an investigation was held before
Robert Peel Dawson, Esq., and four other magistrates
of the district. The persons who fired the shots are not
yet known, as the combatants have refused to give any
information to the authorities.

ADVANCE IN THE PRICE OF IRON.—Yesterday after-
nooon the usual preliminary meeting of iron-masters of
South Staffordshire, and the neighbouring counties, was
held at the Swan Hotel, in this town, for the purpose of
considering the present condition of the trade, and fix-
ing prices for the ensuing quarter. The meeting was
most numerously attended ; indeed, a larger meeting of
masters for a similar purpose has not been held since
1845. Every house of note in the district was repre-
sented, and amongst those present we noticed Messrs.
Barrows, Forster, Haines, B. Williams, W. Williams,
Browning, Matthews, Smith, Sparrow, &c. M. Glaze-
brook, Esq., chairman, presided. The subject of prices,
and propriety of advancing was introduced, and a dis-
cussion ensued, which resulted in a unanimous resolu-
tion to advance 20s. per ton upon present prices. It
was also agreed to advance the workmen's wages in pro-
portion to the increase of price on iron.
THE LAUDER MURDER.—Williams, who is at present
in Greenlaw Gaol, charged with the murder near Lauder,
was discovered attempting suicide on the evening of
Saturday last. He had his towel, handkerchief, and
neckerchief all tied together, and the end fastened to
the bars of his cell window, which is some height from
the ground, when his operations were discovered from
without. Some of the other prisoners have since then
been confined with him ; and latterly it has been found •
advisable to keep him constantly in fetters, except when
exeroising.—Scotiman.