The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-23 00:00:00

MONDAY EVENING,

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMES.—By this time we hope our dispute with
the United States of America is over, and we trust
that all parties will return without deity to those
amicable feelings and friendly relations which oar
own Government has so needlessly disturbed. It le
not, however, of the obvious and glaring errors of the
Government of England, or the wild and precipitate
proceedings of the American Legislature, that we wish
now to speak. Our desire is to make the denger we
have just escaped the subject of a few practical reflec-
tions, which we submit to the good sense of the Eng-
lish nation. We have been on the verge of a war
with a nation which, from its identity in race and
language with ourselves, would have proved a truly
formidable enemy—a maritime and commercial people
who would have met us with our own arms, on our
own element, and visited our commerce with mis•
chiefs similar to those which we should have in-
flicted upon theirs. So closely are the two countries
united, that every injury which we might inflict on
our enemy would have been almost as injurious to our
merchants as bombarding our own towns, or sinking
our own ships. And yet it is no exaggeration to say
that with this people we were on the very verge of
war, for, had we persevered in carrying out with a high
hand, by seizure and confiscation, our own interpre-
tation of the treaty, a collision with the American
Commodore was unavoidable; and such a collision
must almost necessarily have been followed by a
formal declaration of hostilities. Now, what is the
question which has so nearly led to such serious re •
sults ? It is simply whether a certain number of
the salt fish consumed in these islands shall be ceuget
by citizens of the United States or natives of our own
colonies. The question whether American fishermen
shall be allowed to spread their nets in the Bay of
iinnabt laiicnhtertehse people of this country
t ; they
will neither be
hFauvnednyoi simonseg
richer nor poorer, stronger nor weaker, more admired
or more feared, should they secure the monopoly of
linthpeos oeld no
doctrines of commer-
cialfishing in these northern waters to the inhabitants of
the sea-coast of our North American colonies. On
those e
we colonies
restrictions what-
ever;havewagenivdneonw are up
content to compete with every
onceth made
e supply
colonial
appointments
so t s
monopoly,
of their markets.
rrahtfeei
a patronage hrliamentary corruption has been,
nteu vrec woerh ol difcrh fora
rtile
at least in North America, entirely surrendered. The
affairs of each colony are administered by a Cabinet
responsible to, and removable by, the majority of the
members of the Legislative Assembly. The North
American provinces owe us little more then a nomi-
nal dependence, and almost the only mark of suborda
nation which we exact is the power—very seldom
employed—of withholding the Royal assent from the
Acts of the local Parliament. But, if we have little
to do with the internal government of our colonies in
North America, they have absolutely nothing to say
in the deliberations of the Imperial Parliament, and
do not feel at all bound to adopt for their guidance the
principles which have triumphed there. Thus we find
in this very matter that at the time when the English
nation has decided against Protection in any shape,
the Colonial Assemblies are willing to adopt that prin-
ciple in its coarsest and most repulsive form by pro-
tecting, through bounties, those fishermen whom they
call upon us to protect with the sword. Another con-
sideration well worthy of the serious attention of the
nation is, that had we gone to war for the sake of these
colonial fisheries, it is upon ourselves, to whom the
matter is indifferent, and not upon the colonists, to
whom it may be of some importance, that it would
have devolved to find the troops and treasure re-
quisite for carrying on the war. Our fleets must
hcoamvemee
nrcceou:•toeurleda bet exheApmoseerdictaon theshipsofwar. Our
ravages of their
privateers, and our troops must defend these very
colonies against an invading force infinitely superior
in number. Parliament has no power to compel the
colonies to raise a single shilling towards the expense
of such a contest. It entirely depends upon the
friendly spirit of the colonies whether they would
raise a single man to aid us in fighting their battle.
On the other band, any assistance in men or money
derived from these colonies would have been re-
garded by them and treated by us as a free and
generous concession, for which we were bound to
be suitably grateful ; yet these dependencies form
the most vulnerable parts of our empire, and the
first idea which occurs to our warlike contemporaries
on the other side of the Atlantic, in case of a
conflict, is an invasion of them by three hundred
thousand American citizens. Removed ourselves by
the interposition of a mighty ocean from all points of
contact with the great American Republic, it is from
our colonies alone that we have to fear any serious
ground of quarrel. Their vicinity, the similarity of
their pursuits, and a spirit of natural and laudable
rivalry, provoke the occasions of constant collision.
Formerly this danger was diminished, because the
Colonial-office, reserving to itself almost all the sub-
stantial powers of government, left the local Legis-
latures little more than the semblance of authority,
and was therefore able to establish a complete har-
mony between colonial and imperial policy. The
surrender of these rights to the Legislatures of the
North American provinces, while it has been pro-
ductive of much good by diminishing the causes of
dispute between them and the mother country,
carries with it also this evil, that greater freedom
of action renders it more easy for the colony
to exercise a disturbing influence on our
relations with foreign Governments. We are,
in fact, in this disagreeable position, that according to
the present compact between the mother-country and
her colonies, she is obliged to take up quarrels in
which her interests are in no way involved, and is
bound over as surety for the good behaviour of Go-
vernments and Legislatures actuated by feelings,
principles, and interests totally different from her
own, and over whose actions she has renounced all
efficient control. Public attention has been repeatedly
drawn of late years to the relation between the co-
lonies and the mother country, and it has now come
to be admitted as a political axiom,
thatflourish best without the interference of England.
This is the colonial side of the question ; the view
which we are now submitting is the
the powers which she has hitherto Imperial
one. If England divests herself of almost all
her colonies, is it just and reasonable
power of influencing their action
being
te hr ec
that,
he
adcolonies
to hv ee
rr
gone, her
responsibilities should remain the same ? Must
not the one change almost necessarily draw after
it the other ? Old principles are abandoned, old
relations broken up. Centralization is replaced by
local government, and responsible Ministers take
the place of irresponsible officials, nominated by the
Crown. The only things which 'do not change are
shose cast-iron maxims and unbending traditions of
government which are handed down in public offices
from one generation of Ministers to another,
and re-
main the prescriptive policy of the empire till some
unforeseen conjuncture demonstrates that they
survived the state of things which gave them birth,
and are ripe fur alteration and abolition. The true
lesson to be learnt from recent transactions is, that
we have introduced and raised up within the empire
a power in these Colonial Governments which We are
not able wholly to control, which is day by day in-
creasing in importance, and assuming greater pro-
minence in the affairs of the world. We have either
too
wemuch
cannot o r too
makelittle
them
integral
the empire
we ought to reconsider the extent of our responsibility
for •
their acts; and if we are to continue responsible
for their acts we are entitled to a ower which will
make that res 'hint safe. The blein is a new
onsi y pro
and interestingmore
awrtitshofour colonies.ehave
one, and would be all the
investigated
to receive a proper solution if it were
with leisure• put off to
and calmness, instead of being
a period of • embarrassment.
anxiety, trepidation, and ember

The preparations for this really national work have
been progressing for the last two years under the
superintendence of Mr. Gravatt as engineer and ma-
thematician, but it is only about three months since
the superstructure at Wandsworth-commoa was com-
menced, and it is already near completion.
We understand that the Observatory is likely to
be endowed by its liberal and enlightened creator. It
will not only be a monument to his enterprising de-
votion to science, but an admirable illustration of the
perfection to which the mechanical arts have attained
in this country.
Lord Rosse has visited the Observatory, and ex-
pressed his admiration of this novel and interesting
invention.

VAUXHALL GARDENS.—A great treat is provided
for the million at this favourite place of resort, Mr. Wardell,
the proprietor, having determined on the reduction of the
price of admission to one shilling. AG this reduced rate the
Gardens open this evening for the remainder of the season.
The attractions are numerous and excellent. The ballet, in
which a very clever troupe of French artists dance, is magni-
ficently mounted. Then we have a concert, in which M.
Jongmans, the celebrated Belgian Buffo singer, takes part,
his powerful voice being heard to great advantage in the
open air. Besides this gentleman, the Misses Jolly, Miss
Pearce, and a numerous choir, sing some very delightful
glees, madrigals, &c. The fireworks are superbly brilliant
and unequalled for novelty of design. The dance music is
very skilfully executed under the direction of M. Arban.
CAPTURE OP A WHALE NEAR HARWICH. HAR-
BOUR.—Considerable interest has been excited in this neigh- ,
bourhood by the capture of a large fish, supposed to be of
the whale species, on the Dovercourt shore, in Mill Bay, on
the 12th instant.. It appears that the attention of some men
on the beach was attracted by a kingbulky-loon object on
one of the stone-banks, and on approaching hey found
it to be an immense fish, which spurted up a stream of
water twelve feet high. In the absence of any more ef-
fective weapon, they fastened a knife to a staff, and by
successive wounds so weakened the captive as to be able to
get a rope made fast round the tail, when a large number
of men hauled it up on the beach. In order to dispatch the
monster a scythe was procured and thrust into the body,
causing an immense flow
.of blood. The dying struggles
of the captive ware so violent that the assembled crowd
were obliged to retreat to a more safe distance. The fish is
supposed to be a fin-ba.cked or rock whale ; it measures in
length 21 feet, and in girth 15 feet ; has n spout hole on the
top of the head, which, with the mouth, is curiously shaped,
resembling the bottle-nose. There is a sketch of a fish
si-
milar to the one now taken in " Dale's History of Harwich
and Dovercourt," which is called there the bottle-head or
flounder's-head whale. The fish remained upon the beach
until the following morning, when the men having procured
a small vessel to take it in tow, proceeded with it to Ipswich,
where it was exhibited until the effluvia became so great
that the authoritTs ordered its removal. It was accordingly
once more committed to the waters and towed away by its
owners.—Essex Standard.

...T. Luxt
the direction
Alhas 'S-,—CHTELiSEA.-- RATING OF --
CRENLOHNE
GARDEN
at the bs.—
the and-room for the purpose of hearing appealsagainst
new asses eyor, under
On Saturday a meeting of magistrates
sment made by Mr. Paine, the sury „._.
Son, the of the Poor-law Commissioners. Mr. Duni),
proprietor of Cremoane Gardens, appealed against
assessment which had been increased from 288/. to 7401.
.kt the last sitting the appeal was adjourned by direction of
ttiheepnaroainastrates, with a view of the surveyor coming to an
cir-
cumstances of
amicable arrangement with Mr. Simpson. Mr. Paine now
proved the data from which he took his valuation of
_i_4.o/. Mr. Simpson agreed to be assessed at 450/., but sub-
Mated that the tap ought to be separated in the assessment
from the
gardens, the latter being open not more than from
four to five months during the season ; and as the rates in
with a twelvemonth's rate upon
Chelsea were made twice a year, that it was hardly fair to
saddle hi the whole of
property, Mr. Paine said that under the peculiar
or wild
amount. The bench, after some consideration, settled the
assessment at 5004
WOOL
up of a fibrous material, —The
the case he would not press for the full
'MOM THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM.
rn.ame of vegetable wool has been applied to a fibrous mate.
9:nployedTitnieAluatstteriram,
mate-
rial which the
extraeting from leaves of the fir. A manufsctory of this
Material has for some time past existed near Breslau, in
."_i_leasia, in a district termed the "Prairie of Humboldt."
ingenuity of M. Pannewitz has succeeded in
The species of pine there operated upon is the minus
sylvestris,
ib
ny a resinous sub.
Pr and
out by means of alka-
ppiinnee
t;ribbuet
mit i
gwhotubl de
turnedse e m t that t
omemberth.
the
f cha-
ritable The
e
leaves of these trees, if examined, will be found to be made
sub-
stance.
nes, leaving the woolly matter behind. Coverlets, blankets,
and other articles made of vegetable wool have long been
institutions. The materials are warm, durable, and
Vienna
be
e nbhnee
al
dissolved
i es
sstpoo
eigveeietadhileyr
agreeable to the eye ; moreover, they
.eajoy the excellent
quality of Preserving a certain balsamic and rather agree-
able smell, which nevertheless is so inimical to insects that
they never harbour in it. In the Silesian manufactory the
resinous matter holding the woolly fibres together is
alsoalo
turnedas to account, medicinal baths being
basis, made with it
is, and which be useful in many chronic
diseases. are found to

LITERFOOL, SATURDAY.—The screw steamship
Great Britain, Captain Mathews, sailed at three o'clock to-
day for the Cape of Good Hope, Port Philip, &c., with up-
wards of 630 passengers, and a very large mail. She bad on
board 2,150 tons of coal for consumption on the voyage n
at the time she left the river was drawing 22 feet of
aia.ate_r_.
An immense multitude lined the banks of the river, wtt "
ith
the vessel steamed down the Mersey she was greetedtispecie,
enthusiastic cheering. The Great Britain took. 2,__Aay, at
jewellery, &c., of the value of 89,000/. sterling.. " "
noon, the British and North American
taulre from the
America, Lang commander, took her ra I steamship
Mersey for Boston, United States, with 15d2ePpaaer sengers and a
large cargo, besides the usual mails.
ILLNESS OF THE DEAN OF - C ANTERBURY.—It
with deep regret that we learn that our late muchD respected
IS
ted
al .D., Dean
archdeacon, the Right Rev. William Rowe Ly
of Canterbury, and Rector of Great Chart, hasl, been seized
1 with Paralysis.—Essex Gazette.

APOTHECARIES'.the
names. of the gentlemen who passed theirexamination in
the science and practice of medicine, and received certificates
to practise, on 'Thursday, the 19th of August, 1852:
James. Scarborough Loe, Leeds • Benjamin Hunt, Napton,.
HALL —The following are
Warwickshire ; George Vinicombe Coates, London ; William
I.s.iver, London ; John Brendon Curgenven, St. Kew, Corn-
wall; Bernard Haldan Preston. Amos Ingham, llebden-
bridge, York; 'Thomas Walton, Bull; Thomas Alban
M`blann#9, Hull; And Thomas DialtV, *helton.

AUGUST 23,

1852

CHRISTMAS BOXES TO POSTMEN.
GIGAIVTI
cons
, . to the
C TELESCOPE AT WAND,S I- ,
asotfer!•Geperneesreanitabtiyonsa whinumberbcehr
ofw ere
WORTH-COMMON.
eqiu):l,itcroe
The construction of a monster reflecting telescol se madeln
in-
by the Earl of Rosae constituted for a considerabl es j fiuenti 1 • •
period a p • individuals, setting forth the impolicy and
prominent topic of interest and converse- e i injustice
posi-
tion in the scientificl
men, eof an abolition of Christmas-boxes to
world. The patience and peree-verance of the noble the instruction of •
projector under every kind of • few days which we gave an outline, a
discouragement, and the unwavering faith with I accept those
y ago, and by which they were forb•dd
1 en to
which, at a large outlay gratuities, has been •
ie.s, , not issued. The
to himself, he prosecuted his folio wing letter
enterprise to a successful contains the official announcement of
conclusion, m /he
secured to him, act:f
the admiration and esteem
of all who took an interest
in the higher departmentsb of science, while the dis-
coveries that have since
borne en made through ite instru-
mentality have ampllt out his anticipations and
rewarded his exertions.y was necessary, however,
that something further should be accomplished. To
those not conversant with the subject it may be ne-
cessary to state that a reflecting telescope on a large
scale must always be a work of exceeding difficulty,
y and comparatively limited utilit The possibility of
constructing an achromatic instrument
rument of a power
equal to Lord Rosse's, and through which the objects
looked at could be directly magnified (as with an
opera-glass), has long been considered extremely
doubtful; in fact, beyond the reach of mechanical and
optical appliances. This desideratum
is,
however,
now 00 the eve of being supplied.
In the course of a recent ramble on
a Wandsworth-
common our attention was attracted by
singular-
looking structure, consisting of a plaintower with
long tube slung by its side, surrounded with a woodena
hoarding to keep off its intruders. On making -
in-
quiries we learned that it was a new monster telescope
on the achromatic principle in process of
under the superintendence of Mr. W.
Gravatt, F.R.S.,
for the Rev. Mr. Craig, vicar of
Leamington. Having
obtained an introduction, we inspected the instrument,
and ascertained some particulars respecting it which
may not be uninteresting. The site, consisting of
two acres, has been liberally presented by Earl
Spencer in perpetuity, or so long as the telescope
shall be maintained. The central tower, consisting of
brick, is 64 feet in height, 15 feet in diameter, and
weighs 220 tons. Every precaution has been taken
in the construction of this building to prevent the
slightest vibration ; but, if any disappointment
in this respect should arise (which, however, Mr.
Gravatt does not anticipate), additional weight
can be obtained by loading the several floors, and
the most perfect steadiness will be thus insured. By
the side of this sustaining tower hangs the telescope.
The length of the main tube, which 13 shaped some-
what like a cigar, is 76 feet, but with an eyepiece at
the narrow end, and a dewcap at the other, the total
length in use will be 85 feet. The design of the dew-
cap is to prevent obscuration by the condensation of
moisture, which takes place during the night, when
the instrument is most in use. Its exterior is of
bright metal, the interior is painted black. The
focal distance will vary from 76 to 85 feet. The tube
at its greatest circumference measures 13 feet, end
this part is about 24 feet from the object. glass. The
1 determination of this point was the result of repeated
experiments and minute and careful calculations. It
was essential to the object in view that there should
not be the slightest vibration in the instrument. Mr.
Gravatt, reasoning, from analogy, applied the
principle of harmonic progression to the perfecting of
an instrument for extending the range of vision, and
thus aiding astronomic research. By his improve •
ments the vibration at one end of the tube is neu-
tralized by that at the other and the result is
that the utmost steadiness and precision is at li
-
tained. The ironwork of the tube was manufactured
by Messrs. Rennie, under the direction of Mr.
Gravatt. The object-glasses are also of English con-
struction, and throw a curious light upon the manner
in which an enlightened commercial policy has re-
acted upon and promoted the advancement of
science. Up to a recent period the flint glass for
achromatic telescopes was entirely of foreign manu-
facture. Since the reduction in the duty great im-
provements have been made in this department.
The making or the large flint glass was entrusted
to Mr. Chance, of Birminghanit•.who at first hesitated
to manufacture one larger than nine inches in dia-
meter. Upon being urged, however, by Mr. Craig, he
has succeeded in producing one 24 inches, perfectly
clear, and homogeneous in structure. Besides this,
there is a second of plate,glass of the same dimensions,
cast by the Themes Plate Glass Company, either of
which the observer may use at his option. The manner
in which these object-glasses are fitted into the tube
is a marvel of artistic invention. By means of
12 screws, numbered according to the hours of the
day, they can be set M an instant to any angle
the observer may require, by his merely calling out
the number of the screw to be touched. The object-
glasses also move round in grooves to wherever it
may be considered that a more distinct view can be
gained. The tube rests upon a light wooden fret ne-
work, with iron wheels attached, and is fitted be a
circular iron railway at a distance of fifty-two feet
from the centre of the tower. The chain by which it
is lowered is capable of sustai • ning a weight of thirteen
tons, though the weight of the tube is only three.
Nothwithstanding the immense size of the instrument,
the machinery is such that it can move either '
azimuth, or up to an altitude of eighty degrees, •ihn
as much ease and rapidity as an ordinary teeewcolt
and, from the nature of the mechanical arrangements,Pe
with far greater certainty as to
results. The
slightest force applied to the
causes the instrument to
move horizontally round the
central tower, while a wheel at the right hand of the
observer, by a
beautiful adaptation of mechanical
powers, enables him to
elevate
or depress the object-
glass with the greatest precision and facility.
So easy, in fact, is the control over the instrument
in this respect, that a
lifts ten cwt. It may very slight touch on the wheel
be observed, also, that there
cannot be the slightest
xure in the tube ; no error
or deflection arising from flexure
that
cause can occur, while
the ease with which it can be directed towards any
point of the heavens will enable the observer to make
profitable use of any patch of clear sky, however
transient it may be. The
great value of this need
not be pointed out to thoselvi
accustomed to making
astronomical observations.
mag-
nifying power of this novel th respect to the
instrument, it is only
necessary to state that, though the focus is not so
sharp as it will be shortly,
the nebulas in the same way it has already separated
as Lord Rum's. It has
also separated some of the double stars in the Great
Bear, and shown distinctly of fifty
a clear distance
or sixty degrees
between them, with 9 several other
stars occupyines
e the
intervening space. Ordinary
readers will better u
nifyin ndersiand the extraordinary mag-
g powers of the telescope
when we inform them
that by it a quarter-inch letter can be read at the dis-
tance of half a mile.

"General Pest- office, Aug. 12, 1852.
" reference to your letter of the 30th
m'tintos I am directed by the •Postmaster• General to at-
qt
,taint you that his Lordship has been pleased to decide
that the lettcr.carriers of the London general pest end
L t indon district post-, shall, for the present, be exempted
ft an the operation of the recent regulation prohibiting
tl to servants of this department from soliciting Christ-
n Las gratuities from the public.—l have the honour to
b e, sir, your obedient humble servant,
"J. Mas Lerman, Esq., M P.", " MAZERLY.
The following petition has been prepared for pre-
se otation t o Parliament :

" To the. Honourable the House of Commons in Par-
li an tent assembled. The humble petition of the Letter
Carriers of the London District Post,
" II umbly showeth,
" That. your petitioners, in approaching your Honour-
able Hot "le, beg moat humbly to state, for a series of
year a t' ley have memorialised the heads of their depart-
ment, tl le Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Trea-
sur r, id your Honourable House (in the year 1837),
for an 'increase of salary, as recommended by the Com-
mis sinners of Revenue Inquiry in their Eighteenth Re-
port, or to be put upon the same scale of salary no
sup erannuation as the letter carriers in the inland de-
Par: anent.

y peti
your Honourable House, eighty of the senor letter
carrie rs had their salaries increased to twenty-five
shil.
a That in the year 1837, shortly after thetioned
lings. per week; and in the year 1844 the number of
your petitioners was considerably increased, when eixty
class, . re-
,
more rect.() added to the twenty-
five shilling
sultin g from a petition to the Right Hon. the Earl of
Lonstle le, the then Postmaster-General; and in the
year 1;847 two hundred of your petitioners %etre raised
to tvve City-two shillings par week, and four hundred and
ninety -fieven to twenty-one shillings per week. The
above . trale, your petitioners regret to say, was discon-
tinued in the same year; so that your petitioners who
have et stored the service since 1847 have no prospect
beyond twenty shillings per week. And your petitioners
have ft earn time to time waited upon the heads of their
departs tient, in order to get these small sums restored,
when b .opes have been held out to them; but your peti-
tioners regret to say they have not yet been realised.
" That your petitioners beg moat humbly to inform
your leTonourable House that, from the continued im-
provements made in the Post-office, and the increased
corres pandence consequent thereon, and the rapidity of
cemmiaeication caused by the railway system, mails ar-
rive in.-London from all parts of the country at all times
of the day, and with the delivery of which your peti-
tioneit are charged, as well as a considerable portion of
the morning delivery, and have become so amalgamated
wale the general post letter carriers, that they are iden-
tified an one and the same body, doing the same duty,
and bearing the same responsibility, and upon a recent
order, giving the same bond; they therefore beg to sub.
mrepqouniretmh
ee requirements are
scaleco
of salary
-
equal, and
and superannuation as the letter-carriers in the general
thatit t
theyht their
shoulwdanbtaa andput u
post.
n a few years to 255.,
department,i who enter the service at 23s per week,
rising and again to 30s. per week.
" That the duties performed by your petitioners are of
consitherable importance to the community with regard
e far
to their correspondence, as they are held responsible
any it istakes in the delivery of t
letters: they therefore
beg moat respectfully to submit to your Honourable
House, that, although the responsibility and labour are
admit red to be great, their salaries are much below the
average wages for ordinary employment, and leave your
petitioners to a continued state of want and embarrass-
ment.

" That prior to the establishment of the ten deliveries
daily, some of your petitioners' duties terminated with
the six o'clock delivery on three evenings in each week,
but in consequence of the heavy eight o'clock night de-
livery, those men were required to assist at the eight
o'cloA night delivery, for which they were paid three
shillings per week; but, upon the establishment of the
before-named ten deliveries, this payment of three shil-
lings per week was discontinued.
"That the only extra duties for which payment is al-
lowed to your petitioners are a few casual ones occurring
in the course of the day in the immediate metropolis,
which arise from assistance given to walks that are over-
burthened; those of your petitioners not engaged in
those deliveries, who have time and are able to keep up
such continued exertion, are employed to assist, for
which they get one shilling; but from the quick recur-
rence of their own duty, a portion of your petitioners
are unable to avail themselves of those opportunities of
increasing their incomes.

" Thai in consequence of the improvements made in
the Post-office from time to time, the numbers of your
petitioners have been considerably increased; six men
are now employed upon each walk instead of four:
consequently the income derived from Christmas gra-
tuities is considerably reduced when divided among so
many; and your petitioners beg to state that in the
frequent returns they have been called upon to make of
their salaries, they have always had to return the
amount of extra duty and Christmas gratuities as a
portion of their official incomes.
" Tbat in consequence of the late order issued by the
Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of her Ma-
jesty's Treasury, that in future all Christmas gratuities
would be discontinued at the public offices, and the pub-
licity given to this order through the medium of the
press, has led the public to believe that the Christmas
gratuities were discontinued altogether to public ser-
vants, such as your petitioners, so that the amount now
collected is but a trifle to most of your humble peti-
tioners.

" That some of your petitioners beg to state that their
losses since the introduction of the ten deliveries daily,
cannot be computed at less than from 4s. 6d. to 6s. 6d.
per week to each letter carrier, for which they have re-
ceived no compensation; while the letter-carriers of the
in land department have received compensation for their
losses and a fair scale of salaries and superannuations,
such as your petitioners wonld thankfully receive.
" That your petitioners are unwilling to intrude upon
the time of your Honourable House with the full detail
of the time occupied in their duties, it being of a com-
plicated nature, commencing at seven o'clock in the
morning and continuing till from nine to half-past ten at
night, except to a portion of your petitioners who are
engaged in the immediate metropolis, whose duties con-
clude on two nights in each week at eight o'clock; this
time is occupied, with a few intervals in the morning, to
some of your petitioners; but the quick recurrence of
the hourly deliveries and collections throughout the
after-part of the day leaves such short intervals, up to
so late an hour at night, as not to be sufficient for rest
required by such harassing exertions.
" That from the lateness at night when your peti-
tioners' deities terminate, they are unable to avail them-
selves of joining any societies for mutual instruction and
other purposes, now so prevalent among the working
classes; your petitioners are therefore shut out from in-
struction and recreation enjoyed by all other classes of
working men.
" That your petitioners humbly beg to represent to
your Honourable House that their superannuation al-
lowance, like their salaries, is very inadequate, which is
according to the following scale:—Above 15 and under
20 years, 6s. a week; above 20 and under 25 years, 7s. a
week; above 25 years, 9s. a week.
" That with superannuation allowance upon such a
low scale, it leaves your petitioners in a'stsatael
eo f:
_ actualover
want when unfit for further duties.
"That your petitions beg most humbly to state that
the superannuation allowance to the other London let-
ter carriers is according to the following c
15 and under 20 years, 201. per year; over 20 and under
25 years, 301. a year; over 25 and under 30 years, 401.
a year; over 30 years, 50/. a year.
' Your petitioners beg to submit that superannuation
fixed
earnegtstly pray your
fixed upon such a scale as the precedingw
13. knowing that they
would
them through a long life of service,
their would not suffer privations in their old a
" Your humble petitioners most
them, accord-
Honourable House to take the subject of their
in the
respon-
sible duties into consideration,
years
report of f
of
revenue service,
inquiry,at"sing
similar to the letter-carriers in the
einigghteteonth
or upon a scale
" And your humble petitioner inland department.
your Honourable House to take 8 most fervently pray
pensions into your benevolent the low amount of their
them a scale of superannuation consideration, and grant
post letter Carr' similar to the general
carriers, as
Duke of Richmond, recommended by his Grace the
proved by the when Postmaster-General, and ap-
proved by
of her Right Honourable the Lords Commis'_,dew'
Treasury Ch _ Majesty's Treasury, in a letter ,_.,
in a report ambers, the sth of March, 1833, and print, Ti;
.returned to
Mot your Honourable House o the
motion of T. Duncombe, Esq., dated 21st July. 1847.
" And your petitioners will ever pray°
___.

8"8 4
Ma. C. P. RoNEy.—The Weekly to to state that
—" We feel great pleasure in being ITT'!" will secure per-
such arrangements have been entered n y
inetuin the discharge of
manently the abilities of Mr. C. P. Bee
bester and Holyhead
those duties in connexion with then England and Scotland,
Railway, and the other railwaY
tilt:public advantage, and con-
that have tended so much to is of the several lines. This
tributed so largely to the int _
ted at the desire of the sixteen
arrangement has beeanegresected in the through traffic from
different companies i te
, d. The fact we now communicate
Great Britain to Irwrecaueived with great pleasure ; for there
will, we are sure, 11 hi which the value of Mr. Roney's pa-
is no part of ireyin
exertions to promote the prosperity of his
triotic and an,"-ras fully appreciated as they are gratefully
native land are n°
recoz. zroET OF THE HIGHLAND SOCIETY'S
Eria tis'n R
m• had a reporter from its establishment at
The A "nes
w
eating of the society here, who writes rather
the late as to our farmers' adherence to their old imple-
sneering
f his knowledge of agriculture is no better than
manta, u.
es to be of arboriculture our countrymen need not
it depreciatory tone amiss,he describes.the
take his
ehesnuts and beeches of the South Inch as " fine elms."
In his report of the dinner, also, he adds the office of Lord
Provost of Perth to the other dignities of the Marquis of
Breadalbane, commencing his lordship's speech thus
The Marquis of Breadalbane (Lord Provost of Perth) rose
and said I"—North British Mail.
Ma. MACALJLA.Y.—Many of our readers will regret
to learn that there is not only a chance, but a strong
proba-
bility, that Mr. Macaulay will not take his seat for Edin-
burgh. It is confidently reported that the state of his health
is such that his medical attendants have advised him to re-
frain from making any public appearance whatever. Should
the story unfortunately prove true, there will, in all likeli-
hood, be another severe contest for Edinburgh, unless, in-
deed, some man of transcendent claims be brought forward to
unite the suffrages of the great bulk of the Liberal party.—
, Aberdeen herald.