The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-05 00:00:00

STORMS AND FLOODS IN THE NORTH OF

ENGLAND.

For some days past (says a correspondent and eye-
witness) heavy rains have prevailed in the north of
England, and all the streams have been great swollen,
and many fields laid under water. Th rain fell heavily
in the neighbourhood of Newcastle. On Thursday,
along the line of the Great Northern after passing
Peterborough, the effects of the heavy rains were
visible in the washed roads and the pools in the lower
portions of the fields. North of Darlington a mile or
two the line begins to traverse a dead level, and for
some miles we found the water standing for more than
a hundred yards on each side of the line, which
passes across the plain on a slightly raised em-
bankment. By and by the rails became altogether sub-
merged, and the engine, with its heavy tail of carriages,
slowly proceeded to clear its way through an immense
lake of from a foot to two feet in depth. A brilliant
moon, shining through a clear frosty sky, lighted
up the inland sea we were thus strangely navi-
gating, and showed the water flashing through the
wheels of the carriages as through the paddles of
many little land steamers. The tope of the fens
here and there at the sides of the line were of the sele
visible evidences of the roadway on which we were
moving for about a mile and a half, and only by these
and the trees and hedgerows arising out of the water
could one be convinced that the train was actually tra-
versing an inland country, and not an arm of the
sea. One of the up-trains of the previous night had
to return to Newcastle after reaching Ferry-hill,
the line northwards being then impracticable. At New-
castle the rain has been incessant and remarkably heavy
f r more than a week. North of Newcastle the country
has all the appearance of baying been thoroughly soaked
by long continued rain, and the aspect of the sky still
stormy and very unsettled,—Scotsman.

THE FAMILY HOUSES OF THE BERLIN
BUILDING ASSOCIATION.

This association is formed of shareholders who receive
4 per cent. a year on their shares, and besides are re-
imbursed to the whole amount of their shares within
twenty-nine years of the payment thereof. When a
house is built by the association, the whole outlay of
capital is divided upon the tenants of the house, so that
each pays 6 per cent. a year upon the expenses of his
apartment. From this calculation are deducted,—first,
a reserve fund; and secondly, the probable running ex-
penses of the house for the year. Of the 6 per cent.
thus paid, 4 per cent. go to pay the interest upon the
shares, the remaining 2 per cent. for paying back the
capital, &c. In this way the house is free from debt at
the eud of the 29th year; or, in other words, it then
becomes the freehold property of the tenants, wherever
the apartment has remained in the same family during
the whole term of thirty years. Should any one of the
families leave before this term of thirty years has ex-
pired, but having lived in its apartments for at least five
years, a certain sum is paid out to it, proportionate to
the interest it had acquired to the property of the house.
The association was formed in November, 1847: its
patron is H- R. H. the Prince of Prussia. and it counts
amongst its honorary members H. H. H. Prince Albert.
Up to the end of 1851 fifteen houses had been newly
constructed, and one fitted up anew: they contain 146
apartments,
are inhabited by about SOO persons, one-
half
of which number are children.—Builder.

THE TEA TRADE, OCT. 4.—Last week the delive-
ries of tea in London rather fell off, being 600,3821 b.
SPORTING BY STEAM.—On Wednesday, as the
express train of the Morayshire Railway was crossing the
Loch of Spynie, the funnel of the engine struck and killed
a bird of aspecies called the northern diver, which was flying
with a fish in its bill. • On the bird being secured it was
found to measure from the tip of the tail to the beak 5 feet,
and from wing to wing 4 feet 4 inches. Its prey was of
goodly size, being neATIY ten inches in length.—
Elgin Courant.

IRELAND.
POLITICAL HARANGUES FROM THE ALTAR.

DUBLIS, SllNDAT.—'file Tuam Herald publishes a
lengthened correspondence which has passed between
the Rev. Peter Conway, the Roman Catholic curate
of Ballinrobe, and the Lieutenant-General command-
ing the forces in Ireland, arising out of circumstances
which, unhappily for the peace of the country, are
but of too frequent occurrence of late years to invest
them even with the poor charm of novelty. It appears
that on some Sunday in the month of August last a
detachment of the 9th Regiment of Infantry, under
the command of Ensign Taylor, attended Divine ser-
vice in the chapel of Ballinrobe, where the Rev. Mr.
Conway officiated ; and the latter having incidentally
touched upon the recent election for the county of
Mayo, Mr. Taylor withdrew his men, under the
natural impression that the priest was about to favour
his auditory with a political harangue. Forthwith
Mr. Conway wrote a long letter of complaint to Sir
Edward Blakeney, the tone and Christianlike temper
of which may be judged by the following passages :
" St. Mary's, Ballinrobe, Sunday,
Aug. 2q, 1852.
" Sir,—During the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of
the Mass, and immediately before reading the gospel of
the day, I proceeded as usual to announce the parochial
arrangements for the ensuing week; while doing so, En-
sign Taylor, 9th Foot Regiment, stood up at the far end
of the church from where his men were placed, and
swaggered in the most unbecoming manner through the
people, and ordered out the soldiers, thereby creating
great disturbance and confusion. Being obliged to sus-
pend my discourse until the noise had ceased, I expressed
in a few words dissatisfaction at the extreme impropriety
which had been observed by this stripling, without, how-
ever, alluding to the men, who manifested every reve-
rence, and remained somo time in their places on ac-
count of their seeing no cause or grounds for his ex-
traordinary conduct. Still he continued to disturb,
confuse, and annoy the entire congregation. Sir,
were this the first and only occurrence of this nature
which had taken place here, I should feel in-
clined to overlook it, but coupling this with
repeated instances of the same character which have
occurred, I teel it is high time to put an end to the
abuses, and to call attention to them in the pro-
per quarter, and in the name of the Catholic soldiers
stationed here, who feel they have been insulted, and in
the name of the parishioners and myself to request your
earnest and immediate attention to the matter, and in
the present case to demand a full investigation. The
instances to which I allude are—first, when my respected
pastor was interrupted, and on another occasion when
I myself officiated. When I compare, Sir, the conduct
observed upon this occasion with the gentlemanly, the
decorous, and reverential demeanour observed by other
officers in her Majesty's service in the like circum-
stances, I must conclude that it is not seal in their pro-
fession which inspires those malignant, sectarian, and
anti-Christian demonstrations in those ill-mannered and
offensive jackanapes. I forbear to characterise their con-
duct further, but I must again complain that on this oc-
casion the officer in command has practised, not against
me, but against the religious feelings of a well conducted
community—against the conscientious convictions of
an orderly portion of her Majesty's subjects, and,
above all, against the majesty of God, en unpro-
voked insult and an unwarrantable outrage;

it would appear that in the Catholic Church
alone, and towards Catholics, such conduct could be
tolerated with impunity. I will, in conclusion, say,
should any repetition of such conduct ensue, I shall feel
it my duty to comply with the wishes of the parishioners,
a❑d close the door of the chapel against any officer
who will not conduct himself in a proper manner. The
chapels, thank God, are our property, and not that of
any scamping official. I would regret much to have re-
course to any such unpleasant alternative; but, Sir,
there are at present stationed here about 60 Catholic
men of the very best condact, and they feel they
have been insulted. It is too bad that Catholic soldiers,
who have fought your battles and devoted their lives to
the services of the Crown, should not at least have their
religious feelings respected; even some of the Protestant
soldiers have told me they feel grieved when they hear
of such conduct as was pursued by Mr. Taylor in our
church."

The postscript, like that to a lady's letter, contains

;be marrow of the communication .

" P.S.—Pending this investigation, and until I have
the honour of hearing your decision, the officer who
may accompany the men to mass cannot get the usual
accommodation. He will remain standing inside the
door on the ground-floor. " P. C."
To this Rockite notice Sir Edward mildly re-
plies :

"Royal Hospital, Dublin, Sept. 2, 1852.
"Rev. Sir,—l am directed by Sir E. Blakeney to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th ult.,
and to inform you that Sir E. Blakeney has sent your
letter and the report of the officer commanding the
troops on the occasion referred to to the Major-General
commanding the district for investigation and report.
And, with reference to the postscript of your letter, I
am desired by the Lieutenant-General commanding to
add that he trusts the usual accommodation will be given
both to the officer and men in your chapel.
"I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
"R. GREAVES, Mil. Sec.

" The Rev. P. Conway."
Upon receipt of' this, Mr. Conway addresses a letter
to Captain Fenton, the officer commanding the
detachment in Ballinrobe, repeating his complaint
against Ensign Taylor, the "ill-mannered and
offensive stripling," and stating that, in compliance
with Sir Edward Blakeney's expressed desire, the
officer, pending the promised inquiry, should get his
usual accommodation in the chapel. Some further
letters follow between the priest and the military au-
thorities, and the correspondence thus closes :
" Cavalry Barrack, Sept. 10.
" Major Borten held the investigation, and at the end
of the Rev. Mr. Conway's examination he replied, that
the second report of Ensign:Taylor agreed precisely with
the letter of Mr. Conway to Sir E. Blakeney, and that
he saw no necessity for calling in any further testimony
from either the military or civilians. He said that he
wished that the Rev. Mr. Conway should understand
that the officers were most anxious to live on terms of
kind feelings with the Catholic priesthood of Ireland;
and that he regretted that any such unpleasant circum-
stances as the present should occur; that Mr. Taylor
was . deaf,' and he thought the service was over; and he
(Mr. Taylor) thought when he (Mr. Conway) announced
to the congregation, that if there should be any dying
calls during the ensuing week from the poor-house or
the town, the people should call early in the day, as he
would be among the country porion of the flock getting
their offerings—and when he (Mr. Conway) said he re-
gretted much offering from
ofnrowmaythwoases
few persons who voted at the last election against their
aodohoeucuctnriyl:l nhoet acceptthough
thought an
that y o
creoligmmioenneing a political discussion."

" RESULT OF TUE INVESTIGATION.
1; pa the 20th of September Captain Fenton called at
St. Mary's on the Rev. Mr. Conway, and read for him
the following communication:—
Assistant Adjutant-General's-offiee, Limerick,
17th of Sept., 1852.
" Memorandum.
" The annexed copy of a letter, received from the
Deputy Adjutant-General, is transmitted for the infor-
mation of the officer commanding the detachment of the
9th Regiment of Foot stationed at Ballinrobe, who will
be pleased to communicate Sir Edward Blakeney's de-
cision to the Rev. P. Conway, by personally calling upon
him and reading to him the Deputy Adjutant-General's
letter herewith annexed.
" By order, " R. N. DOUGLAS,
Lieut.-Colonel, Assist. Adjt.-General.
" The Officer commanding the detachment
9th Foot, Ballinrobe."
(Copy.)
•• • Adjutant-General's-office, Dublin,
16th of Sept,, 1852.
" Sir,—l have had the honour to submit your letter
of the 13th inst to the Lieutenant-General commanding,
who has directed me to request that you will inform
the Rev. P. Conway,
Roman Catholic curate of Bailin-
robe, that after a careful perusal of the minutes of the
investigation made et Ballinrobe on the 10th inst., Sir
Edward Blakeney concurs in opinion with Major Berton,
9th Foot, that although Ensign Taylor may have been
somewhat indiscreet and hasty in withdrawing the
Roman Catholic soldiers from the chapel on the 29th
ult., there can be no reason to suppose that he was
actuated by any other motive than a desire to conform
with the instructions contained in the circular, dated
Adjutant-General's office, Dublin, September 14, 1843.
In making this communication, the Lieutenant-General
thinks it desirable that you should acquaint the Rev.
Mr. Conway with the substance of those instructions,
and at the same time inform him that when the lt,)man
Catholic soldiers were withdrawn from the chapel on
the 29th ult., Ensign Taylor was under the impression
that the services were concluded, as was distinctly
stated in the report he made on the subject on the
same day.—l have, &c.,

," JOHN EDEN, D.A.G.'
" ' R. N. Douglas, L.O .A.G.'
" EXTRACT FROM THE DISTRICT STANDING ORDERS
GIVEN TO THE REV. MR. CONWAY BY CAPTAIN FENTON.

" The soldiers, however, are not to remain atter the
conclusion of the service to listen to exhortations on any
subject not of a religious tendency. When the priest
preaches in Irish it is not a sufficient reason for with-
drawing the soldiers, unless the officer is aware that the
clergyman introduces other subjects unconnected with
religion, and of a political or party nature."

THE BATTLE OP THE RIVAL PORTS.
According to the Limerick Chronicle, the Rev.
Peter Daly, of Galway, has received a letter from
Earl Derby, conveying his assurance that no an-
nouncement respecting the proceedings of the com-
mittee appointed to inquire into the merits of the va•
rious ports as a Transatlantic packet station had trans-
pired by the authority of Government.
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ROME.
The Galway Packet has the following statement
with reference to the alleged negotiations between the
Courts of England and Rome :
" It was currently rumoured that the Archbishop of
Tuam, the Bishop of Clontert, and some of the other
Prelates who are at present in Paris on business con-
nected with the Irish College in that city, were about to
proceed to Rome for the purpose of counteracting any
erroneous impressions which might have been created
there by Sir Henry Bulwer during his late diplomatic
interviews with Cardinal Antonelli. But we have reason
to believe that this rumour is entirely without founda-
tion, and that these prelates will return about the 14th
inst. The spirit evinced by the Cardinal Secretary of
State on the occasion of the English Envoy's interview
has rendered any further explanations on the part of the
Irish prelates altogether superfluous."