The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, hUGUST 5, 1839.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

On Thursday, a Court was held for the purpose of
receiving a Report of an important kind relative to the
Metropolitan Improvements.
Mr. Hall brought up the following Report :
TO THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD MAYOR, ALDERMEN,
AND COMMONS OF THE CITY OF LONDON, IN COMMON
COUNCIL ASSEMBLED.
We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, of your
Committee for carrying into execution the Acts of Par-
liament for the re-building of London Bridge, and for
improving and making suitable approaches thereto, to
whom on the 11th day of July last it was referred, to
watch the proceedings in Parliament, on a proposed
Bill, to carry into effect certain improvements in the
metropolis, under the direction of the Commissioners of
Woods and Forests, &c., and to report thereon from
time to time, do certify that the said Bill having been
presented to the Honourable the House of Commons,
on the 17th of July last, by the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, we proceeded to consider the same, and find-
ing that the object of the said Bill was to raise a sum
of 200,0001. upon the credit of the Improvement Fund,
to be applied under the direction of the Commis-

sioners of her Majesty's Woods and Forests, &c., in
certain improvements at the east and western parts of the
Metropolis, and that the provisions of the said Bill
would deprive your Honourable Court of the surplus of
the funds created by several Acts of Parliament, passed
for the improvement of the approaches to London-
bridge, now in the House of Lords, were to be effected,
we appointed a deputation
,to confer with the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer upon the subject, who informed
the deputation that it was his intention, if the said Bill
bad been read a second time, to refer the same to the
Select Committee of the House of Commons upon Me-
tropolitan Improvements, to consider the several provi-
sions thereof.

That the said Bill having been read a second time,
and referred to the said Select Committee, your Com-
mittee proceeded to consider the best course to be pur-
sued, and were of opinion that if the Bill of your Hon-
ourable Court, now in the House of Lords, was passed,
and the provisions respecting the surplus, out of which
the improvements contemplated by the said Bill were
to be effected, were taken out of the Bill introduced by
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, your Committee would
recommend your Honourable Court to consent to
continue the payment of the sum of 11,5001. per
annum, and the other payments now made to the
Improvement Fund towards raising the sum of
150,0001. for the improvements at the eastern and west-
ern parts of the metropolis, under the direction of
the Commissioners of her Majesty's Woods and Forests,
&c., in accordance with the understanding which took
place with the said Select Committee of the House of
Commons last year, when the sum of 150,0001. was
recommended by them to be granted for the improve-
ments in the neighbourhood of the Royal Exchange.
That your Committee appointed a Sub-Committee
to attend the Select Committee of the House of
Commons, and have the satisfaction of stating that they
succeeded in obtaining a release of the surplus from the
Bill of the Chancellor of the Exchequer; but the
Select Committee of the House of Commons would
not consent to reduce the amount of the sum to be
raised from 200,000/. to 150,0001.
That after maturely considering all the circumstances
of the case, and being of opinion that the effect of
opposinc, the Bill of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
would be to endanger the Bill of your Honourable Court
now in the House—your Committee recommend to
your Honourable Court to consent to contribute the
annual payments now made by the Corporation of
London to the Improvement Fund, towards a sum of
200,000/. to be raised on the credit of the said fund,
and applied by the Commissioners of her Majesty's
Woods and Forests, or for the purposes hereia-
before mentioned ; all which is respectfully submitted.
J. H. HALL,
MICHAEL GIBBS,
WILLIAM RICHARDSON,
WILLIAM DAY,
•
WILLIAM CHRISTIE,
JOHN DRINKOLD,
W. GREEN,
JOHN HUMPHERY,
JAMES FRESBY,
HENRY J. ELMES,
W. L. POTTER.

Mr. HALL regretted the absence of the Chairman of
the London Bridge Approaches Committee, who took
a great interest in the suhject.

Mr. WIRE asked whether the surplus arising from
the ground-rents of the proposed improvements from
Cateaton-street to the Post-office was secured to the
Corporation, and whether the 150,0001. for enlarging
the streets in the vicinity of the Royal Exchange would
be affected by the Bill in Parliament, under the sanc-
tion of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests?

Mr. HALL replied that the surplus ground rents
arising from the Cateaton-street improvements, were
clearly secured to the Corporation, and that the Bill
alluded to for Metropolitan Improvements, would not in
the slightest degree interfere with the 150,0001. set
apart for the improvement of the streets in the imme-
diate neighbourhood of the Royal Exchange.—( Hear.)
The Corporation would, he had no doubt, consent to
the continuation of the 11,5001. for carrying into effect
the objects of the Bill, which had been brought into
Parliament under the authority of the Commissioners
of Woods and Forests. The Chairman of the London
Bridge Approaches Committee, had taken a decided
objection to the increase from 150,0001. to 200,0001,
as he was anxious that the 50,0001. should be appro-
priated to the rebuilding of the Royal Exchange, and
the necessary improvements in that neighbourhood.
After a few words from Alderman Venables, Mr.
Lawrence, and Sir Matthew Wood, in favour of the
Report, it was agreed to.

THE CROPS A.oD THE WEATHER

The subjoined notices supply the latest intelligence on
the subject:—
Essax.—There is a portion of the wheat crop in this
county fit for the sickle, but the rain which has fallen
almost every day since Monday, has prevented the
farmers setting to work; generally they have engaged. At
present the wheat has but partially given way to the wet,
it fortunately being accompanied by but little wind, but
oats and barley, where these crops are heavy, have been
knocked down, and will require sun and wind to avert the
injery which threatens them. In Suffolk the harvest has
commenced. Mr. olledge, of Ingram, and nine others
began to cut wheat on Friday last and Barley was cnt at
Eldo on Monday.—Chelmsford. Chronicle.
WILTSHIRE.—The continued rain during the last week
has caused a total cessation of haymaking in this neigh-
bourhood, and much will be completely spoiled. The
meadows are nearly everywhere flooded, and much of the
earlier corn laid by the heavy wet.—Wilts Independent.
DERBTswlaE.—During the past week there has been,
more or less, rain every day. On Tuesday night the fall
was great, and on Wednesday morning the waters rose in
the Derwent, and the tributary streams, to a very un-
usual height at this season of the year. We hear that an
immense quantity of hay has been spoiled, or waabed away
from the b inks of the river ; and a great deal has been
cut in this neighbourhood, and now remains out, which will
be greatly injured. If the wet weather continues much
longer, the consequences, we fear, will be disastrous, but
with a change there would be every prospect of an abun-
dant harvest. Great damage has been sustained by occu-
piers on the banks of the Dove. A considerable quantity
of timber, hay, and straw, has been brought down the
Derwent by the flood.—Derby Reporter.
TROWBRIDGE.—A very heavy storm of thunder and
lightning passed over Trowbridge and its vicinity on Sun-
day last, and did considerable damage to the gardens, &c.
Mr. Francis, of Southwick, had five calves killed by the
electric fluid striking a tree under which the poor animals
were standing.
IsLE or MAN.—Since the commencement of the pre-
sent month, now near its termination, more rain has fallen
than is usually experienced at this period of the year, and
for a considerable time past the sky has been overcast and
gloomy ; but for the last five or six days a pretty equal
distribution of sunshine and showers has had a beneficial
and invigorating influence upon both animal and vegetable
nature.
IRELAND.—The weather, for the last few days, around
Dublin, has given rise to serious fears for the ultimate state
of the crops. It has rained at intervals exceedingly heavy,
which has beon occasionally succeeded by a strong sun
and sultry heat. The accounts from the interior are
various, but we hope no great damage has been as yet sus-
tained. Many fields of wheat show that the red worm
has been actively at work, whilst in other places there is
no appearance of the worm. There was not much wind,
so that, in general, the straw has not been broken, and
but comparatively few fields are laid. Should the weather
take up, the crops promise, at the present moment, an
average yield of all kinds of produce.—Dublis Evening
Post.

With deep regret—and not without some feelings of
apprehension for the fate of the harvest, we announce that
since we last addressed our readers upon this subject, the
rain has continued to pour in torrents, with scarcely any in-
termission. The flood in the river Dodder rose to such a
height in the course of last night, that it overflowed the
wooden bridge at Serpentine avenue upon which the rail-
road traverses ; and until an advanced hour of the day, it
was supposed that the bridge had been carried away.
Such, however, we ascertained, is not the case; but the
communication between the city and Kingstown was im-
peded for some time, but was resumed in the afternoon.
It appears that similar inclemencies in the weather have
taken place in England and on tho Continent;
and should it continue, the worst apprehensions may be
entertained for the safety of the harvest. The fol-
lowing communication has reached us from a com-
petent and ieteliigent person whose remarks are the
result of personal observation in a recent tour in the west
of Ireland, to which district they exclusively refer :
" THE CROPS. —The appearance of the crops in the west
of Ireland is very satisfactory. Wheat will yield more
than an average return unless injured by the present rainy
weather. As yet no injury has been done, but unless
there is an immediate change the consequences will be
serious. Oats are now looking very healthy ; sown during
the dry weather it grew up sickly and short. The late
rains, however, improved it, and as the car is good it is
expected to be an average crop. Barley having been put
into the ground much later than oats, had the benefit of the
wet weather, and now presents a most luxuriant appear.
ance ; it will be a full crop. Flax is looking rather
poorly. Potatoes promise a large return, but the wet, has
prevented them from ripening as early as usual,and very
small samples only have been yet brought to market.
Mowing has only commenced, and during these heavy
rains the grass were much better uncut, as it will be impos-
sible to save it. On the whole, if the weather takes up, a
most plentiful harvest may be looked for, but a continuance
of the present weather will be highly injurious. The con-
stant drifting of the rain, and the floods in the rivers,
remind one more of the end than the commencement of
harvest. "--Dublin Evening Mail of Wednesday.
THUNDER STORM IN AYRSHIRE.—On the afternoon of
Friday last, a thunder storm raged with great violence,
and was the cause of several casualties. At the farm of
Fairfield Mains, situated about half a mile from Monkton,
a dwelling-house was set on fire by the lightning. As the
inmates of the farm were within doors it is, therefore, diffi-
cult to define the manner in which the house was struck by
the electric fluid ; but it is supposed the lightning ran
along the roof of the house, which was thatched, and then
darted down the chimney, disappear ing through the win-
dow below. The chimney can, and several large stones,
were thrown a number of yards distant from the house.
A woman, with a child in her arms, who was in the
house at the moment the occurrence took place, felt a
warm sensation pass through her back ; but, inde-
pendent of the fright, was not otherwise injured. An
eight-day clock was knocked down on the floor, and a
splinter forced from one of the corners by the light-
ning. A razor lying on the dresser was slightly melted,
and a hole also run in the side of a pewter teapot.
The house was struck about fifteen minutes to six
o'clock, and so rapidly did the flames spread, that in
the short space of a quarter of an hour the roof fell
in. The premises attached also took fire, and, notwith-
standing every effort used to save them, they shared a
similar fate. No person was injured at the fire ; and all
the furniture was saved through the able assistance of the
workmen on the railway (which runs within a short dis-
tance of the house), and a number of individuals whom the
flames attracted to the spot from the neighbouring villages
of Monkton and Prestwick. Had it not been for the timely
aid rendered, the fire might have assumed a worse feature,
owing to the whole of the houses, which compose the farm
steading, being closely joined together. Nothing remains
of the buildings but the avails. It may be proper to
add that the inmates found immediate accommodation
at Fairfield House and Monkton Mill. A hay-rick
was set on fire and totally consumed by the light
ning at Tarrelgin, about two miles from Ochil-
tree. Although the rick was standing in the middle
of a row, yet none of the others were in the slightest
degree damaged. The loss sustained on the farm of
Macwhatiston, about three miles from Ochiltree, was
much greater. Two valuable horses, standing in the sta-
ble, were killed. It is conjectured that the lightning en-
tered by the door, and passed through the wall, the concus-
sion shattering an eight-day clock on the opposite side of
the partition. A somewhat different phenomenon took
place, almost at the same time, on the farm of Brocklehill,
parish of St. Evox, a few miles distant from Fairfield
Mains. This farm became the scene of a violent hail
shower, which lasted a considerable time, and had the ef-
fect of completely riddling the turnip and potato shaws.
About a mile out of the harbour of Saltcoats, the hail also
fell in great quantities, about the size of peas. Some idea
of the nature of the storm may be gathered from the fact
that the fishermen were necessitated to draw their lines,
and wrap themselves in the sails of their boats till the tor-
nado ceased.—Glasgow Chronicle.
WALES.—Lameniable accounts have reached us from
many parts of Wales as to the violent and long-continued
rain during the last three weeks In South Wales sheep
and lambs have been destroyed by the rains and torrents ;
and in North Wales vast tracts of meadows are untouched
by the scythe, or, if mown, the produce is destroyed. Near
the sea-coast, at Aberystwyth, Towyn, Aberdovey and
Barmouth, the hay is not gathered, yet the grain is ripen-
ing; and the two harvests will be almost at the same time.
We have a very lamentable tale to tell as to the
damage done by the late unseasonable weather. A fort.
night since we had some few fine days, and the agri-
culturists generally took advantage of them to secure the
hay crops. In the midst of their exertions, however, the
heavy rains again returned, and as they have continued
since that time almost without intermission, these crops may
now be considered almost wholly spoilt. The latter end
of last week, and the commencement of this was very unfa-
vourable, and onTuesday night last we had heavy rain for ten
or twelve hours. The farmers at our market on Wednesday
represented this one night's rain to have done the greatest
damage to the corn, which was said to be entirely laid low in
many places. Such was the case in parts of this imme-
diate district which parties from this office had opportu-
nities of personally visiting on Wednesday and Thursday.
In the lowlands tee), the bay on the ground was abso-
lutely swimming, and for the benefit of the less expe-
rienced of our readers, it maynot be amiss to suggest that
such portions of it as can be Collected mey be made palat-
able to cattle by the admixture of salt, in the proportion
of eight pounds to a ton. It ee..erns to be generally thought
that without a speedy return of uninterrupted fine weather,
the grain crop of this district ,F;ill be an entire failure.—
Siatrorilshire Eraminer.
The excessive rains which
have fallen in this district,
,
every day during the last three weeks, have destroyed vast
quantites of hay, and injured, in some cases severely, the
corn fields. At this time tierce
gorged ; and the surface of
this county is lying rotting a,. rotted in the fields; and iii
places the meadows ar parts of the hay grown in
lying many inches deep in
water. All the brooks are or
each stream is covered with floating hay, swept from the
many acres on the banks. The Severn and its contribu-
tory brooks, yesterday end 03, Wednesday rose with great
rapidity, till they have overflown all the adjoining fields,
and in some places rendererl the roads impassable. From
mid-day on Wednesday till late last night (Thursday),
the stream continued to rise,
'caring with it large quantities
of mown grass. The lower parts of Frankwell, in this
town, are flooded ;
circuere tance hitherto unknown in
summer. A mul.itude of people assembled anxiously last
night on the Welsh Bridge, evatching the rising. of the
•
river. Great injury has been sustained in Melverley and
the other lowlands in this cote ety. But we have the gra-
tification to state, from the besst information, that the waters
will not be swelled in this vi( ity, after this day. Yester-
day (Thursday) the weather began to appear favourable.
_Shrewsbury Chronicle.
Oswerrev.—This town a sd vicinity was visited by one
of the greatest floods ever re membered by the oldest inha.
bitants, on Wednesday more ling. Cellars, under ground
kitchens, &c. were filled for several hours. Some of the
gardens at the back of the le uses in Willow-street were so
completely under water, tha t only the tops of the goose-
berry trees were to be seen. The storm having commenced

~._.
r .~

about midnight, no precaution had been taken by the in-
habitants. Mr. Rogers, a very industrious man, had seven
young pigs drowned in a stable, and several horses had
narrow escapes. A house erecting in the vicinity was
washed down, and several bridges shared the same fate.
The road between Oswestry, Felton, and Maesbury was
impassible for passengers for many hours.
HEREFORD.—The continued rains during the last week
have sadly injured the hay crops, and entailed great
delay in the harvest ; a large quantity will be totally
spoiled. We hope when the ricks are made the efficacy
of salt will be remembered, and that it will be liberally
used. The wheat crops have been laid by the heavy
rains in many situations, and it is feared a considerable
portion must be materially injured if we are not favoured
with dry wheather. The Flop bines grow luxuriantly,
but like the rest of vegetation, now require fine warm
weather. We regret to state that on Tuesday the river
Lugg overflowed its banks, and the cut grass was floating
in all directions. The loss will be immense.—Hereford
Journal.

The wheat appears to have suffered from the late heavy
rains, by which the crops have been laid quite flat. This,
if the weather continues unfavourable, will deteriorate both
quality and quantity of corn in the ear. It is-probable
that the harvest will be later than it has been for several
years.—Doncaster Gazette.

SOME THOUGHTS TOUCHING
THE PRESENT DISCONTENTS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—What are the causes of the present discontents?
Are the working population dealt with according to strict
justice and impartiality ? Are they equally privileged with
the higher and middle classes ? Are they, as regards the
fluctuations of trade and commerce in a better condition
than their superiors—or do they feel the effects of these fluc-
tuations less? In answer to these important questions, we are
struck with the wide differences in the condition of the labour-
ing classes with the others. The workingman, in general, has
no voice in the representation—Parliamentary, Corporate,
or Parochial. His poverty precludes him from obtaining the
requisite qualifications. Poverty, as well as the want of
education, also prevents him from enjoying the privileges of
the middle class. Hard labour wastes his frame, and his
mind is depressed by the apparent hopelessness of his con-
dition; and he is frequently driven to the ale-house, or
any kind of excitement, to drown the sense of the misery
of his lot. Constant employment is by no means certain,
and wages are generally so low as not to allow him, after
providing for his scanty share of the necessaries of life, to
save anything. And when a panic in trade occurs, so that
he can be no longer employed, or if employed, obtain the
merest pittance for his labour—how must he contrive to
exist? He must perish for want, but for the parish allow-
ance, or the casual aid of the charitable. If his comforts
while fully employed, and in receipt of what masters deem
fair wages, are small, what must be his condition in the
convulsions of trade, when manufacturers cannot employ or
pay him ? It is infinitely worse in degree than that of a
middle-class man, whose condition, under such circum-
stances, the working man would look upon as really com-
fortable, comparrd with the best condition he could ever ex-
pect to realise ; for while the former has only to sacrifice
luxuries, the latter must sacrifice the necessaries of life. It is
not surprising, therefore, that when the working man looks
around, and sees and considers the case, comfort, and luxury,
in which the higher and middle classes live, the privileges
and enjoyments they possess, their wealth and property,
and the power and control they exercise in the affairs of
the community, it is
,net surprising, contrasting his own
lowly and miserable condition with that of the classes above
him, while he is too apt to think that they look down
upon him as a mere instrument of labour, that he begins to
repine, and wonder why the working-classes, the producing
bees of the commonwealth, wi‘hout whom the other classes
could not live as they do, should thus, without the appa-
rent hope of bettering themselves, be compelled to toil out
a miserable existence. But at the same time that
the working man feels this melancholy conviction, he is not
wholly ignorant of the imperfection that attaches to all
human institutions, and of the liability of the best consti-
tuted societies to abuse. He is in some degree aware
of the complicated nature of society, and how difficult a
task it must be thoroughly to eradicate its evils and abuses,
which, like noxious weeds, impede the growth of the best
principles. He is aware that there must be grades in
society; that trade is an artificial thing, and depends much
upon the demand for manu.actures at home and abroad ;
that competition reduces profit—that such circumstances
produce great fluctuations, which fluctuations necessarily
affect wages ; and that, if there be only a given
quantity of employment, wages will be high or
low, according to the number of hands employed—if few,
wages will be high, if many, low. That an overplus popu-
lation will thus reduce wages, and that if such population
increase according to the present rate, the result will be
to render subsistence more difficult and precarious. What
remedy, then, is there for this latter evil. Two
methods appear to me to be necessary. Restrain persons
from marrying until a certain age, and provide the amplest
means for emigration, so as to get rid of what may be con-
sidered the surplus population—or adopt one of these
alternatives. If such remedies, or one of them, be found
to secure the welfare and happiness of the people at large,
then let them, or one of them, be carried into effect, if
nothing better can be devised. I need hardly say, after
having proceeded thus far, that I am for having the people
fully and fairly represented, in order that their peculiar
wants and real grievances may be properly attended to, and
if possible provided for, and redressed, consistently with the
happiness and welfare of the nation at large—yet I have
felt doubts as to how this might be best obtained. lam
for no violence—l am no physical force man—l respect
the English Constitution, and would endeavour to obtain
further rights and privileges for the working man by con.
stitutional means, by moral force alone. Let us show to
the Government, and those of the higher and middle classes
( who, being for the most part educated, are, or ought to be,
pretty fair judges of the bearing of things in the country—
the nice dependencies of one interest upon another, &c., and
therefore of our peculiar condition)—that by our de-
meanour, at this peculiar crisis, our peaceable disposition,
our desire for the happiness and prosperity of the
country at large, our thirst for sound knowledge
and information upon which to inform our reason
and judgment, that we may be safely and beneficially in-
trusted with the franchise. But I confess, viewing the
mass of my fellow-workmen throughout the kingdom,
more especially in agricultural districts, I can hardly bring
myself to the conviction that they are as yet sufficiently
enlightened for the safe exercise of the electoral franchise,
but they will improve and so become fit; and in order to
expedite this, I think that the Government ought immedi-
ately to endeavour to provide for the national education of
the people, the working-classes more particularly.
We are assured in Scripture that God is no respecter
of persons, and that He looks with an equal eye upon
all. The Scriptures also teach us to look upon all men
as brethren, and to love our neighbour as ourselves; yet
we feel the want of this connecting link, this holy
sympathy iu society, as between the higher, and middle,
and working classes, if not also amongst the latter ;
but we hope that a better day is approach-
ing, when the great principle of love to God
and man will be better understood, and pervade the whole
human family, when men will really (not merely in out-
ward profession) be Christians, when civilization will be
commensurate with the practice of Christianity, in our pro-
gress to which great consummation we feel that a great
moral revolution is progressing, and that as the love of
gain and selfishness abate, so will our condition in society
become ameliorated, and approximate more to the true
standard of Christianity ; and when the welfare and happi-
ness of all ranks and classes will be sincerely consulted,
and instead of the present party feelings, jealousies and
heartburnings, and enmities of one class towards another,
and towards themselves, the best and highest feelings of
the human heart will be called into exercise and have their
sway, and harmony, peace, and good will, will preva
amongst all, .
ONE OF THE WORKING CLASSES