The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-11 00:00:00

THA Ni ES TONNELL.

A General Meeting of the Proprietors of the Thames
Tunnell was held at the London Tavern. Bishopsgate-street,
last week, for general purposes, and for the election of three
Directors, who retired by rotation.
EEN.IAMIN HAWES, Esq., having taken the Chair, said that
the Proprietors had now been in the habit of assembling for
fifteen years, but the Meeting of this day was the most pleasant
which .had been held. At the time of the Meeting last year
great apprehensions were entertained respecting the Tunnel,
and unfortunately those alarms were welt founded, for in the
course of a few days after that time the Tunnel was full of
water. Extraordinary as it might appear very little damage
was done, and the whole of the water was pumped out within
seven days after the irruption, instead of occupying three or
four months as on a former occasion. Another gratifying cir-
cumstance was that during the whole of the time the enormous
work had been in progress, so few accidents had. occurred.
During the last year the Tunnel had been visited by 24,000
persons. With regard to the state of the works.. the progresS'made
in 1838 was 80 feet. Since the end of last year 25 feet more
had been done, and if the work continued to progress at that
rate 105 feet would be completed in the same time as Ko feet
bad been done last year. They had gone on at the rate of
three feet per week for several months, with the exception of
two or three weeks, when only a font and a half was done.
They were now within less than 60 feet of low water mark, so
that, instead of working with a head of water of 15 or 16 feet at
low water, and 35 or 36 feet at high water, they had now only
four or five feet. They had the complete command of the River, in
consequence of the Navigation Committee having lent them
every assistance, and allowing them to make uee of the small
distance from where they now were to the low water mark of
the water-way. He hoped that by the next annual meeting
they would be placed- in a situation of safety. They
were now in a position in,: which - they might congratu-
late the proprietors, that.this great work wOuld—be speedily
accomplished. The completion of it was essential to- the
safety of the public, many of whom now trembled at crossing
the river in a boat, in consequence of the danger of so doing ;
and he tt ustod that ere long he should see tens of thousands
walking under the river in perfect safety.
The Report was then read by the Secretary.
Mr. 11A NKEY inquired at what rate per week the work was
now advancing
The CHAIRMAN replied three feet, but that last week the
progress made was four feet, and that was the greatest distance
which had been excavated for many months.

Mr. HANK EY thought the report highly satisfactory, and
that it afforded the highest encouragement for the realization
of the plan. He moved that the Report be received, printed,
and circulated amongst the Proprietors.
Mr. FRANCIS seconded the motion, which was carried un-
animously.
The cash account having been read,
Mr. S\VEET thought. the public mind ought to be disabused
as to the amount which had been expended on the Tunnel. If
the gross amount was stated, it would be found to be trifling in
comparison to the sums expended on the Waterloo and other
bridges.
The SECRETARY said the total sum expended was
313,201/. ss. 9d., including 117,000/. received from the
Treasury.
A PROPRIETOR inquired if any calculation had been made as
to the probable sum required for the completion of the work ?
The CHAIRMAN said there were 430 feet yet to do. The
estimate made by Mr. Walker was 3501. per foot for the first
portion, 2501. per foot for the second portion, and 150/. per foot
for the third portion. If the distance was divided into three
proportions of about 150 feet each, that would be near the mark.
In addition to this there would be the descents, so that the ex-
pense would 60,0001. or 70.0001. more.
Mr. SwExT said the toll raised on Waterloo-bridge was from
12,0001. to 14,000/. a year, and that bridge had a free one on
each side of it. There would be no bridge within two miles
of the tunnel, and consequently the profits might reasonably be
expected to be considerably larger.
lIANKEY inquired whether the difficulties to the pro-
gress of the work had been lessened, or remained much the same
as at the last meeting ?
The CHAIRMAN said they had been very decidedly lessened.
Mr. J. W. Buckle, Mr. Hawes, M.P., and Mr. J. Brown,
the retiring Directors, were then re-elected.
The thanks of the meeting having been voted to the Direc-
tors and to the Chairman, and duly acknowledged, the proceed-
ings terminated.

TEMPEST.—COACII BLOWN OVER,—Thurs-
day last was one of the most tempestuous days ever wit-
nessed here, and a number of trees have been thrown down
in various parts of the country. As the hearse and mourn-
ing coaches employed at the funeral of the late Duchess
of Suthcrland were returning from Golspie, one of the
coaches with four horses was literally blown off the road, the
horses yielding first to the fury of the blast. There were
four men with the coach, one of whom on the outside at-

tempted to leap off and had his ankle sprained; the other
three escaped with the loss of their hats. The panels of
the coach were broken, and the pole snapped asunder in
three pieces. The accident took place near Ardgay.
The weather still continues exceedingly boisterous, and
there is a considerable depth of snow on the Highland
road. The mails have been very irregular, but the de-
tention has been generally south of Edinburgh.—lnverness

Paper.
Last week, as the Erin steamer, from Ire-
lana, was coming up our river she ran foul of the bows
of the Palmerston, which was on her passage to Swansea;
by the collision, the latter vessel was stranded, and so
much injured that she could not be got off until the next
tide. We understand she must go into dock and undergo
some repairs, when she will again resume her station.
CESAREAN OPEItATION EXTRAORDINARY.
—Yesterday afternoon the celebrated mare Merry Lass,
the property of Mr. Edward Newbegin, of Ryton, while
in a field near to that gentleman's house, attempted to leap
a gate ; but a sharp stake caught her in the breast, and
the poor animal ripped up to her hind quarters. She was
in foal by the high-bred horse Woodlark, belonging to
Mr. Pile, of the Fellside ; and the foal, together with the
entrails of the mare, was found on the ground near the
gate by one of Mr. Newbcgin's son.—Gateshead Observer.
GRAVE SECRETS.—In the course of an au-
smelt case heard at the Thames Police-office on Friday,
wherein a Dissenting Minister, who is also the lessee of a
burying-ground) and an undertaker were concerned, some
of the secrets of the trade came out. Among other
things it was stated that it was cutomary to use the mou'd
from graves as exceEent for the growth of geraniums in
flower- pots.
REPRESENTATION OF NORTH 'DEVON.—
The political events of the past week, as unexpected as
they were gratifying to every true Devonian, have with.
drown Lord Ebrington from the county representation, and
pl,ced Mr. Buller, of Downes, as a candidate to succeed
hi> Lordship in that distinguished post. But we are told
that Mr. Buller is to be opposed by Mr. Buck. Sir Tre-
vor Wheeler, a gentleman who rents some land in the
county, but who does not own a single acre in it, as we
tave been informed, has, with a chivalrous gallantry worthy
of his knightly title, put his name at the head of an ad-
,lress calling on Mr. Buck to stand forward and represent
him, the acreless Sir Trevor, and others of the forlorn
h r pc that follow so gallant a leadership.— Western Times.

TURNPIKES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sta,—My object in addressing you is, to draw the
attention of the public to the arbitrary powers delegated
to Turnpike Trustees, with a view to an amendment of
the Turnpike law.
The powers to which I more especially refer, are the
powers of erecting additional toll gates, of making
diversions, and of stopping up the old roads. The power
vested in Trustees of erecting toll-gates, and advancing
or reducing the tolls, gives them a most despotic power
of taxation. I know a recent instance in which the tolls
of a turnpike, besides keeping the road in repair, and
paying all other outgoings, produced a surplus revenue of
b,2tween 2,000/. and 3,000/. a year, the Trustees of which
erected an additional toll-gate so as to catch the inhabi-,
tants of a particular township on their way to market ;
whereby they laid a tax of about fifty pounds a year on
that township, in opposition to strong remonstrances,
and at a time when their duty to the public loudly
demanded a reduction of the tolls on the
whole line of road included in their trust. What their
reason fir this proceeding was is not for me to say. I
am sure it was not to pay off the debts of the trust, for
those the Trustees are more inclined to increase than
diminish. Possibly it might be to make partial and
extravagant diversions of the road, to the serious
detriment of other men's interests ; or perhaps the
Trustees had a mind to tax the inhabitants of
that particular township. Flow this might be I
cannot tell, but that the inhabitants of that township
were taxed by a most unjust and tyrannical exercise of
power is certa►n.

The power which Turnpike Trustees possess of divert-
ing the road is also liable to great abuse. It is not an un-
common occurrence for Trustees to divert roads, after
persons depentlng on the traffic, have erected buildings
and established shops on the road, in which case
the diversion ruins the trade of all of them, and
frequently reduces their buildings to one-half their for-
mer value, and sometimes less. And that is not all,
for the old road from which the traffic is diverted may
be stopped up an;: sold, and that which was an aecom-
modeion may be converted into a nuisance.

This is enough to show that a check upon these
powers ought to exist somewhere. In the case of high-
ways no stoppage can take place without a Magistrate's
order, against which parties aggrieved have a right to
appeal, and some controulling power ought to be con-
stituted, to which parties aggrieved by Turnpike Trus-
tees can appeal. Not that I think the Highway Law
is perfect. I do not. I would have the interposition
of a Jury in all these cases which the Highway Law
does not afford, but still it is infinitely superior to the
Turnpike Law, whereby most things are referred to the
discretion of the Trustees,whieh unfortunately often liads
to very improper results.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant.
- OBSERVER.

LOVING MAIDS AND FALSE

LOVERS.

[We insert the following at the request of one deeply
interested.]
Mistrust the youth, with look cast docih,
Who shuns to meet the eve,
Lest it should sink deep in his soul,
And read It) pocrisy.
Alt many are his winning ways,
The fair sex to beguile ;
Approach him not, or you are lost,
There's poison in his smile.
I lov'd him once, he won my heart ;
I thought be lov'd again ;
But when he knew I lov'd so true,
lie trifled with my pain.
Take warning all ye lovely fair,
From one he's left in sad despair;
And should the cast down look appear,
Alt ! turn away fur very fear.
Feb. 25, 1839.

L. D.

BARBA RIT Y.—On Tuesday a long investigation
took place in the Town-hall, before Charles Lane and
Thomas I'oovey, Esqrs., County Magistrates, on a charge
of cruelty by a parent to his child. From the evidence
adduced, it appeared that the person, John Davis, of
Hockey-lane, in the parish of Greys, patten and clog-
maker, had been in the continual habit of beating his little
girl (by a farmer %site), about 12 years of age, for some
time past ; several persoas gave evidence as to seeing the
child beaten at various times, and that frequently the poor
thing had born heard to cry "murder." On the afternoon
of the 2d of February, lie threw a bowl of hot water over
the child's neck, scalding it in a shocking manner, and
dredged the wound with flour,.covering it with a blue cot-
ton handkerchief. He proceeded to L ndon that night,
leaving her in bed alone in tho house, and did not return
till late the ensuing evening. The child, in the meantime,
suffering from the p in, went the next day to Mrs. Pig.
den, at Shepherd's Green, where her wound was dressed,
and where she bad been taken care of since. The prose-
cution was at the instigation of the Guardians of the parish,
who have behaved most feelingly in the case. Ultimately
Davies was held to bail, himself in 1001., and two sureties
of 501. each, to tr.ke his trial for the misdemeanour, at the
ensuing (Word As,izes. —Reading Mercury.

POLITICAL EXCITEMENT AMONG THE ie A -
nies.—At one period of her life, Lady Huntingdon ap-
pears to have been much occupied with political questions.
Her sentiments were conformable with those of Sir Robert
Walpole and his administration ; and she was much con-
nected with the courtiers of that day. A little incident
which occurred at this period will serve to mark the na-
tural ardour of her character. There were some stormy
debates in the House of Lords, in May, 1733, on the de-
predations of the Spaniards, in which Lord Huntingdon,
Lord Hervey, and others-of his intimate friends, took a
leading part. Her Ladyship expressed -her' intention' of
being present, though ladies were excluded"; "At the
last warm debate in the House of Lords," says Lady
Mary Wortley- Montagu, "it was unanimously resolved
there should be no unnecessary auditors ; consequently the
fair sex were excluded, and the gallery destined to
the sole use of the House of Commons. Notwithstand-
ing which determination, a tribe of dames resolved to
show on this occasion that neither men nor laws
could resist them. These heroines were Lady Hunting-
don, the Duchess of Queensberry, the Duchess of An-
caster, Lady Westmoreland, Lady Cobham, Lady Char-
lotte Edwin, Lady Archibald Hamilton and her daughter
Mrs. Scott, 111, s. Pendarves, and Lady Frances Saunder-
son. lam thus particular in their names, since I looked
upon them to be the boldest asscrters and moat resigned
sufferers for liberty I ever read of. They presented them-
selves at the door at nine o'clock in the morning, when Sir
William Saunderson respectfully informed them that the
Chancellor had made an order against their admittance.
The Duchess of Queensberry, as head of the squadron,
" pished" at the ill-breeding of a mere lawyer, and desired
Sir William to let them up stairs privately. After
some modest refusals, he swore he would not admit them.
Her Grace, with a noble warmth, answered they would come
in in spite of the Chancellor and the whole house. This being
reported, the Peers resolved to starve them out ; an order
was made that the doors should not be opened till they had
raised their siege. These Amazons now shooed themselves
qualified for the duty even of foot soldiers; they stood
there till five in the afternoon, without sustenance, every
now and then plying volleys of thumps, kicks, and raps,
with so much violence against the door that the speakers
in the House were scarce heard. When the Lords were
not conquered by this, the two Duchesses (very,well apprised
of the use of stratagems in war) commanded a silence of
half an hour; and the Chancellor, who thought this a
certain proof of their absence (the Commons also being
very impatient to enter), gave orders for the opening ofe
the door, upon which they all rushed in, pushed aside their
competitors, and placed themselves in the front rows of the
gallery. They stayed there till after eleven, when the
House rose; and during the debate gave applause, and
showed marks of dislike, not only by smiles and winks
(which have always been allowed in those cases), but by
noisy laughs and apparent contempt, which is supposed
the true reason why poor Lord Hervey spoke so miserably.
—Life and Times of the Countess of Huntingdon, Part I.
We are sorry to hear of the death of General
Burnett, at his seat, Banchory-lodge in Kincardineshire,
on the 26th February, in the 78th year of his age. General
Burnett was many years in the 14th Regiment of foot.
both in home and foreign service, and long commanded
that corps, and was universally respected both as a military
man and in private life. He was one of the A. D. C. of
King George 111.
CURIOUS TRIAL.—On Friday, in the Court of
Queen's Bench, an action was brought by a Mr. Barsham,
against the Sheriff of Essex, to recover the amount of three
penalties of 50/. each, under the statute of 32 George IL,
intituled " An Act for the Relief of Debtors, as respects
the Imprisonment of their Persons." It appeared from the
statement of Sir F. Pollock that the plaintiff was some
time ago taken in execution, at the suit of a creditor, by a
sheriff's officer, and conducted in the first instance to the
house of the latter, and, as the officer was proceeding with
the plaintiff to Chelmsford gaol, he begged to be taken to
a public house at Chelmsford instead of to the gael, in or-
der that he might make some arrangement with his credi-
tor. Accordingly, the sheriff's officer conducted the plain-
tiff to the Saracen's Head, at Chelmsford, where an ar-
rangement was effected with the creditor, and he was li-
berated. There were three counts in the declaration,
grounded upon the enactments of the statute referred to,
upon each of which the plaintiff now sought to recover the
penalty of 50/. ; first, that he was taken to prison within
twenty-four hours from the time of his arrest ; secondly,
that he was taken to the house of the sheriff's officer with-
out his consent; and, thirdly, that he was taken to a vic-
tualling house against his will, all of which are prohibited
by the Act, under penalties to be recovered from thesberiff.
Lord Denman thought there must be a verdict for the de-
fendant on each of the two first counts, and for the plaintiff
on the third count, as he must be considered as having been
under duresse when he was taken to the Saracen's Head
public house, at Chelmsford. The jury, after a short con-
sultation, found as his Lordship directed—namely, for the
defendant on each of the first two counts, and for the plain-
tiff on the third co ant.
NOBODY.—Every ones experience must have
convinced him that there is no such arrant rascal in exist.
once as Nobody I The fellow is never easy but when in
mischief. Is a street door left on the jar at midnight—a
plate chest ransacked—a jewel box stolen or mislaid—a
window broken—an orchard robl2d—or a slander spread
abroad, ten to one Nobody is the guilty party. Of all the
offences that are daily committed against society, one-
half at least are committed by this incorrigible scamp.
Blackwood's Magazine for March.
The Lords of the Treasury have issued a
warrant, taking from Lfraeoieilm the character of a sepa-
rate port, and uniting it 213 creek to the port of Barn-
s aple.— West of England Consertayieve
•

EVENING EDITION.

PRICE OF
.SUGAR.

EFFECT OF THE MONOPOLY.

Table showing the ex-duty price of West India-Sugar in :If ir c-
ing.lane, and comparing the same against foreign sugars :
London, March 9, 18:19.
The last Gazette quotes the average price of British Per cwt.
Plantation Muscovado Sugar, exclusive of duty, at ... 38s. Gd
Muscovado Sugars raised by free labour in the Manilla
and other parts east of the Cape of Good Hope are
worth frem 235. to 255. per cwt. this week, being
about 14s. per cwt. less than the average price of West
India Sugar.
Refined Sugar equal in quality to double refined is worth In the
home market, exclusive of bounty, 425. 6d. per cwt. As the Dutch
and Belgian refiners have free access to all descriptions of Sugar,
they are enabled to supply foreign purchasers at Amsterdam or
at Antwerp, with Sugar of like quality at 345. per cwt., consequently
the export trade hence In Refined Sugar is annihilated.
The prevailing opinion in Mincing-lane is, that, if the West India
Monopoly is not broken through, British Plantation will be, on or
before the Ist September next, 50s. per cwt., exclusive of the duty
of 245. per cwt. yhis opinion is based on the lnteliigence lately re-
ceived from Javica, Demarara, and other Plantations, complainin7
on the part of the white man that the black will not work, and on
the part ef the black man that the white will not pay him wages ado_
quota to the labour required for the cult vation of Sugar. From these
causes, it is supposed by many West Indians that Jamaica will not
ship snore than 26,000 hhds. against 69,200 last year, and that the
diminution in the export from Demerara will be less in 1539 than
1538 by 25,000 hhds.
British Treacle is worth 9s. per cwt. in the foreign markets.
The same has beztn sold, duty free, this week in London, at :31s. per
cwt., being an ev:ess in price ef 225. per cwt. paid by the poor man
towards West India Bounty, and not towards revenue.
COFFICE.—The duty which protects British Plantation Coffe,
against the competition of Foreign Coffee amounts to about 250 per
cent. ad valorem against foreign Coffee.
We have already shown by figures that the gain to the West In
dians, and the consequent loss to the nation by the monopoly in Co-
lonial produce, amounts to 4,210,0001. per annum, so that besides
the 20,000,0001. compensation money, and the interest thereon, the
nation will have paid, since 1833, another 20,000,0001. to the quon.
dam slave owners.