The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-30 00:00:00

STEAM POWER.

FORTII AND CLYDE CANAL,—.Every attempt
hitherto made to construct steam vessels adapted for
canal navigation has signally failed, and the proposition
may be considered as long ago abandoned. The prac-
ticability, however, of applying locomotive steam power
to canal conveyance has been fully proved. A single
line of rails, about a mile in length, was lately construct-
ed on the banks of the Forth and Clyde Canal, near
Lock Sixteen, and a steam carriage, the " Victoria,"
having been brought for the purpose, the interesting ex-
periment was made on Wednesday last with the utmost
promise. Every thing having been prepared and in
readiness, the first of the fly-boats from Edinburgh,
containing about ninety passengers, besides luggage,
was taken in tow in gallant style. The arrange-
ments for the novel trial were wholly unex-
pected on the part of the passengers, among
whom no small degree of curiosity and excite-
ment prevailed when apprized of the circumstance. The
experiment was conducted under the superintendence of
Mr. M'Neil, consulting engineer to the Company, and
Mr. Johnston, canal director. A great many people
were attracted to the spot. Immediately on the rope
being attached, the engine was proceeding at a rapid
pace, when the cord (an old one) unfortunately broke.
It was speedily adjusted, however ; but coming in con-
tact with a curb-stone, it again gave way, and some little
time was lost until a new one was procured. This having
been done, the remainder of the line was traversed at a
speed of nearly twenty miles an hour, the boat going
through the water with the greatest safety, and
with less vibration than by the common mode
of towing. On stopping at the end of the rails,
the passengers signified their approval by a round of
hearty cheers, their only regret apparently being
that they had not the advantage of such a power
to tow them on to Port Dundas. Throughout Wed-
nesday and the following day, we understand, the
Victoria continued to tow the other vessels passing and
repassing in a similar manner, and with the utmost suc-
cess. The engine was only calculated for about
eighteen or twenty miles an hour ; but the result showed
that the usual railway speed might be obtained and
practised without danger. The trial thus made is in
every sense an important one, and calculated to effect
a great and invaluable change in canal transit. At
present the haulage of boats is performed by horses, the
rates of speed being for the heavy sloops and brigs in
the London, Dundee, and other trades, about 11 to 2
miles per hour, when drawn by 2 or 5 horses, accord-
ing to the state of the weather, and for the swift
or passenger boats between 7 and 8 miles per hour, on
an average, when drawn by two horses. By the appli-
cation of locomotive power, the Union Canal might be
traversed in 2 hours, and the Forth and Clyde Canal
in 14, instead of 4 hours and 31 as at present, and this
by assuming 16 miles per hour, though more might
easily be performed. As one engine could draw at least
six heavily loaded vessels, requiring by the present sys-
tem from 18 to 24 horses, an immense saving would
accrue to the Company, while the public would be pro-
portionally benefited by the increased facility of con-
veyance. The expense of laying the rails will be trifling.
compared with the formation of other railways, the
banks of the canal already forming a level sufficiently
broad for at least a single line.—Ayr Observer.

FIRE.—On Wednesday morning, between twelve
and one o'clock, a fire was discovered in the counting-
house of Messrs. Davies and Brothers, opticians, No. 209,
High Holborn, which soon communicated to the work-
shops of Messrs. Scoles and King's coach-manufactory.
By the prompt arrival of the fire-engines the fire was sub-
dued in about an hour and a half. Damage to the amount
of about 6001. has been sustained.

MANSLAUGHTER.—On Wednesday afternoon
an inquest was held before Mr. Payne, at the sign of
the George, Beech-lane, Finsbur.7, on the body of Mary
Ann Martin, an infant, aged two years and eight months,
who, it was alleged, met its death in consequence of re-
peated acts of ill-treatment of a man named Wallis, a
shoemaker. It appeared, from the evidence of a great
many witnesses, that the mother of the child has coha-
bited with Wallis. since October last, at No. 59, Lower
Whitecross-street. On Monday three weeks, during the
absence of the mother, Wallis beat the deceased in a
most violent manner, and the poor child was heard to
cry again on Saturday morning last by the landlady of
the house. On the same night she was seized with
convulsions. Mr. Wm. Cordon, of No. 54, nedcro ss -
street, surgeon, was sent for, and promptly attended ; but
the child expired at twelve o'clock on Monday night. A
post mortem examination of the body was subsequently
made, when there was found an extensive effusion of blood
on the surface of the brain, and between both hemis-
pheres of the brain there were traces of great inflam-
mation and an effusion of pus, which was quite sufficient
to destroy life. The injuries must have been caused
from great violence. The jury, after a long consultation,
returned a verdict of " Manslaughter against Wm. Wal-
lis," who was brought into the room and committed on the
coroner's warrant to take his trial at the next sitting of the
Central Criminal Court.

THE QUEEN AND WESTALL TIIE ARTIST,
HER MAJESTY'S PRECEPTOR.-On his death-bed (he had
been hunted from his own house by the lowest attorneys,
extortioners, and sheriff's men,) he wrote to the Princess
(who had not then ascended the throne), and told her that
he had a blind sister dependent on him for support, that he
was dying, and had no means with which to provide for
her, and solicited her Majesty's protection. The Queen's
answer was immediate, containing words of sympathy and
sincere regret, and saying that she had settled hence-
forth on his bereaved sister 1001. a-year for life. Let the
deed be registered in every English heart.—British and
Foreign Review.

96,CHEAPSIDE,AND 39, ALBEMARLE-STREET,
PICCADILLY.-The Messrs. S. and 13. Solomons, Opticans
and Aurists to the Royal Family, are happy to inform the
Public that, after thirty years'practice, they have succeeded
in effecting a most important improvement for Deafnessland
Defective Vision. Their invisible Voice Conductor is
constructed upon such a principle, that when fixed in the
ears it is not perceived, and in company most severe cases
of deafness are not in the least percept:ble. The Messrs.
Solomons are highly gratified to find that numerous indi-
viduals of the highest respectability are daily calling to
express their feelings of gratitude for the great benefit
they have derived. Their newly invented Spectacle
Lenses give immediate relief to weak, dim, and imperfect
vision. It is particularly necessary to observe that the
Messrs. S. have no connection with persons of the same
name, nor with any one who have and who are daily en-
deavouring to imitate them ; their valuable improvements
in the material are secret to themselves, and are solely
confined to their establishment, 39, Albomarle-street, and
96, Cheapside. No travellers are employed.
NEW PUBLICATIONS.—We are requested to
state that Mr. Colburn, of Great Marlborough.street, has
published, during .he present month, the following new
works, which can be had of all Booksellers:—.l. Mr.
Darwin's Journal of his researches into the Natural History
and Geology of the various countries visited by H. M. S.
Beagle, 1 vol. Bvo., 18s. bound.-2. Morton of Morton's
Hope, an Autobiography, 3 vols, post Bvo.-3. Captains
King and Fitzroy's Narrative of the ten years' voyages of
H. M. S. Adventure and Beagle, 2 vole., Bvo., with an
Appendix, by Major Sabine, with Maps, Charts, and up.
wards of 60 illustrations by Landseer, &c., 21. 18s. bound.
—4. Mrs. Gore's Courtier of the Days of Charles IL,
3 vols. post Bvo.-5. Mr. Theodore Hook's Third Series
of Sayings and Doings, complete for 62., with Portrait of
the Author, &c., bound, forming the new volume of Col,
burn's Standard Novelists.

Yesterday a little girl while walking along th e
wooden float which leads to the steamboat pier at Black-
friars-bridge, slipped and fell into the river. A young man
in attempting to save her was carried beyond his depth,
and with great difficulty reached shore. The girl sunk
and was lost sight of for some time, when a waterman, by
means of a boat-hook, with which he caught her clothes,
raised her head above water and held her till another with
his boat came and saved her. Life appeared to be nearly
extinct when she was carried ashore, but in a very short
time she revived. The approach to the pier is by no means
safe for children, and something should be done to prevent
similar accidents.

A FRIENDLY ACT.-On Wednesday, at the
Mansion House, a respectable man named Lewis was
charged with being drunk. It appeared that he had been
dining with some friends at the Saracen's Head, when he
became inebriated and insisted on going home; as, how-
ever, he had nearly 3001. with him he was advised to stay
at the inn, and on his refusal his friends gave him into
custody. The Lord Mayor said that the defendant ought
to be thankful to his friends for what they had done; but
he appeared to be quite the contrary. He was fined 10s.
The West Pennard cheese, intended as a present
to the Queen, and made on the anniversary of her Majes-
ty's coronation, weighs 10 cwt.