The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-16 00:00:00

STEAM MEN-OF-WAR.

We have lately been at ,orne pains to ascertain the
progress and estimate to the present extent, of steam
power in the United Kingdom and its dependencies,
and the result of our inquiries is most gratifying arid
satisfactory. The increase of steam vessels in the Royal
Navy is remarkable, not only on account of their aug-
mented size and locomotive power, but their heavy ar-
mament, improved form, capacity for stowage, and in-
creased speed ; whilst their performances under canvas
are little, if at all, inferior to the best sailing ships.
On reference to the Navy List for January, 18:30,
we find but eight steam-vessels described, and one only
(the Dee, building) calculated for war—the others,
namely, African, Carron, Columbia, Confiance, Echo,
Lightning, and Meteor (all still existing), being, except-
ing the Columbia of 361 tons, small vessels under 200
tons, and of 100-horse power, and principally employed
as packets in the Mediterranean.
We have now, in 1839, no less than thirty-three
steam-vessels of war, besides thirty-eight employed in
the Packet Service, exclusive of hired steam-vessels,
making altogether seventy-one, some of which are up-
wards of 1,000 tons and 400-horse power, armed with
heavy guns of great range, and capable of combating
with any description of force that can be met afloat ;
and this splendid Steam Navy, which has attained to
its present extent in such a short period, is capable of
transporting an army of 10,000 men to the Continent,
or, if need be, across the Atlantic, at any time when
such a proceeding might be deemed necessary.
We find by the report of the Commissioners ap-
pointed by the Board of Trade—Captain Pringle, R.E.,
and Mr. Parkes—that the total number of vessels, of
all sizes and classes, propelled by steam, belonging to
the United Kingdom and the Colonies, amounts to 810,
the registered tonnage being 87,907 ; to which add
the tonnage of the engine-room, not registered, 69,933 ;
making altogether 157,840 tons, impelled by 63,250
horse power.—Naval and Military Gazette.

THE DANGER OF TALKING
SCANDAL BEFORE A PARROT.

(From the Naturalist.)
Many years ago I was acquainted with a tipling physi-
cian in Germany, and as that worthy gentleman has long
since been " numbered with his fathers," I believe the fol-
lowing circumstance may be narrated without fear of
bringing down an action for libel on the editor of the
Naturalist, even supposing I had mentioned names. I
was one evening at a party composed of ladies and gentle-
men of various countries, and where scandal seemed to
form as regular food for the inmates of the house as in
any small country town in England. My friend Dr. ll—,
who was addicted to the one great vice I have mentioned,
of course always came in for his full share of abuse, and on
the evening in ques:ion the remarks on his weakness were
free and loud. I beheld a " talking parrot" in one corner of
the saloon ; and, remembering our English volumes con-
taining legions of parrot-anecdotes, I could not but fear that
some day or another mischief would result from the outpour-
ings of its throat. Though a talking parrot, however, it
appeared to be in a listening mood. Well, in course of
time Dr. H— was duly announced by the servant, and
while the man of medicine was stalking through the pas-
sage, some one observed in joke that two bowls of punch
would be required now that the physician had arrived. The
parlour door was thrown open, Dr. H-- was again an-
nounced, and all were on the eve of giving him as warm a
greeting as if he were the bosom friend of each individual
present, when wicked poll, in his loudest key, shouted
out—" Two bowls will be required for Dr. H--, two
bowls will be required for Dr. H , Dr. H and six
bottles for ever 1" &c. In short, the parrot was perfectly
elated by the appearance of my friend, and he continued
to vociferate the above and other complimentary phrases
for several minutes without intermission. Reader 1 spare
me the task of relating what ensued. Suffice it to add,
that the D .ctor never again set foot in that house, that no
individual then present ever enjoyed his further friendship,
and that, in an hour's time, every person of any respect-
ability (1) in the town had heard how the Doctor had been
put to confusion by a bird. But enough of parrots for
the present.

Our readers will observe that the subscriptions
for the relief of the surviving sufferers by the late colliery
explosion, have been considerably augmented since our
last. The committee we understand have determined
to allow each widow 3s. a-week, and for each child (not at
work) Is. 6d. per week.—Tyne
The Ayrshire Examiner observes that the
electors of the Kilmarnock district of Burghs have got
another opportunity of helping the country. Mr. Spiers
of Culcreuch, once the Member for Paisley—an old and
consistent Reformer—has come forward at the request of
the electors, to help them to become once more politically
free.

HEALTH OF THE METROPOLIS.—In the
course of an inquest held on Friday before Mr. Wakley,
relative to the death of a woman who lied died from
the effects of intoxication, and in a state of great filthi-
ness, the surgeon under examination remarked that he was
surprised that a place populated like London was so free
from typhus and other contagious diseases. In the
lower neighbourhoods, although the apartments and every
thing about them betokened the greatest filthiness, the in-
habitants enjoyed excellent health. In Edinburgh, although
in such an elevated position, contagious diseases were treble
in number : and in France a case like that they had before
them would not have existed three days under the surveil-
lance of the French police. Mr. Wakley observed
that he believed London, generally speaking, was the
most healthy spot in all England, for the filthiness and
other causes in many parts of it were sufficient to create a
plague. When he was one of the churchwardens of St.
Giles's parish, himself arid colleagues paid some nocturnal
visits to what was called the " Rookery." On one occa-
sion they found a scene of the greatest filthiness and mi-
sery. There was no less a number than 52 persons, men,
women, and children, huddled together indiscriminately in
the same room, for which they had to pay one halfpenny
per night. The air was of a most disagreeable and offen-
sive nature, and there were many other places in the same
neighbourhood where it was common for persons to assem-
ble together in a similar manner.

SHARP SWAPPING.—A very large number of
sharpers have visited Leeds during the fair, who have
been unusually dexterous and successful in an old system
of plunder, termed sharp swapping. The practice is for
one of a party of swindlers to ask the price of a country-
man's horse, of considerable value ; they then place a
glandered horse, of little or no value, as near to the: other
as possible • the pretended buyer then offers an enormous
price for the worthless animal, but it is refused ; he next
proposes to the countryman, that if he will swap his horse
for the other, he will take him at the price which he has
previously bidden ; but no sooner does the exchange take
place than the pretended purchaser absconds. After de-
ceiving the man, one of the heartless villains goes and in-
forms him that be is glandered, that, he is liable to a heavy
fine fur exposing such an infectious animal in the market,
and that if observed by the police, the horse will be shot.
In one instance a horse worth 201. was exchanged under
these pretences, and actually bought back again by another
of the party for 40s.—Leeds Intelligencer.
We regret to have to mention a serious accident

to the Leominster and Kington Mail, when on its way to
this city ( Worcester) on Wednesday afternoon last. The
fresh horses had been put to for the last stage, at the usual
house near Sapey Bridge, when, shortly after, in approach.
ing the turnpike at that place, one of the wheelers became un-
tractable, and, despite of the utmost endeavours of the driver,
brought the coach in contact with the gate-post on the off
side, the result of which was that the po!e snapped asunder,
and the coach was burled over with frightful violence. We
lament to say that one of the passengers, the Rev. John
Hill, of Oxfordshire, who was on his return home from a
visit at Leominster, has met with a very severe injury by the
accident. It seems this gentleman occupied the box seat,
and the coach in going over fell upon him, the consequence
of which was the fracture of the pelvis, besides injuries in the
chest, and the unfortunate sufferer now lies at the Inn at
Sapey Bridge, in a very distressing state, although it is
hoped he may ultimately recover. Mullis, the guard, was
also considerably bruised about the head and parts of the
body ; he was enabled, however, to come on with the bags ;
it seems this makes the sixteenth time he has experienced
an upset since occupying the guard box, but states that he
never before was so shaken as on the present occasion.
There was one other outside passenger, who escaped unhurt,
as did two ladies inside, one of whom had an infant at her
breast. Mason, the coachman, to whom not the slightest
blame appears to attach, was also very slightly Injured.--
Worcester Herald.

The Bishop of Hereford intended to have voted
with the Government on the Education question, and gave
his proxy to the Bishop of Ely, fully expecting it would
be used in favour of that measure. He was not a little
surprised and mortified on finding his name left out of the
division. The Bishop of Ely voted himself in the majority,
and allowed his Right Rev. Brother to appear as willing
to wound and yet afraid to strike at the measure of which
he cordially approved.
We are glad to announce that the St. Hilda
pit is now in working order, and that the men whose lives
were
spared by t7h.yenelapteileoxtp.losion have all resumed their
—. employment.
The Earl of Belmore is very much indisposed,
having been attacked on Friday week, after dinner, with a
severe fit of paralysis. His Lordship is at his scat in the
county of Fermanagh.
The Leeds Intelligencer, refers ing to the pro-
ceedings that have recently taken place at Birmingham,
writes :—" The London police seem to have been sent
down unconstitutionally, and employed illegally. It does
not appear that the men were siv:,rn in as special con-
stables before they acted ; and if this were not done, a
great error has been fallen into, the consequences of which
will he heard of hereaftes. It is curious, too, to find the old
agitatorsof Birmingham, in their capacity of Russell Corpo-
rators, sitting in judgment upon their disciples and quondam
companions ! Lord John Russell is trying hard to give us
a gendarmerie ; a standing army, without the control of
the Crown, to be wielded at the Home Office. There
may be occasional advantages in this species of ' force ;'
but the advantages are greatly outweighed by the constitu-
tional invasion, and the danger of giving the Home Secre-
tary a power of control in every district of the country.
The people are highly interested in counteracting the
scheme; and the Magistracy, if wise and prudent, will
look to it ere it be too late."
The Dublin Evening Post likens the Session to
a wounded snake ; " Like a wounded snake, the Sesiion
is dragging its slow length along—it will proceed until the
end of the month, when Lords and Gentlemen will be
thanked for all they have done, and dismissed with a vale-
dictory compliment to their respective counties. Never,
we believe, was there such a Session." Our Contempo-
rary thinks that as " things have come to a dead lock,"
and that parties are imprac:icable, a war seems the only
event left which might bring the powers that be to their
senses.

GENTLEMEN'S ELEGANT FLAT GOLD
WATCHES are offered, price Nine Guineas each, of a size
suited to wear in the waistcoat pocket, engine turned cases, hard
enamel dial, and hand to mark the seconds. The movements are
on the celebrated horizontal constrrtctien, with going fuzee to
continue going while winding, jewelled, &e., and warranted at
T. COX SAVORY'S,
Watchmaker, &c., Ne. 47, Cornhill (Seven doors from
Gracechurch-street ), London.
N.B. Second-hand Watches, Plate, Stc. purchased in exchange.

PLATE.—A. B. SAVORY and SONS Manu-
facturing Silversmiths, No. 14, Cornhill, London (opposite
the Bank of England ). The best wrought FIDDLE PATTERN
SPOONS and FORKS, at is. 2d. per ounce. The following
are the weights recommended, but the articles may be hail
lighter or heavier, at the same price per ounce.

- -
Oz. s. of. X. s. d-
-12 Fiddle Pattern Silver Table Spoons 90 at 7 2... 10 5 4
2 ditto Dessert ditto `9O 7 2... 7 3 0
12 0 •tto 'fable Forks 3O 7 2...10 15 0
12 ditto Dessert ditto 20 7 2... 7 3 4
2 ditto Gravy Spoons lO 7 a... 3 11 S
1 ditto Soup Ladle 10 7 2... 3 11 8
4 ditto Sauce ditto lO 7 I._ 3 16 e'.
4 ditto Salt Spoons (gilt strong) 1 0 0
1 ditto Fish Slice
12 ditto Tea Spoons lO 7 6... 3 111 5
1 pair ditto Sugar Tongs (strong)
A Pamphlet containing detailed Lists of the Prices of
various Patterns of Silver Spoons and Forks, Silver Tea and
Coffee Ser- vices, and of the different articles of Plated Ware,
may he had on application, or will be sent into the eountr,'
in answer to a paid letter ; the Plate Booms of this Este:
blishment contain a large selection of every article requisite to
complete a service.