The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-12 00:00:00

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

Mr. Bright, M.P., has sent the following reply to an
invitation to be present at a preliminary meeting, to bo
held in the Manchester Athenaeum, No. 10, room, on
Monday next, October 10, at 4 o'clock prompt, to con-
sider the propriety of holding a public meeting in Man-
chester, to denounce the conduct of Russia, and to
encourage the British Government to protect the inte-
rests and preserve the integrity of Turkey.

" Rochdale, Oct. 10, 1853.
"Dear Sir,—l have your circular calling a meeting on
the Eastern question.
" I can conceive nothing more unwise than to endea-
vour to excite public- opinion to drive the Government
into a war with Russia in defence of Turkey. If such a
war should be undertaken, I believe our children and
posterity will judge us precisely as we now judge those
who involved this country in war with the American
colonies and with France—with this difference only,
that we shall be held to be so much more guilty, inasmuch
as, having had the blunders and crimes of our forefathers
to warn us and to guide us, we shall have wilfully shut
our eyes to the lesson which their unfortunate policy has
left us. Manchester and the two millions of people in its
district will, I hope and believe, regard those men as
their worst enemies who by any act at this moment shall
weaken the efforts of Lord Aberdeen to preserve the
peace of Europe. If men would let their reason guide
them rather than their feelings, I am sure the pressure
of public opinion would be for peace, and not for war.
War will not save Turkey, if peace cannot save her ; but
war will brutalize our people, increase our taxes, destroy
our industry, and postpone the promised Parliamentary
reform, it may be for many years.
" I cannot attend your meeting, but I send you some
of my Tiews on the Eastern question.
" I am very respectfully,
"JOHN BRIGHT.
"J. W. Hudson, Esq., Athenaeum,

Manchester."

ROYAL HIBERNIAN MINING COMPANY.—The annual
meeting of the Royal Hibernian Mining Company took
place yesterday afternoon, when the report and accounts
were adopted. The paid-up capital was stated to be
5,468/., and the expenditure 2,8551., showing► a balance
of 2,6131. The properties worked comprise the Castle-
maine, Lisoline, and the Clogher mines, the latter of
which at present alone exhibits any favourable prospect.
The report of the resident captain was satisfactory, but
that of an inspecting captain, who had visited the mines
a few months previously, advised caution in the further
outlay of capital. The works at Castlemaine and Liso-
line have been temporarily suspended, but those at
Clogher are being pushed forward. The majority of the
directors proposed a continuance of operations, but one
dissented from the views of his colleagues, considering
that the balance would be frittered away without a pro-
fitable result. At length it was determined to reduce
the number of directors, it being also understood that
no increase of expenditure shall be incurred or call made
without the sanction of a special meeting.
THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE GREAT WESTERN
RAILWAY'S NEW ENGINE-HOUSE.—Yesterday Mr. T.
Wakley held an inquest on the body of John Dring,
aged 23, a labourer, who was killed on Saturday even-
ing last by the fall of some principal of a new engine-
house in course of erection at Kensal-green. A great
quantity of evidence was taken to show that the best
materials had been employed, and that no reasonable
precaution to prevent the disaster had been omitted.
The coroner said there never was a clearer case of acci-
dent, and a verdict to that effect was immediately
returned.

THE SEWING MACHINE.--Messrs. Nicholson, of St.
Paul's Churchyard, have introduced the new sewing
machines into their establishment for cloak and mantle-
making. The needlewomen of Bath-street work-room
refused to work the machine, and about fifty of the
senior hands were discharged. About 1,000 female
workers are now employed by the firm, and there has
not yet been auy strike among them. Although the
machine will do a great deal of work, yet there are
various details connected with this branch to which it
cannot be applied.
TILE STAMP DUTY ON FIRE INSURANCE. From a
return. just issued it appears that in the year ended the
sth January, the stamp duty on policies for fire insur-
ance amounted to no less a aura than 1,162,013/.