The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-06 00:00:00

THE LAWSON OBSERVATORY.

The Midland Observatory Committee; we are glad to
state, were again at their post on Tuesday evening—
Mr. Alderman Birkin in the chair—to renew the effort
to complete the subscription required for securing to
Nottingham the splendid gift of Mr. Lawson, of Bath,
(10,000/. in value), and to complete it within the time
now limited by Mr. Dawson for this purpose, before
the Ist of October. Within a month the inhabitants of
Nottingham and the Midland Counties are required to
supplement the funds already promised to the Observa-
tory Committee, to the extent of five thousand pounds ;
otherwise this opportunity of securing for this ad-
mirable site an efficient Observatory. which will be
public and not private property, ava--able for public
use, and not dependent on the caprice or inclination
of any private individual, will be utterly lost. By
the institution of such an establishment a great blank
would be filled up in British science. We believe
we are right in stating that no hiatus is, at this mo-
ment, more severely felt by those engaged in scientific
observation than the want of an observatory upon a
large scale, calculated to facilitate the advancement of
science and discovery in a degree to which private en-
terprise and scientific devotion, however ardent, cannot
aspire unaided. So deeply are we convinced of this,
that could any effectual method of laying the cla;ms of
this locality to be provided with an observatory, and
the rare opportunity placed within its grasp, before the
British Association now about to assemble on the 7th
inst., at Hull, we firmly believe that the general convic-
tion of the importance of such an object would induce
the friends and lovers of science at large to contribute
handsomely to promote it. We do not expect that
the British Association, as a body, would do this ;
nor do we think it desirable that any extraneous in-
influenee should be brought to bear upon the observa-
tory, by giving a right of interference to any popular
body apart from that under whose immediate charge the
institution may be placed. But the individual support
of those interested in science should, we think, be courted
for a purpose so thoroughly identified with its promo-
tion—and at a moment, too, when recent planetary and
stellar discoveries, and the appearance of illustrious
strangers in the still of comets in our heavens, appear
to point to even more astounding discoveries in creation
than even the few last years of Lord Rosse's telescope
and the prophetic calculations of Adams and Le Verrier
have made us familiar with. Meanwhile, the town of
Nottingham has been divided anew into two districts,
and some zealous members of committee have under-
taken to repeat and extend the canvass for subscriptions
formerly set agoing.—Nottingham Guardian.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.

LONDON AND SOUTH-EASTERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic re-
turn for the week ending Sept. 3, 1853 £21,137 17 5
Corresponding week last year 20,315 11 11

Increase in 1853 £B22 5 6
LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY.—
Traffic return for the week ending Sept. 3,
1853 215,258 13 11
Corresponding week last year 14,046 17 9
Total of the half-year to this date, 1853 157,390 13 1
Total of the half-year to this date, 1852 140,598 19 9
GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic re-
..urn for the week ending Seat. 3, 1853 £5,116 16 8
Corresponding week last year 4,269 19 9
Increase in 1853 2846 16 11

SCARCITY OF SEAMEN.—The Newcastle Guardian says,
such is the demand for seamen in the Tyne, that crews
are obtaining from 41. to 41. ss. per month, for voyages
to the Baltic.
BRADFORD MUSICAL FESTIVAL.—The festive excite-
ments of Bradford are over. The expenses of the 6 concerts
amounted to 4,0001., the receipts to between 6,0001. and
7,0001., so that the committee are considerable gainers.
THAMES HAVEN RAILWAY.—It is understood that
the agreement for selling this railway for 49,5001. 6 per
cent. in the Tilbury and Southend Railway, is completed.
PERILOUS ESCAPE.—On Monday night, two privates
of the 48th Foot, quartered in Carlisle castle, madetheir
escape and deserted. They were in what is called the
Inner Castle. From this they let themselves down by
a rope to the outer yard, passing the sentinel, and the
rope by which they did it seems to have broken in the
operation, for they left it behind. They then appear to
have proceeded to the opposite side, and obtained a lad-
der ; this they placed behind the embrasure on the wes-
tern side, fastened a rope to the latter, and descended
to the Castle-bank, about 60 or 70 yards from the work-
house, a height of some 30 or 40 feet, and got clear off,
leaving rope and ladder as proofs of their daring.
STATUE OF "AUSTRALIA" AT SYDENHAM.—The statue
of " Australia' " by Mr. Bell, now placed in the gardens
of the Crystal Palace, is of terra-cotta. The firing occu-
pied three weeks, and the heat attained was that at
which glass will melt. The contraction in firing was
three-quarters of an inch to a foot. The statue, after
burning, weighed about 25 cwt., and is, including its
plinth, about 8 feet 6 inches high. It is probably the
largest piece of pottery ever fired in an entire piece. Mr.
Bell had the commission for the design and model, and
Mr. Blashfield for the moulding, pres sing, and firing.
THE WEATHER IN IRELAND.--The weather has again
become fine. Saturday and Sunday were midsummer
days, and Monday promised to be equally favourable.
The heavy rains of last week do not appear to have done
any considerable mischief. Harvest operations are pro-
ceedin,, rapidly in all parts of the country.
THE* BIRMINGHAM BOROUGH GAOL INQUIRY.—With
respect to the general discipline pursued at the gaol, the
inquiry, so far as it has proceeded, shows that the
provisions of the act of Parliament for the regulation of
prisons have been frequently evaded. In the case of
the surgeon, it is shown that he had not made
the required periodical inspection of the prisoners ;
that he had not made an examination of the prisoners so
as as to judge of their ability to perform labour ; that
he had not complied with the requirements of the act
of parliament with reference to the entry of medi-
cines administered and treatment adopted ; and that
his inspection was hurried and superficial. With re-
ference to the gaol discipline, for which the gover-
nor is responsible, it appe rs that the system of
crank labour was originally an exceptional punishment ;
that at Mr. Austin's suggestion the cranks were increased
from two to 16, and subsequently to 22 ; that the act
of Parliament which provides that no prisoner shall
be kept at hard for more than 10 hours a day, has
been disregarded; that cases have occurred where
prisoners have been kept in the crank labour cell from
half-past 6in the morning till 11 at at night a period
of sixteen and a half hours ; that it was usual to keep
prisoners who refused, or could not perform this work,
without food for a whole day, a pound of bread being
given them at night ; that this treatment has been re-
peated for three days, and after an interval of a day re-
pea, ed again ; that it was customary to keep prisoners,
even boys, at the crank labour in the dark, to count
the revolutions as they best could ; that, in oppo-
sition to the rules, prisoners before trial were punished
for speaking to each other; that the power of increasing
or decreasing the severity of the crank labour was exer-
cised by Freer, without the special sanction of the gover-
nor in every case; that the records of the punishments,
attempts at suicide, and so on, were imperfectly kept, the
record of the suicides especially being made up "from
memory ;" that the warders were in the habit of going
into the cells of the prisoners whenever they pleased; and
generally that the officers were in a state of scarcely
disguised insubordination. The inquiry is still proceed-
ing, and as the commissioners have determined to make
a thorough investigation of the system of discipline
without reference to special charges, it will evidently
occupy a considerable length of time.
NOVEL MODE OF RAISING THE WlND.—Numerous
boys are constantly engaged in picking up the immense
quantities of copper caps on Chubham-common, which
have been used by the brave regiments recently en-
camped there. The boys sell them to the ironmongers
for old copper, and realise 2s. or 2s. 6d. a-day by their
, industry.

LITERATURE.

Bradshaw's Guide to Belgium and the Rhine.
With Maps and Illustrations. Bradshaw and
Blacklock.

A delightful companion for the tourist, either on
the steam-boat or in the railway carriage—a com-
panion always agreeable, instructive, full of plea-
sant anecdote and other innocent sources of amuse-
ment. It is great praise we allow, but praise to
which the little volume before us is eminently en-
titled. " Bradshaw's Guide" will henceforth com-
mand (and deservedly) the same regard in fie
estimation of those who care for economy—which
has long been extended to " Murray's Hand-book"
by such as are indifferent to all but the aggregate
of their expenditure. " Murray" will still occu-ay
a position of und•sputed pre-eminence with. t
wealthy and the well-to-do among travellers ; but
" Bradshaw " will no less certainly secure the a-
your of all those tourists (and " their name is
legion ") who are really anxious to make the most
of their money during the pleasures of an
autumnal excursions on the Continent. As
the title-page of the portable volume here
presented to the public intimates, this g aide
or hand-book is intended for all travellers in
Belgium or the Rhine, and through portions of
Rhenish Prussia. It combines brevity of style
with abundant variety of information—and from
first to last, moreover, the information is worth
having too, being really practical and serviceable
information. At the outset you have all that you
want to listen to about diligences, about barriers,
about roads, about hotels, and money, and pass-
ports, and posting, and railroads, and have, be-
sides all this, a bill of fare, telling you the exact
prices charged at the different railway stations for
refreshments. Then, supposing you are going
along the customary route through Belgium, you
are conducted by the compiler of the guide-book
successively through Brussels, and Antwerp, and
Bruges, and Ypres, and Mons, and Quievrain,
and Charleroi, and so on through Cologne and
Ghent, and divers other localities scarcely
less picturesque. Supposing, on the other hand,
you purpose travelling up the Rhine, you are
presented with capital descriptions of Rotterdam,
Arnheim, Coblentz, Mayence, Frankfort, Stras-
burg, Basle, Carlsruhe, Baden, Offenburg, Con-
stance, Freiburg, and Scharimusen. And in no
place does the book weary with a dull record of
uninteresting intelligence. It never bores you
with what you don't care two straws for—the
"tale told by rote," in the instance of every hack-
neyed cicerone. Instead of that, directly you
reach any remarkable town, you are informed suc-
cinctly which are the best hotels, from the most
reasonable in their charges to the most extrava-
gant, their own names, the names of their land-
lords, and the precise spot in which they are situ-
ated. An accurate map of the city is then
spread before you, with all the streets and
suburbs clearly defined, as well as all the
churches and other public buildings of im-
portance. You are thereupon informed, . among
other things, of the exact geographical position of
the place, of the number of its inhabitants, and of
whatever may be most interesting in its history or
in that of its population. You are instructed as to
the name of the principal shipbroker. The post-
office is pointed out, and you are even directed to
the stands of cabs, fiacres, or vigilantes. Scattered
through the volume are a profusion of miniature
woodcuts—no very brilliant works of art, it is true,
hut answering all the purposes for which they are
intended. In these little engravings are portrayed,
one by one, the interior of a church, or the
exterior of it, or a town-hall, or a theatre, or
a bridge, or even a pulpit, or some structure,
large or small as the case may be, desel ig
of particular examination. Minute though
the pictures are and roughly though f
may be executed, they give one a sufficiently Irf.T
notion of the object to be examined, so that it may
at once be recognised. Aided by such a guide as
this you can scarcely by any chance miss seeing
whatever is at all worthy of inspection. Nothing
can well be overlooked or forgotten, even in the
profusion of celebrated scenes to be visited. An-
other feature in the present work demands, we
cannot but think, some commendatory reference.
It may be perceived on the instant by turning, for
example, to the pages dedicated to the subject of
Brussels—in which pages will be found compressed
together a mass of singularly useful information.
Under the heading of " English Directory" will be
found a list of professional gentlemen and trades-
men whom the editors of the said book deem
worthy of their strongest recommendation—phy-
sician, dentist, chemist, solicitor, and shoemaker, as
well as establishments in which may be procured
lace, gloves, tailoring, millinery, books, and news-
papers. Directly you come to the Rhine you have
a panoramic view of the river stretched out
before you, along which you may trace with
the utmost facility the course of your se-
veral movements. Throughout all this, the
writers contrive to interspers in their narra-
tive historical allusions, biographical references,
anecdotes, and poetical quotations, apposite to the
occasion, and thus throwing over the whole sketch
a charm delightfully gossipping and conversational.
Sometimes the information given appears to us, we
will allow, rather too meagre to be quite satisfac-
tory. While in other instances (though these, like
the former, are rare), the account seems unneces-
sarily elaborated. But we remember that in a
compilation of this comprehensive character con-
siderable allowances are absolutely requisite ; and
we are sufficiently conscious withal, that less de-
mands of this kind are made upon our forbearance
by the book under consideration, than perhaps by
another work of a similar kind which at the pre-
sent moment we can call to our recollection. It is
a production we feel satisfied which cannot possi-
bly fail to enhance, and that rather largely, the
indefatigable " Bradshaw's" already world-wide
reputation.

THE NORTHUMBERLAND HERRING FISHERY. —Th e
herring fishery along the coast, more especially since
our last, has been remarkably successful. A great
number of boats are engaged in the employment, and
there would be a glut of herrings in the local markets
were it not for the railways, which convey immense
quantities into the interior. Prices have ranged
within the past eight days from 10s. to 20s. per
thousand. Our fishermen, however, suffer considerable
obstruction from the French luggers, nearly a couple
of hundreds of which are engaged in fishing on the
Northumberland coast. With the exception of the
Yorkshire boats, our men generally employ small ca-oles
in the fishing, whilst the French luggers have crews of
15 hands each on board ; and notwithstanding the fishery
laws prescribe that they shall not cast their nets within
three leagues of the nearest promontory, they come, so
close as a mile and a mile and a half from the beach,
and a great amount of unpleasantness has arisen, and
serious injury has been done to the nets and gearing of
our men. The Frenchmen's gear is much heavier
than those used by the fishermen on our coast,
and they have also a strong warp, and innumerable tubs
attached to their nets. The men also on board their
luggers being in the proportion of three to one to the men
in our boats, they shoot their nets over those of the Eng-
lish fishermen, and do them considerable injury. Several
English boats' companies have suffered considerablyinthis
way. The English fishermen accuse the Frenchmen of
cutting their nets and stealing their fish, and altogether,
for want of the fishing regulations being enforced, a
most unhappy feeling has sprung up between the fisher-
men of the two nations. There is, indeed, one sloop
of war, the Archer, on the coast, but she is insuffi-
c'ent to protect the entire fishery. The French also
have a sloop of war cruising off the coast, employed
to see thz.t the fishermen of that country are really
engaged in the fishing, as the Government give a
bounty to their fishermen upon the quantity of fish they
catch ; and in former years they have found that their
men, instead of heaving their nets and filling their vessels
with the produce of their own industry, purchased their
cargoes of the English fishermen, and on arriving in port
claimed the bounty. It is highly desirable that, as in
North America, where the same regulations prevail,
and the fisheries, thanks to Lord Malmesbury, are now
properly protected, the Admiralty should send down
some additional force to protect our fishermen and com-
pel the French to observe the boundary line. At Berwick,
last week, three French fishermen were brought before
the mayor and John Pratt, Esq., by the commander of
H.M.S. Archer, charged with fishing within the pre-
scribed limits. They all pleaded guilty, and two of
them were fined 6/. each, and the third 6/. and U. addi-
tional for damage done to a net belonging to one of the
English fishing-boats. The mayor stated that the next
time any of them were brought forward he would in-
flict the full penalty of' 10/. in each case.—Newcastle
Journal. _

HARRIET BEECHER STOWE IN LEEDS.—This
ad
ni sdt ndguuriisnl dhaeur ths
toarye s s
has has jbuesetnb etre ognuae
svt. visit t oELd
we eadrsd,
Baines, Esq., of Headingley Lodge. During her so-
journ she was presented with an address from the Anti-
Slavery Society of Leeds, a silver fruit basket by the
Indies of Leeds, and 100 sovereigns from readers of
" Uncle Tom's Cabin." The presentations took place
at Headingley Lodge, in the presence of a numerous
party of ladies and gentlemen invited to be present, and
for whom an elegant collation was provided. The
Mayor of Leeds (John Hope Shaw, Esq.) presided on
the interesting occasion. The address of the Anti-
Slavery Society was presented by Mr. Wilson Armisted,
and the basket and sovereigns by Sir George Goodman,
Knt., M.P. Each of these gentlemen dwelt in terms of
high eulogy upon the character and labours of Mrs.
Stowe in the cause of the slave. The brother of Mrs.
Stowe, the Rev. Mr. Beecher, read a written reply ac-
knowledging the compliment paid her by the presenta-
tions, referring at some length upon the state of slavery
in the United States, and expressing a confident hope
that that greatest curse of her native country would
eventually be abolished. Mrs. Stowe will take her de-
parture for New York in the Arctic, which sails from
Liverpool on Wednesday. She leaves England with
more haste than intended, in consequence of the illness
of a daughter.

50
20
50
25

St.
10
St.
St.

50
161
St.
194
_ .

St.
St.
St.
St.

26i
13i
20
20

SHARE MARKETS.-(THIS DAY.)

BRITIB ki RAIL WAYS.

Shr. I Paid I RAILWAYS.

100
86

100
all

al 1
111
100

100
all
3:2
100

100
100
100
100

Aberdeen
Ambg. Nottng. Bost.
& Eastn. Juno
Birmng, Wolverhl
Stour Valley.,,,,,,,,Birkenhd. Lancs
. (St
Cheshire Junct
Do. Chesh. & Birk.,
£5O & £25 Cons—.
'Do., £2O
Bristol & Exeter
Caledonian.
Chester & Holyhead
Cork and Bandon
Cork, Black. & Pass
Dublin&BelfastJunc
Dundee Perth &Aber-
deen Junction
Do. New ..... ' .
East Anglian (£25 L.
& E. & L. & D.)
Do., (XlB E. & H.)
Eastern Counties
Eastern Union, Class
A. late E. U. Sh
Do., do..
Do., B. dr
East Lancashire .
East & West Ind. bk.
& Binning. Juno
Edinburgh& Glasgow
Edinb. and Peebles
Edinb.Prth.&Dunde'
Glasgow & S.Western
Great Northern Stk
Do., A. Stock
-la., B. Stock
'Gt. Sth. &West. (Ire.)
Great Western..
It ;eh South-Eastern.
Lancaster &Carlisle
Do., Thirds
Lancash. & Yorkshire
Do., Fifths
Do., Wst. Riding Un
Leeds Northern
Liv.Crsby.&Southp
London & Blackwell
Lond. Tilb. & Sthend.
Lond.Bright.&S.Cst.
London & N. Western'
Do. Fifths
Do. Oki. 5h.,M&8...0
London & S.Western
Do., X 50.... .....

Do. £4O
Lndndrry.&Coleraine
Lndndrry. dz Ennisk.
Manch.SheL&Lincln.
Do., Man. &Lin. Un.
Midland
Do. Birming. dz Darby
Midland G. West. (Ir. )
Do. a Shares ..........
Newcastle &Carlisle..
Newmarket..
Do. Bury Exten''ons
Newpt.A berg.&;
Newry & Ennislc.r.lon
Newry Warrenpoint
& Rostrevor
Norfolk .........
Do., New... ......
Northn. Counties Un
North British
North Devon, No.i
'Do., No.
Dc., A Deferred '
Do., B Guaranteed
North Staffordshii o
North Western
N. & S. Westrn. Julie
Oxford Worcester di
Wolverhampton.—
Scottish Central ...
Scottish Midland
Shrewsbury &13irmg
Do., L. & N. Westn
Guaranteed Stock
Shrewsby. Herefd
IShrewsby. A Chester
(Nor. W. Min.)
Do. Halves, do.

Do. Oswestry

6ij Atropshire
all ,"oath Dev0n.........

100 South Ea5tern.........
all South Wa1e5...........
15 IS. Yorksh. River Dun
5 Do ...... ...........
16 )S' nekton & Hartlepl.
20 1, names Haven Dock
and Railway
Vale of Neath.........
Waterfd. & Kilkenny
Waterford &Limerick
West C0rnwa11........'
Wmbled on &Croydoi,
Woodford
York Newctl. & Ber \
Do. Extensions .......I
Do. G.N.E. Purchase
York & N. Midland..

21s.
1
100
20
11.3
100

Closing Prices
Yesterday.

PREFERENC:

Basiness done
this day.

Aberdeen ..
Do. No. 2, 7 p. c
Bris. & Ex. 4 p. c. St
Do. 4 p. c. Shares
Caledonian £lO
Chester & Holyhead
Guar. 5i per cent
Cork &Randons4p.c
Dundee Perth &Aber-
deen Junction
EastAnglian (£3los)
6 per cent
Do. (£5) 7 per cent
Do. (£7l7s) 7 p. c
Eastern Counties Ex-
tension, 5 p. c. No.l
Do. No. 2 .
Do. New 6 p. c. St.
Eastern Union, Scrip
Guar. 6 per cent
East Lancash.6 p. eta
EdinbPrth.&Dundee
5i per cent.
Glasgow & S. Western
Guar. 5 per cent._
Great Northn. 5 p. c.
Do. 5 p. c. Redeem.,
at 10 p. c. prem...
Do. 41; p.c. Sc-1.7
Gt, Soui;ion.&Wcf.t-zi.
(Ireland) Eighths)
Gt. Westn. (Berks &
Hants Ex. 5 p.
Do. cov. red. 4:1; p.c.
Do. con, red. 4 p. c.
Do, irred. 4 p. c
Lan. &York. F. £2O
Do. 6 p. c. Stock
London and Brighton
Guaranteed 5 p. c
Do. Pref., 5 n. c. St,
Do. Convertible, 5 p.
c., 1852
Do. New Gual..6 p. c
London & S. Western
Con. Thirds.
Londonderry& Co"
Sbares
Londy. & Ennis.
Han., Shef., & Lin.,
i Shares, No. 1.
Do. New, £lO ... .
Do. £6

Yfaryct.&Carl.4 p.c.
Do. 4i per cent.....,,

84100
100 \lid. Consol.6 p.c.St
100 IDo. Consol. Bristol LI
Birm. 6 per cent._ •
5 jDo. Pref. 44 per cent
_ .

6 IN'orfolk Extension.,,
100 ' 5 p.c. E5t.,,,,,,
100 _) a. Guar. 5i per et._
100 iDo. Way. Val. 5 p. c.
100 'North. British
all North Staffordshire
1100 Oxford,Worcester,&
Wolverh.£ls,6p.e.
12 ; -)o

all Shrews. &Birm.N.G.
I all Shrewsby. & Cheste.
(Nor.W.Min), S p.c.
10 !Do. 5 per cent

all South Devon
Do. Now
all S. Eastern (Readi
Ann.) of £1 Os.
100 41- per cent. F: c.
all ••:.Yorksh.4p.c.Gua-:.
3 Wate-efd.&Kilk.6p.c.
100 Yorl Ne ?mastic ,and
Berwick,!' ?.c. e:.

5 Do
10 York&N.Midlardll
and S. Pura j

LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS.
Sbr.

Paid'

RAILWAYS.

Leasing
Company.

L. &N.W.
Callao:ion_

Gt.Northnl
Elt.Westn
Yk. New.
ds Berw
Y.drN.ldd
Do
Do

S.Eastera
po

[Norfolk
Do

Ln.&N.W.
& Midld.
Stcktou &
Darlingt.

E. Count
;Do

Closing Prices
Yesterday.

!Do .

L. di *:
&Lndr Yk
Do
Gt. Northn
Do

Lancash.&
Yorksh
M: Mclean
Stockt. &
Darling
Do

Business
this day.

IGt.Westn.