The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-23 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—I have read your article on the price of coals in
London, and cannot wonder that you should complain
at the immense advance which has taken place, and at-
tempt to 'find out the cause. I will endeavour to point
out, as far as relates to the northern coal trade, some of
the causes of this rise in prices. In the first place,
there is no doubt but that the price of coals has been
materially influenced by the extension of steam navig,a•
tion, by the rapid increase of railways both here and on
the continent, and also by the generally prosperous state
of every branch of manufacture, but more especially that
of iron, in which immense quantities of coal are con-
sumed. There is no doubt but that these events first
gave the impetus to the price of coal ; but, instead of the
increased demand being met by an increased supply, it
was met by just the reverse—by combinations of the
coalowners, and by strikes of the miners ; the former to
raise prices, and the latter to obtain higher wages -both
to restrict the quantity produced. It was entirely owing
to the example set them by the combination of coal-
owners that the pitmen were first led to form their
union, of which nearly every miner in this district is a
member. The object of this union is to regulate wages,
and, by limiting the quantity of coal raised by each
man, to find employment for the whole body, with-
out bringing one man into competition with his fellow.
The consequence of this regulation is, that a strong,
able, and experienced coal-hewer is allowed to earn no
more money than another who may be the very reverse.
This encourages laziness, and the result may be seen.
Although the wages are now 50 and 60 per cent. higher
than they were twelve months ago, yet the amount of
money actually received by the coal miner does not ex-
ceed 10 per cent. more than he received last January.
Instead of earning 60 per cent. more money, they work
40 per cent. less coal. Some of the large collieries which
last year were raising 1,000 tons, are new, from this
cause, only producing 700 tons per day, although double
the quantity would meet with a ready sale at high
prices. At the present time the coal miners' union is
all-powerful here. .1f a man is discharged by the col-
liery owner, the remainder strike until he is again em-
ployed. Recently the union has been adopting a com-
plete system respecting strikes : it is arranged that a
strike shall take place at one particular colliery where
there is a large demand for coals ; work is discontinued ;
the men are supported by the union during the strike ;
and the colliery owner, having a large demand fur his
coals, and seeing his neighbours at full work, is obliged
to yield ; work is resumed, and another colliery is se-
lected fur another strike. It the working classes of
London and other districts are subjected to privations
from the dearness and scarcity of coal at this inclement
season, they must blame in a great degree their brethren
in the north.

These are the principal causes of the rise of coals here :
to London consumers the very high freights and the
exorbitant City dues will form a very considerable item
in the price. As regards the former, we cannot find
fault, as it is entirely owing to the great demand that at
present exists for shipping ; and this is more particu-
larly felt in the coal trade, owing to the great losses that
have happened among the class of vessels usually em-
ployed, and which have not yet been replaced. As re-
gards the City dues, it is a matter chiefly affecting the
London consumer, the policy of which you are better
able to appreciate than we in the North, our opinion
being that such a tax on a necessary of life is perfectly
unjustifiable.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
VULCAN.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1854.

THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLILMANT.-1110 decoration
of the New Palace at Westminster with works of art
is a matter of so much interest to the whole country,
that a return which has just been issued showing
the progress which has been made will be very ac-
ceptable. It presents a short account of what has
been done, and gives a list of the several statues and
paintings completed or in progress, with a statement of
their destination and expense. The estimate of their
cost is as follows :—House of Lords, fresco paintings,
4,8001. ; metal statues, 4,6801. ; upper waiting-hall,
fresco paintings, 3,5001. ; St. Stephen's-hall, statues,
8,6001. ; the Prince's chamber, statues, 3,8351. ; bas-
reliefs, 750/. ; portrait of Henry VII., 501. ; the Queen's
robing-room, 4,800/. ; the Peers' robing-room, 9,000/. ;
the Peers' corridor, 3,6501. ; the Commons' corridor,
3,650/. ; sundry works, 220/. ; and adding 5,8001. ex-
pended in premiums in the exhibitions of 1843 and 1847,
and for the purchase of two cartoons exhibited in 1845,
the total cost of what has been undertaken will amount
to 53,3351., of which the sum of 29,6601. has been
already paid. The remainder will only be required by
degrees, for a large proportion of the works are not com-
pleted. The Peers' robing-room, for instance, is not yet
built ; but a sum of not less than 9,000/, is devoted to
the nine fresco paintings which are to be placed in this
apartment, and which the artist, Mr. J. R. Herbert,
was to have nine years from April, 1851, to complete.
They are to have Scripture subjects, the illustrations to
" have reference to the idea of justice on earth, and its
development in law and judgment." The subjects se-
lected are—Moses bringing down the tables of the law
to the Israelites, the fall of man, his condemnation to
labour, the judgment of Solomon, the visit of the Queen
of Sheba, the building of the Temple, the judgment of
Daniel, Daniel in the lions' den, the vision of Daniel.
None of the eight paintings for the Peers' corridor have
been begun ; they are to indicate the heroic virtues dis-
played on both sides during the civil war, and the Com-
mons' corridor is to continue and complete the subject.
The commission have deterinmed that in the corridors
or halls connected with the central hall, the chronolo
gical order of subjects or of personages shall begin from
that hall.

THE LATE FIRE IN SOMERS TOWN.—We are requested
to state that the two men referred to as being put in
possession for rent in the show-room, 18, Goldington-
street. Somers Town, destroyed by fire on Thursday
morning, were not in possession of the house occupied
by Mr. Hampton.
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On Friday evening Dr. Conolly delivered a lecture on
characters of insanity, which was rendered peculiarly
interesting by illustrative notices of cases that had oc-
curred during his superintendence of the Hanwell Asy-
lum. The immediate cause of insanity is in nearly all
instances attributable to either an exalted or a depressed
state of nervous excitement. When these conditions of
the brain are extreme, the patients are manincal or me-
lancholic ; but in ordinary cases of insanity they are
tranquil, cheerful, and to a passing observer exhibit no
symptoms of mental disorder. Their perceptive facul-
ties are generally very acute, and they are remarkably
quick in discerning the characters and dispositions of
visitors, detecting in a moment feigned kindness of man-
ner, and having especial dislike to expressions of com-
miseration, as most of the patients conceive themselves
to be persons of importance, and endowed with superior
gifts. Among those mentioned was a man who, before
the Queen was married, was accustomed to write a let-
ter to her Majesty about every three months, offering
himself as her husband, and to place his fortune at her
disposal. After the Queen's marriage he continued to
write, but in a different strain, giving advice. Another
patient, who was strongly excited during political move-
ments, had a propensity to kill the Emperor of Russia ;
and when the Emperor visited England, the patient re-
monstrated with Dr. Conolly on the ii:jury done to the
country by confining him at Hanwell, instead of allowing
him to execute his mission. Several affecting cases of me-
lancholy insanity were mentioned, which had come under
Dr. Conolly's observation, and drawings that had been
taken of the patients in their fixed attitudes of despon-
dency were exhibited. A drawing was also exhibited
of a lady who because insane in consequence of the exe-
cution of the Due d'Enghein. Leaning her head upon
her hand, she sat at the window, constantly looking for
his approach, and from day to day she continued in the
same attitude till death. Two drawings represented a
female patient in the Opposite states of maniacal and
melanchoEcal. insanity, to show more particularly the
influence of violent mental excitement in making the
hair stand on end. This curious effect, Dr. Conolly
said, is by no means uncommon, and the subsidence of
the hair after having been erected is one of the first
symptoms of returning tranquility. He took occasion
to mention that the instruments of coercion fornierly
applied to maniacs have !wig since been di-:continued ;
and that the keepers at Han well Asylum would not
know how to put a strait waistcoat upon a patient if
ordered to do so. The distinction between delusions
accompanied by insanity and delusions arising from phy-
sical derangement were pointed out, and illustrated by
various instances. Dr. Conolly mentioned a barrister
of great professional eminence, who, at one period con-
stantly heard voic,-s fondling him to do what he
liked, and persons who saw the forms of dead and of living
beings enter their rooms ; but, those individuals having
sufficient control over their reasoning faculties to be aware
that the sounds and apparitions were not real, they could
not be considered insane. Others, again, by whom such
delusions are considered realities, are among the most
daugerous of insane patients, as the voices they hear fre-
quently incite them to commit crimes. Paralysis of the
brain is one of the diseases which Dr. Connolly considers
to be incurable. Its first symptoms apparent by the ne-
glect of ordinary occupations, by attempts ti, do things
that are altogether unsuited to previous habits, by reck-
less extravagance, by ridiculous, overweening conceit,
and a desire to be conspicuous. Dr. Connolly concluded
by enforcing the importance of cultivating and disciplining
the mind and of keeping the passions under the control
of reason, as the surest means of preventing that irregu-
lar state of nervous excitement which induces insanity.
Among the objects displayed in the library were some
interesting photographic representation of insane patients.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENC.X.

CUSTOM HOUSE, FRB. 22.

ENTERED INWARDS.—The Charlotte Maria, fr,xn St.
Michael's ; Eryphenia, do. ; Martha, do. ; Sultan, do. ;
Little Jenny, do. ; Maria Christina, Santander; Quick-
step, New Yor.k ; Henrietta, Emden ; Lusitania, Oporto ;
Cleopatra, do. ; Juliano, do. ; Durcan, Leghorn ; Brilliant,
Mogador ; Zephy.r, do. ; St. Vincent, Batavia ; Hendrika
Margreta, Lisbon ; Ernest Mornt Arndt, New Orleans ;
Bernard, Seville ; Gezina Jantina, Venice ; Balmoral,
Canton ; Rochdale, Charente ; Anne Logan, Alexandria ;
Puzzle, Terceira ; Christian, Rostock; Superior, Deme-
rara ; Amerika, Callao ; Essay, Cadiz ; Feronia, Messina ;
Lavinia, Smyrna ; Maggie.. Canton ; Emigrant, Lulea ;
Anna Kimball, Calcutta ; Smyrna ; Defiance, Whit-
stable ; Euphrates, Mauritius ; Joseph Shepherd, Bombay ;
Tantivy, Callao; City of Lincoln, do.; Maude, Calcutta;
Tancre Odessa ; Visitor, Leghorn.
ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.—The Anna Mets,
for Altona ; Alert, Sydney ; Thetis, New Zealand.
CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO.—The Meteor, for
Cape of Good Hope ; Hawk, Cherbourg ; Arannah, Ghent ;
Foster, Grenada ; Jaffor Greetze, Antwerp.