The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-19 00:00:00

NOVEMBER 19, 1849#

when the navigation opened in June, ascended the
Mackenzie, and retraced my oul...ward route. We
were stapped by ice on Great Slave Lake till the lith
of July. On reaching Methy Portcv, Mr. 13eli
resumed his duties in the Company's service and I pro-
ceeded with the party to .Norway where I
discharged the Canadians, whose term of engagement
had expired, and sent the seamen and sappers and
miners to York Factory, there to embark in the
Company's;ship hound for England. I then continued
my voyage to Canada in a canoe, and after passing
two days at Montreal with Sir George Simpson in
examining the charges for supplies furnished to the
expedition, proceeded to Boston for embarkation in
the mail steamer.
I have the honour to be, !Ar, your most obedient
humble servant,
JOHN RICHARDSON, Med. Insp
Commanding thu Arctic Searching Expedition.

FALL OF SEVEN RAILWAY
ARCHES.

Yesterday (Sunday) morning, about half-past seven
o'clock, the inhabitants of Camden and Kentish Towns
were alarmed by a noise of a most extraordinary
character, the result of the falling of no less than
seven cf the newly-constructed stupendous arches of
the East and West India Dock and Birmingham
Junction Railway. The spot where the occurrence
took place is situate on the western side of the Kentish-
town road, and but a short distance from the junction
of the line with the London and North-Western
Railway at the Camden- town station. It appears that
the contractor for this portion of the line is Mr. Hicks,
and on Saturday night tlas whole of the works were
left in an apparently safe condition. About half-
past five o'clock the watchman on duty was alarmed
by hearing a cracking noise, as he thought, proceed
from the arches, and, as the noise continued and in-
creased, he felt it his duty to send for Mr. Stansfield,
the foreman of the works, and on the arrival of
that gentleman he observed there was an evident set-
tlement and cracking of some of the arches. About
the time above-mentioned the seventh arch from the
bridge which crosses the Kentish-town-road gave way,
and the six others followed in rapid succession, and
with a fearful crash. The greatest fears were enter-
tained that the stupendous arch which crosses the
Kentish-town-road would follow, but the solidity of
the structure, with the exception of a slight cracking
of the brick work on the western side, withstood the
shock, though the state of the arch is considered suffi-
ciently dangerous to induce the contractors to adopt
the precaution of preventing either foot passengers or
vehicles passing under it, barriers having been erectd
and police stationed on either side to stop them. The
arches which have fallen are of from 20 to 30 feet
span, and the first symptoms of cracking observed was
in the face of the spandril walls. It was rumoured
that the accident had resulted from a too speedy strik-
ing of the centres of the arches, but on instituting
inquiries it was ascertained that this was not the
fact, the centres, which were removed about eight
or nine days ago, having remained up for more than
one month under each of the fallen arches after com-
pletion. The contractors and others are wholly
unable to account for the catastrophe, as they allege
that the construction was upon the most approved
principle and of the best materials and workmanship.
It is a fortunate circumstance that the occurrence took
place at the time it did, or the loss of life might have
been immense, a large number of workmen being on
week-days employed in placing the ballast over the
arches, and others in erecting the mas3ive stonework
cornices along the spandril walls. Moreover, on Satur-
day night, at six o'clock, Mr. Hicks's men, 70 or 80 in
number, were paid in a small wooden counting-house
under the very arch which first gave way, and were
there assembled to receive their money. Had the
fall taken place at that time the loss of life would
have been immense. The damage sustained by the
occurrence is estimated at about 2,0001. News of
the occurrence soon spread throughout the northern
districts of the metropolis, and, notwithstanding the
state of the weather, the spot was visited by hundreds
of persons.

THE RECENT APPOINTMENT

TO LLANDAFF.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Stn,—The recent appointment of Dr. 011ivant to
the see of Llandaff has painfully disappointed the just
expectation of the Welsh people—not of Welsh
churchmen only, but of men of all denominations,
who, loving their country, trusted to the force
of awakening public opinion as a means of obtaining
from the executive Government the practical recog-
nition of the generally accepted principle—that the
religious instructors of every country must be
thoroughly acquainted with its vernacular tongue
and habits of thought.
The learning and amiable qualities of Dr. 011ivant
are duly estimated in 'Wales, and it is believed there
that his superficial acquaintance with the Welsh
language may possibly suffice to aid him in certain
particulars of his duty as an episcopal ruler; but for
the proper exercise of those important ministerial
functions which belong to bis high office, that
acquaintance is:well known to be utterly indequate ;
while be confessedly wants, and must ever want,
'that inborn aptitude for understanding and sympa-
thising with the peculiar character of the people
which only native Welshmen can possess.
This appointment of a clergyman nominally quali-
fied for filling a Welsh bishopric is evidently intended
as an offering at the shrine of public opinion, though
it proves, indeed, a poor and unacceptable one.
If the affairs of Wales and the Welsh Church
should ever be honoured by Government Ministers
with earnest consideration, it must certainly appear
as obvious to them as it now does to the true and
anxious friends of the 'Welsh Church, that after the
inefficiency of such nominal qualifications for the
exercise of clerical functions in \Vales has been so
fully exposed and deprecated, by the recent and
public avowal of the late Bishop of LlandatY and the
present Bishop of St. David's, it is much too late for
prudential expediency to sit up and enthrone the dis-
carded fallacy in an episcopal form.
Trusting that, on a future occasion, you will afford
me space for some additional remarks upon the past
and present condition of the 'Welsh Church,
I am, Sir, &c., GORBONIAN.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, SATURDAY.

The Queen, attended by the Countess of Mount
Eigecumbe and Lieut.-Colonel llon. C. Grey, drove
in Windsor Park this morning.
Ilis Royal Highness Prince Albert went out shoot-
ing this morning, attended by Lord Dufferin, Major-
General Bowles, Captain lion. J. Denman, and
Lieut.-Colonel Hon. A. Gordon.

The Royal Family took their usual airings.
The Duke of Wellington arrived at the Castle to-
day on a visit to the Queen and Prince Albert.
The royal dinner party this evening included
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent (attended
by her Royal Highness's Ladies in Waiting), the
Duke of Wellington, and Lieut. Colonel Parker (Ist
Life Guards).
The Prussian Minister left the Castle this morning.
SUNDAY.
The Queen and Prince Albert walked this morning
in the Slopes.
The Royal Family took their accustomed airings.
The Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
the ladies and gentlemen of the Court, and the domestic
household, attended Divine service in the private
chapel this morning. The Hon. and Rev. G. Wel-
lesley officiated. Her Royal Highness the Duchess
of Kent also attended the service.
Her Majesty the Queen gave the final sitting for
her bust to Mrs. Thornycroft on Saturday.

Ills Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge at-
tended Divine service yesterday at ternoon in Gros-
venor Chapel, South Audley-street.
Sic Claud Wade had an interview with Lord John
Russell on Saturday. Mr. Bright had also an inter-
view with his Lordship, at his official residence in
Downing-street.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer left town on Sa-
turday for his seat, Mickleton Hall, near Doncaster.
Dispatches from the Governor of the Falkland
Islands were received on Saturday at the Colonial-
office.

Mr. Muntz and Mr. Spooner had an interview on
Saturday with Lord John Russell. Mr. Edward
Conolly had also an interview with the Noble Lord
on Saturday.

HEALTH of the QUEEN DOWAGER.
(From the Court Circular.)
" The Priory, Saturday, Nov. 17.
" The Queen Dowager was for a short time
yesterday faint and oppressed, but her Majesty has
passed a good night, and is not less well this morning.
"DAVID DAVIES, M.D."
Yesterday the Queen Dowager remained much as
usual. Sir David Davies left Bentley Priory
yesterday morning for town, but returned to the
Priory in the afternoon.

DETENTION OF THE WEST INDIA MAIL.—A tele-
graph message was dispatched to Southampton from the
Admiralty on Saturday, ordering the West India mail-
packet, Severn, which was to leave at two r.m , to be
detained unitl the arrival of a special messenger at
Southampton. The messenger left London by train in
the afternoon with important dispatches for one of the
principal naval officers belonging to the fleet in the Pa-
cific. The dispatches were given in charge of the Ad-
miralty agent on board the Severn, to be sent across the
Isthmus of Panama on to their destination. The Severn
left on Saturday evening.—[We have no doubt these
dispatches refer to the expedition in search of Sir John
Franklin.—ED Sun.]
THE NEW MASTER IN CHANCERY.-We have the
satisfaction of staling, that the appointment of Master in
Chancery. vacated by Mr. Wingfield, has been bestowed
on John Elijah Blunt, ago, the well known and much
respected Equity draughtsman.

AMERICAN NEWS.

LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY MORZ:ING.

By tb royrl TteAmship Europa, Capk.in
Lott, wo have adviees from New York to tiro Gth,
Boston to the 7th, and Halifax to the 9th instant

respectively.
The Hiberuia, hence, arrived at New York on the
sth inst., and the Cambria at Halifax on the 9,1 inst.

The removal of the Government from Montreal to
Toronto had greatly increased the value of house
property in the !atter place. It was said tint Colonel
Tache, now Commissioner of Public Works, would
take the place of Mr. Viger as lteceiver-General, and
that the vacancy caused. by his transfer would be
filled by Mr. Merritt, President of the Council. Mr.
Caran was spoken of for President, and Mr. Cameron
for Postmaster-General.

A Quebec journal contains a letter from Mr.
Papineau, arguing in favour of annexation with the
United States. The Toronto Globe had published a
declaration, signed by 2,000 persons, expressive of a
warm attachment to England.
The Government had directed all colonels of mili-
tia to report to the Adjutant. General the names of
the officers who had signed the annexation address.
The meeting of the British American League at
Toronto is said to have been a failure, there not
being above eighty members present. It was re-
solved to petition the Queen for a return of protection.
Mr. Hincks, Inspector-General of Canada, in a
letter dated Toronto, October 22, gives his opinion of
the annexation question as follows :
" I feel assured that you will not require anv apology
at my hands for addressing you on a topic which, most
unfortunately for the interests of our beloved country,
has been lately agitated in some parts of the province,
but especially in the city of Montreal. I refer to the
proposition that has been formally made to the people of
Canada, to consider the expediency of seeking a change
in their political condition. I believe that I am war-
ranted in asserting that, setting aside those questions
which our own Parliament has full power to settle, the
single cause of discontent among our people at this mo-
ment springs from the restrictions imposed by
the United States on the admission of our staple
products into her markets. I have had an
opportunity, since my return from England,
of conversirg with persons acquainted with public
opinion in various parts of Upper Canada, and all seem
to agree that the inconsiderate cry for annexation would
be at once stifled by the establishment of reciprocal free
trade with the United States. I regretted. however, to
find a very prevalent opinion that the United States
would never make the concession. This annexation
movement is, of course, not calculated to assist the
tif3rts of those who are labouring with all their ener-
gies to remove the grievances under which the agricul
turists of this province are suffering. It would be in-
expedient, as well as it would be improper for me, in a
communication of this kind, to state what has been
done, or what is now doing, in this matter, but I think
it highly important that it should be generally under-
stood that the Imperial Government is thoroughly sen-
sible of the imprJrtance of having the free admission of
our products into the American markets; and I do not
hesitate to state it as my firm conviction that we
have every reason to look forward, not only with
hope, but with confidence, to the speedy attainment
of our object. The course taken by certain parties
in Montreal is calculated to injure most deeply the
best interests of the province. The demand for an-
nexation is founded on an entire misapprehension
as to the state of public opinion in England. The
generous sentiments expressed by English states-
men, to the 4, frect that they had no desire to retain the
colonies against the wishes of their inhabitants, have
been construed into indifference as to the permanency of
the connexion, an indifference which is most assuredly
not felt by any numerous party in England; not only
are the leading statesmen of the political parties into
which the people of that great country are divided most
favourable to the subsisting connexion, but the warmest
advocates of colonial reform—such men as Mr. lhane,
Sir William Molesvrorth, and Mr. Roebuck—would view
with deep regret the success of such a movement as that
contemplated by certain parties at Montreal. It would,
indeed, be morLifeing to the friends of liberal government
everywhere, should it turn out that the concession of the
most ample powers of self-government to the most im-
portant colony of the empire should have the effect, not
of• strengthening the bonds of affection to the mother
country, but of rudely severing them for ever. It seems
probable that the first struggle between the annexation-
' ists and the friends of British connection will take place
in your riding. Having lately had an opportunity of
ascertaining the views of leading statesmen in England,
both with regard to the connexion and to the question
of reciprocal free trade with the United States, I
have felt that at such a crisis I shoald be wanting
in duty to my country were I to withhold them. It is,
moreover, due to the friends of the Administration
►hroughout the province, whose generous support has
placed us in our present responsible position, that no
misunderstanding should exist as to our views. Those
views have been sufficiently explained in Mr. Baldwin's
letter to Mr. Perry. They are entertained by every
member of the present Administration, and will be car-
ried out by us in office, provided we are supported by
those with whom we have hitherto acted. If,
on the other hand, we should be deserted by
those whose confidence has hitherto sustained us, we
have a plain duty to perform to our Sovereign and our
country, which is to sustain any Administration favour-
able to British connexion, which can command a larger
share of public confidence than ourselves.",
The article in the Times of the 13th ult. relative to
the Nicaragua question had attracted great attention
at Washington. The .A'ew York Herald, in an article
touching upon this question, mentions that a serious
demonstration was about to be made by the United
States Government against England, on the following
grounds :
" On the Monro doctrine, concerning the interference
of European powers with the affairs of the American
continent, and on the principle that neither Great Bri-
tain nor the so called King of Mosquito have any rights,
and never asserted any, to the Mosquito territory, but,
on the contiary, that all the right and title to that por-
tion of Nicaragua territory is in the State of Nicaragua
alone, alai consequently her grant of certain privileges
to American citizens connected with the port of San Juan
and of the river San Juan, by the Government of Nica-
ragua, is good against the wh)le world."
The New York Tribune, treating of the tariff
question, says—
" It is understood that an attempt will be made to re-
vive the tariff at the approaching session of Congress,
but the success is doubtful. A strong effort will be made

to change the system of Customs from ad valorem to
specific, as the complaints are general from the mercan-
tile community of the unequal working of the present
system."
The royal mail steam-ship Teviot arrived at Mo-
bile on the 27th ult. from Vera Cruz, whence she
sailed on the 22th ult. On her passage the Teviot
experienced extremely boisterous weather, and when
off Vera Cruz was prevented from all communication
with the shore for six days by a severe " norther."
She had on freight for England 450,000 -dollars in
specie, 112,000 dollars of which were on account of
the Mexican dividend; also 192 hales of cochineal.
Her dates from the city of Mexico reach to the 13th
of October.

_
" On the 28th of September it was discovered by the
Government that a great number of military officers had
left the city of Mexico with the intention of proceeding
to Toluca, where arrangements had been made for n
general insurrection against the Government. In con-
sequence of the intelligence received by the Government,
a great number of arrests were made in the city of
Mexico on the night of the 28th. Government imme-
diately seat off a troop of 200 men, with three pieces 01
artillery, to the scene of action."
The shock of an earthquake was felt at the city of
Mexico on the 28th of September ; a severe shock
was also experienced at Cordova on the 25th. The
insurrection of the Sierra Gordo was at an end. A
terrible disease called the " bobo" had appeared at
Vera Cruz. It is represented as being more fatal
than cholera.
From the Mexican papers it appears that the com-
pany to whom the Mexican Government had granted
the right of constructing a railroad across the Isth-
mus of Tehuantepec were proceeding as rapidly Ls
possible with the preliminary arrangements. Before
five years, the probability is there will be three con-
nexions between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans,
viz ' the Panama railroad, the Tehuantepec railroad,
and the Ship Canal on the Nicaragua route.
We have news from Yucatan to the 9th ult., con-
taining intelligence of the assassination of Jacinto

Pat, the leader of the Indian insurgents.
At Baltimore there was some talk of establishing a
line of first-class steamers to run between that port
and Liverpool. The proposition is said to meet
with considerable favour from the mercantile com-
munity.

Some of the emigrant ships had lost a grem
number of their passengers. The ship Michael
Angelo, which left Liverpool on the 2d ult., arrived
at Boston at the 3d instant, having lost twenty-five
passengers. The ship Berlin,
_ hence to New Orleans,
arrived at that port with the loss of 43 out of 200
passengers.
We have accounts from Venezuela to the 21st of
October. A general amnesty bad been granted by
Monagas's Government to all who were implicated in
the late insurrection, except General Paez and a few
other prominent leaders, who are to be expelled from
the country. The business prospects of the country
were of a highly encouraging character. Coffee was
scarce and in active demand, an advance of 3c. per
pound having taken place, which enhanced the value
of the entire coffee crop from 3,000,000 dolls. to
4,000,000 dolls., and consequently will greatly increase
the exports from the United States to Venezuela
during the ensuing year.
From Hayti we learn that the port Miragnane was
closed to all foreign vessels by proclamation of the
Emperor, on the 13th ult. Coffee was plentiful any
high, but, owing to the monopoly law, the holdt-rs
would not put it in the market. Logwood was in
good demand, at rather higher rates.