The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-19 00:00:00

It SPORT.

Sir,—After the most mature inspection and canal-
detation a the bursting of the barrels forwarded to
me on Saturday last, I ascribe their bursting to the
following causes :-
1. The total want of judgment displayed in fitting
into a stock originally made fur barrels of 14 bore
the increased size of 12 bore, and, to meet this insu-
perable difficulty, filing away more than one-half the
thickness of each barrel, to get them to joint close
enough to admit them into the stock—rendering the
barrels thus not half the actual strength in the joint
which they possessed in the other portions, and hence
the fact of their bursting where they have done. An
inspection of the thickness of the joint will convince
the merest tyro in mechanical knowledge.
2. They have been intended to be brazed, or hard
soldered with brass (the most injurious practice iron
can be subjected to), but, from inattention in the
workman, a cohesion or attachment has never been
effected between the two barrels, and must have been
loose fur at least three inches from the breech ends.
The soft solder used to fasten the top and bottom ribs
was, in fact, the only attachment holding the barrels
together; forming the most careless and iil-conducted
work I ever saw come out of a London maker's shop,
and undoubtedly adding to the danger already existing
in the barrels by the excessive reduction.
3. The barrels appear to have been proved, but
the removal of the Proof-house number of bore, which
is always stamped between the proof-marks, justifies
the suspicion that the barrels have been bored to a
larger bore since such proof; how many sizes it is
impossible to say.
Lastly. The barrels are not constructed of all steel,
but a mixture of half iron and half steel, formed into
a variety of Damascene figures by no means approxi-
mating to the tenacity of laminated steel barrels, of
which they are a spurious imitation.
This I feel justified in .saying,—the barrels were
unsafe before leaving the maker's shop, and the frac-
ture cannot in any way be ascribed to any chrless-
tiess in loading, as examination will show the barrels
to have separated at the extreme end where the charge
of powder lay, and which 44 ould not have been, the case
had space existed between the powder sod cartridge ;
the fracture would in this case have extended further
up the barrel.

WILLIAM GREENER,
Aston New tobin, Birmineam, Det: 14.

. PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF Mits. MARGARET
MAITLAND, OF SUNNYSIDE.—This charming story con-
tinues to be received witlithe favoUr 'it deserves by tier
principal critics. The .Examiner, in its review, ses3 s,
"We have read this book with unusual pleasure. It has
points of merit in the delineation of Scottish life and
character which.may compare with Mill Ferries", Galt,
Lockhart, and Wilson, and the spirit in which it is
written is at once singularly quiet and modest, and full
of shrewdness and good sense. lir, ry page of the book
testifies to the author's sincerity, her simplicity of feeling
and good faith, and her uncanting piety. The moral or
the story is an excellent one. The reader will enjoy the
unaffected tone of the book, and be as touched by its
truth as it Miss Ferrier were not yet silent, or the
authors of 'Lights and Shadows' and 'Adana Blair'
were pay,pling Seuttish manses rgst:t."
Mr. John Wood, tina chairman of the Coal, Corn,
and Finance Committee of the City of London, ..i.ts.r-
taintd fart evening a numerous party at the Albion
Tavern, Alders:gate-street, Amongst the company we
noticed the R ght Hon. the Lend Mayor, Sir James
Duk Bart., M.P.,Sir John Key, Bart., Sir Wm. Mai nay,
Bart., Mr. Masterman. M.P , Alderman Gibbs, Alder-
non Moon, Alderman Ls,wrarc, :alderman Carden, the
Town Clerk, M. Deputy Szi.teLs, Mi. Deptry Peacock,
Mr. Deputy Holt., and a numb. r of °trio" gentlemen
count eted with the corpmati, n. The dinner and wines
were of a sup riot d s,ripiivu, sat' dal great etenit to
the taste ad Me,sr:. Staples.

CITY COMMISSION Eine( OF SElVERs.'—Ye,tert;ay the
Curt wet, Mr. Deputy ii; the 42ip_tir. 111, re
were but few toPuthets pr.4e!,t. 1-4-rrte cat the
several inapt-A:lois tht.t. i;eNot..s ea:ployed
cleansing the streets slid &heys -owe gimeratly ttenuve
to their duties. Nothing of.,itny importune • took place
lit the meeting. . .

F •13. N D FOR PROMOTING FEMALE
EMIGRATION.
The sympathies of the public have recently been interested by de-
tailed accounts of the condition of the poor, and especially of the suf-
ferings f some of those who are am ,ng the most helpless of their
sex—the working women of the country.
In the metropolis alone, 33,500 women are engaged In the single
business of apparel making. It is estimated that 28,500 of them are
ender 20 years of age, and that of these a large portion aro subsisting,
r attemptin to subsist, on sums varying from 4%d. to 2%d. a day.
Throughout Great Britain the male population is greatly outnum-
bered by the feinals. By the census of 1841 it appeared that there
were 320,000 more women thaa men, and so great has been the
amount of stale emigration during the last nine years, that the ex-
cess of females may be fairly supposed to have reached half a million.
In then ritish Colonies, on the other hand, the inequality is re-
versed : 1847 there were in New South Wales only 41,000 females
to 83.000 mates; in South Australia only 13,000 females to 17,000
males. Similar disproportion exists in Van Diemen's Land and other
Colonial dependencies.
It is proposed to take measures with a view to abate this double
vii ; to sqPply the Colonies with the population which is the crying
want of sdciety there, and at the same time to redress this increas-
ing grievance of the mother country, to rescue from penury and mi-
sery those who emigrate, and, by diminishing the unnatural excess of
female labour, to better the condition of those who remain.
With these views the following Noblemen and Gentlemen have
formed themselves into a
• Cosotrrrez.
The Right Hon. SIDNEY HERBERT, M.P., Chairman.
The Right Hon. Lord John Russell, M.P.
The Most Noble the Marquis of Westminster
The Right Hon. the Earl of Carlisle
The Right Hon. the Earl of Harrowby
The Right Hon. the Earl of St. Germains
The Right Hon. the Earl of Ellesmere
The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Lonlon
The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Oxford
The Most Noble the Marquis of Granby, M.P.
The Lord Ashley, M.P.
Ih Right Hon. Lord Robert Grosvenor, M.P.
Thee Right Hou. James Stuart Wortley, M.P.
The Ran. John Talbot, Q.C.
The lion. Arthur Kinnaird
Sir Walter Reckliff Farquhar, Bart.
sir James Duke, Bart., M.P.
The Baron Lionel de Rothschild, M. 1%
C. B. Adderley, Esq., M.P.
George Carr Glyn, Esq., M.P.
John Masterman, Esq., M.P.
John Walter, Esq., M.P.
William Page Wood, Esq., M.P.
C. J. Bevan, Esq.
The Rev. Joseph Brown
The Rev. W. W. Champneys
William CotteE, Esq.
The Rev. Thomas Dale
W. F. A. Delane, Esq.
The Rev. John Garwood
William Gregson, Esq.
Robert Hanbury, Esq.
William Hawes, Esq.
M. I. Higgins, Esq.
Charles Hoare, Esq.
George Jelf, Esq.
John Labouchere, Esq,
Samuel Jones Loyd, Esq.
W. G. Prescott, Esq.
The Rev. W. Quekett
The Rev. B. C. Sangar
William :Shaw, Esq.
The Bev. J. Sherman
The Count de Strzeleckl, C.B.
J. I. Travers, Esq.
It Is proposed to take immediate measures fir promoting Emigrai
Lion to tie British Colonies on an extensive scale.
Assistance will, in tie first instance, be extended to the class
which, as the poorest and most helpleeo, has a reasonable claim to
early consideration—the neediewomen and slop-workers.
Offices will be immediately opened, at which such parties may re-
gister their applications.
Care will b 3 taken to select such persons only as are well recom-
mended, And whose age and habits render them At subjects for emi-
gration.
Such arrangements will be made as will secure fbr them every
possible safeguard and care during the passage out. Communisa-
tions will be opened with the colonies, with a view to the proper re-
eeption of the emigrants on their arrival ; for their temporary as-
sistance, aid to afford them facilities for placing themselves is
respectable positions.
The amount of the assistance, and the form in which it is to be
rendered to the emigrants, whether that assistance shall be by way
of gift or loan, or both, must depend upon the amoant of contribu-
tions at the disposal of the committee, and be necessarily regulated
by the circumstances of each case.
A vast undertaking is proposed, a great and growing evil is to be
met and remedied, vigorous action and large means are required ;
but the Committee look with confidence to the public for support,
doub.ing net that in aland abounding with wealth, and in which there
is a self-denying and a Christian spirit, means will be provided for
accomplishing so great an end. They venture to remind the nation
of the great and grievous all ction which, by the Providence of God,
they have just escaped, and they urge upon them the great duty of
showing their gratitude to their Divine Benefactor by assisting the
most helpless and needy of his creatures.
Donations may, if it be desired, be paid in two, three, or four an-
nual instalments.
The following bankers will receive mosey for the fund :
Ia the City. It the West-end.
Messrs. Barclay, Bevan, and Co. Messrs. Roams, Fleet-street.
Messrs. Glyn and Co. Messrs. Coutts and Co., Strand.
Messrs. J,.nes Loyd and Ce. Messrs. Ransom And Co., Pall-
Messrs. Masterman and Co. l mall.
Messrs. Williams, Deacon, and Messrs. }Terries and Co., St.
Co. James's-street.
A List of Contributions will be published in a few days.
WII. T. HALT, lion. secretary.
4, St. Martin's-place, Trafalgar-square, Dec. 11, 1849.

FRENCH PLAYS and OPERA COMIQUE,
ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.
Mr. MITCHELL begs respectfully to announce the fbllowing ar-
rangements for the ensuing Season of French Performances at the
St. James's Theatre:—
ENGAGEMENTS FOR THE OPERA.—MdIIe. Charton, Mdlle.
Dehauser (pupil of the Coeservatoire, Paris), M. Choilet (of the
Theatre de I'Opera Coraique, Paris, his first appeaarnce), M. Lac
(Premier Tenor of the Theatres Bruxelles and Ghent, his first ap-
pearance), 31. Nathan (Premier Basse of the Opera Comique, Paris,
h's first appearance), M. Quilly Leroy (pupil of the Conservatoire,
l'aris, his first appearance), Mdlle. Guichard, M. Buguet, M.
Chateaufert, M. Soyer, M. Dereaux, Madame Mancini, Mdlle.
Cotti, &c.
FOR THE COMEDY AND TAUDVILLE.—M. Samson, of the
The Are Francais, Paris (his first appearance in this country) ;
Denain, M. Regnier, Mdlle. Nathalie, (artists of the Theatre
Francais, Paris) ; Millie. Dejazet (who has accepted a farewell en-
gagement in this country); M. Latont, 51dlle. Figeac (of the Theatre
Du Vaudevil e); Mdlle. Page (of the Theatre du Varietes) ; Mdl'c.
Constance (of the Theatre du taymnase) ; Madlle. Baptiste (of the
Theatre de r Odeon).
An Enguement is also entered into with the eminent-
dienne, Mdlle. Rachel, with whose performances tp sealifil
terminate.
Mr. Mitchell begs further to submit an outline the general
arrangements :—The Season will commence on Monday, January
7, 1550, by the production of a New Opera, in Three'Acts, entitled
" Le Val d'Andorre," produced in Paris at the end of last year,
and since performed at the Opera Comique, Paris, more than
100 nights, and at the principal Theatres of France, with the
great• st sucee,s. the Music by M. F. llalevy; the Libretto by 51
De St. Georges. With the following distribution of the principal
char,cters:—Stephan (jeune cha.sseur des Pyrenees), M. Lac; Le
Joyeur (capitaine de milice Francaise et recruteur), M. Chollet,,who
has obligingly undertaken the part for the more effective production
of the Opera ; Saturuln (garde pectic du Gave), M. Quilly Leroy ;
Jacques Sincere (vieux cheerier), M. Nathan (their first appearance
in this country) ; Theresa (fermiere du Val d'Andorre), Mdlle.
Guichard , Georgette (cousino de Atephan), Mdlle. Cetti; and Rose
do Mal (servante de Theresa), Mdlle. Charton. The second pro-
duction will be Harold's celebrated Opera, in Three Acts, " Zampa,"
in which M. Chollet will personate the character of Zampa, as
originally performed by him at the Opera Comique, Paris. Subse-
quently will be Oven, a new Comic Opera, in Twos Acts, entitled
"Le Ca d," by the popular con: oser, Ambroise Thomas. And also,
Auber's last new 0, era of " littydee," the character of llaydee by
31(111 . Charton.
Other productions will be selected from the following :—Jeannot
et Colin, Nicole ; Le Roi d'Yvetet, Adolphe Adam ; Le Cheval de
Bronze, .tuber; Le Macon, Auber ; Le Sirene, Auber ; Lully et Qui-
nalt, Nic lo ; La Perruche, Clapissos ; Le Valet tie Cho.mbre, Ca-
rat's ; Use Folie, Mehul ; with an occasional per.ormance of some of
the most popular operas produced last season.
According to present arrangements the representat:on of the Opera
Comique will be limited to the months of January, February, and
March, terminating the season before Easter.
At the re-opening f the Theatre, after Easter, on Monday,
April 1, M. garrison (of the Theatre Francais, Paris) will have the
honour of making his first appearance in this eouetry, and will per-
form with Mlle. Denain (also of the Theatre Francais) in several of
the most popular Comedies of the French stage ; and subsequently
M. Regnier and Mdlle. Nathalie (both artistes of the Theatre Fran-
eels) will appear in several of the most modern and successful Come-
dies recently produced in Paris.
At the end of May, Mdlle. Dejazet, whose re-appearance at the
Theatre des Varietes, after a severe and protracted indisposition, has
bee attended with her accustomed and unrivalled success, will ap-
pear In several new vaudevilles, as Le Marquis de Lauzun, Le Mou-
lin a Paroles, La Jeunesse do Lully, &c.
The performances of Comedy and Vaudeville will be supported by
M. Lafont (of the Theatre des Varietes), Mdlle. Figese, 31dlle. Con-
stance, Wile. rage, Mdlle. Baptiste, 31. Armand, 31. Leon, and a
Dammous company.
The engagement of 3ldlle. Rachel will commence at the end of
June, by her appearance in 31. Scribe's new play of " Adrienne
Lecoutreur," a production which has excited more than ordinary
admiration ; Mdlle. Rachel wi l also perform, for the first time,
in Dumas' celebrated play of " Mademoiselle de Belle-Isis ;" and
a new Petite Comedic, in One Act, entitled "Le Moineau de
Lesbie," by Armand Berthet ; and by the occasional representation,
each for oue night only, of the classical Tragedies of " Phedre,"
" Les braces,' " Andremaque," and "Bajazet," the season will
terminate.
The ORCHESTRA will be composed of the same eminent pro•
fesso-s engaged for the opera last season, inc'uding M. Tolbeque,
31. Bourotte, 51. Deloffre, 31. Newsham, 31. Barret, M. Baumann,
31. Pilet, 31. Vaudreland, 51. Itemusat, M. Lazarus, M. Nicholson,
M. Larkin, 31. C. Harper, M. T. Harper, M. Campanile, M. T.
Wright, &c. Director of the mu-is and Chef-d'Orchestra, M. Charles
Uanssens.
Subscribers of the past season are solicited to make known their
desire of renewing their subscriptions on or before the Ist of January
next.
Arrangements for season subscriptions may be made at Mr.
Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street ; Mr. Sams's Library,
1, St. James-street ; Messrs. Andrews's, New Bond-street ; Ebers's
an 1 Hookham's, Old Bond-street.
The riox-eftice of the Theatre will be opened on the Ist of
January.

-
THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Mr. B. Webster, Sole Lessee and Manager, Old Brampton.
THIS EVENING,
V, ill be performed an entirely new ard original Play, entitled THE
LOVING WOMAN. Wieliert, Mr. Howe ; Rosen, Mr. C. Kean ;
Hermann, Mr. J. Wallack; Max, Mr. H. Vandenhoff; Willie, Mrs.
C. Kean.
To be followed by a new Lyric Dramatic Sketch, entitled KING
RENE'S DAUGHTER. King Rene, Mr. James Wallack , Count
Tristan, Mr. C. Kean ; Sir Geoffrey, Mr. Webster ; lolantho, Mrs.
C. Kean.
Af er which BOX AND COX.
To conclude with an original Farce called THE GUARDIAN
ANGEL. Mr. Dulcimer, Mr. Keeley; Moggy Snaggs, Mrs. Keeley.
The Box-olliiae is under the direction of Mr. I. T. Archer.

Mk:Al:Rh ROYAL, ADELI'iII.
Under the direction of Madame Celeste.
THIal EVENING,
Will be performed a new domestic Drama, called THE WILLOW
COPSE. Principal characters by Messrs. Hughes, Wright, P. B.:(1-
ford, 0. Smith; Madame Celeste, and Miss Woolgar.
To be followed by an entirely new Extravaganza, entitled DO-
MESTIC ECONOMY. John Gramly, Mr. Wright ; Mrs. Gramley.
Mrs. F. Matthews.
To conclude with a new slippery sketch called MRS. BGICBURT'S
SPOONS. Mr. Highbury Barnes, Mr. P. Bedford; Bob Twinks,
Mr. Wright; Job Smith, Mr. 0. smith; Mrs. lianbary, Mrs. F.
Matthews; Mrs. Highbury Barnes, Miss Brooks.

PRINCESS'S THHATIOL.
-„r. M. Maddox, Sole Lessee and Manager.
THIS EVENING will be performed Bellies Opera, entitled LA
SOMNAMBULA. Count Redolph, Mr. Weiss; Elvin°, Mr. Allen ;
Alessto, Mr. Wynn; Therese, Madame Feron ; Lisa, Miss Julia
Bleaden ; and Amine, Miss Louisa Fyne.
After Which, the Extravaganza of THE FIRST NIGHT.
fo conclude with ♦ MODEL OF A. WIFE.

ASTLE Y'S ROYAL AhIP IT HEATB.Z.
Proprietor, Mr. W. Batty.
THIS EVEN', Nti,
Mr. BATTY has great pleasure in announcing that he has sue•
ceeded iq engaging Mademoiselle ANGELIZ, from the Hippodrome,
Paris, and who is the first Equestrian of the day, with her highly-
trained Ste..ds, "Senora" and Bertram." Mademoiselle Angels is
the same Lady that rode the celebrated English Steeplechase Mare
"Angela" over twenty-eight feet of matter. he will shortly make
her appearance at Astley's Ampitheater.
Mr. BATTY has much pleasure is anneuxeing that he has engaged
Madlie. Codoni, the most graceful performer oa the Ti4ht Rope in
Europ who will appear every Evening.
The performance will commence at a Quarter to Bevels, with a
Grand Spectacle and wondrous Scenes in the Circle.
1 he attractions for the Christmas Holidays will comprise a grand
Spectacle entitled The Knight of the Nagle Crest, or the Tourney of
Love, in which Mr. N. T. Hicks will appear; and a grand Equestrian
Illomi• Pantomime, by Nelson Lee.
Box-office open from Eleven till Toni
-tage Manager, Mr. W. West.

ATTEMrT AT SUICIDE AT LONDON-BRIDGE.—
On Monday morning, between seven and eight o'clock,
an elderly person named Thomas Haylork. a livery-
stable-keeper, of Red Lion-street, Whitechapel, at-
tempted to commit suicide, by throwing himself into the
Thames, from one of the recesses of London-bridge.
The tide at the time was running down very strong, and
as he passed under the arch one of the men who were
navigating a barge threw out a marlin-spike, and suc-
weded in dregging him on board. He was subsequently
conveyed to St. Thomas's Hospital, where he remains in
• pm:Arlon" condition.