The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-09 00:00:00

from 100 to 120 tahils of gold. This goes partly in
gold, though they prefer investing a part of it in tin
from Banks, opium, and other articles. Say, however,
that they remit one half in gold: 5,000 men, at 1,000
dollars each, will give 500,000 dollars, which, added
to small family remittances, accounts for an amount
exceeding 1,000,000 dollars, or 250,0001. The cal-
culation, however, seems to be far within the mark,
and gives less by one-half than what is usually
stated to be remitted to China from the Bornean mines,
which has been estimated, at a loose guess, at 2,000,000
dollars, or 500,0001. A further amount of not less than
the value of 1,000,000 dollars, or 250,0001., is supposed to
find its way annually to Western India, and principally
to Bengal, via Batavia, Malacca, and Penang, for the
purchase of opium and piece-goods. The surplus en-
riches Java, and some of the other islands, in exchange
for salt, tobacco, coarse cloths, &c."
Mr. Macgregor, M.P., late Secretary •f the Board of
Trade, is the chairman, and as it is incorporated under
royal charter, it is but fair to presume that every care
has been taken for the protection of the shareholders.

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGI

NEERS.

THURSDAY, FEB. 6.—Joshua Field, Esq., President,
in the Chair.—The paper read was a " Description of
the Abattoirs of Paris," by Mr. R. B. Grantham,
M. Inst. C. E. The subject was treated of chiefly in
connexion with the sanitary question, at present occu-
pying so much attention; the author being of opinion
that:much public benefit would be derived from the intro-
duction of similar establishments into the city of London.
The paper commenced by pointing out the advantages
resulting from the method in which the butcher's trade
was carried on in Paris. It was stated that this trade
was regulated by a number of restrictive enactments,
and conducted under the control of a Syndicate or
Guild, who advised with the Government upon all ques
tions relating to the abattoirs and markets.

It appeared from the account, that, previous to the
opening of the Abattoirs, in 1818, slaughter-houses ex-
isted in the crowded and populous districts of the city;
and that (as at present in London,) the passage of
the cattle through the streets, and the conse-
quent nuisances, were found to be intolerable.
The five abattoirs were designed with great care, to
obviate these evils, and were generally allowed to have
fully accomplished the purposes for which they had been
constructed; they had been of great public service, in
rendering Paris free from those nuisances, which were
still permitted to exist as such blots on the general clean-
liness of the city of London.
The Abattoirs were erected within the Barriers, op-
posite Montmartre, Menil-Montant, Grenelle, Du Roule,
and Ville Juif, at an average distance of a mile, and
three-quarters from the centre of the city.
The paper, which was accompanied by detailed plans
of each abattoir, and a general drawing of their arrange-
ment, described minutely their construction, as well as
the mode of slaughtering the cattle, the melting the
tallow, and other details connected with the trade car-
ried on therein. All the buildings were stated to bo
abundantly supplied with water, well ventilated, and '
kept in the highest state of cleanliness.
Tables were given of the number of cattle, sheep, and
pigs killed, and the amount of tallow melted during the
last four years; and a statement was appended, from
which it appeared that the revenue (derived from tolls,
charged upon all the meat killed, at per kilogramme),
amounted during one year to 47,608/. 165., that
the total expenses were 4,9581. 125., leaving a
profit to the city a Paris of 42,6501. 45., or about
6i. per cent. upon 680,000/., the original cost of all these
establishments. The paper argued that if this revenue
was obtained front the tails, &c., for slaughtering treat
for a population not exceeding one million souls, who did
not consume anything like the amount of animal food that
Englishmen habitually indulge in, how much greater would
be the profit of such establishments for London, where
there was a population nearly approaching three millions
of souls, in whose behalf such strenuous exertions were
now making for the increase of sanitary regulations and
more ample supplies of water, and everything tending to-
wards a higher state of cleanliness and health.
In the discussion which ensued, and in which Mr. E.
Chadwick, Professor Owen, Messrs. Leslie, May,
Alleu, Itansorne, Elliott, Armstrong, and others, took
part, very interesting statistical facts were given,
in connexion with the present state of the Smithfield
Market, and, the evils attendant upon the animals
being driven through the streets, and then killed in a
state of fever, when the blood was in a condition to induce
rapid decotnpositi,n of the meat, and render it unfit for
food. In proof of this; it was stated that, in the summer,
quantities'of fine meat were frequently obliged to be
thrown by-the butchers•upon • the offal heap, within 30
hours from the time of the animals being slaughtered-'--
putrescence being so rapidly induced by the deleterious
atmosphere of the slaughter-house pervading the place
where the meat was kept.
Among the numerous advantages of a new and spa-
cious establishment, like that of Islington Market, to
which public slaughter-houses are to be attached, would
be the direct contact of the cattle-sellers with the
butchers, and, by thus avoiding the intermediate profit
of the middle men, the latter would be enabled to sell
their meat in better condition, and at a more reasonable
rate, to the public.,

The present objectionable system of Smithfield ap-
peared to be upheld merely as a question of revenue to
the City, for which the public not only paid heavily, bit
suffered severely by common annoyance, and by the
deleterious effect on public health.
Modifications of the Paris system were shown to be
perfectly adapted even to the actual state of the butcher's
trade in London; that the internal arrangements of the
slaughter-houses would not, in any way, interfere with
the employment of the services of the butchers, nor could
any inconvenience arise from their congregating together
at such places—nor any loss from theft. All these pre-
ventive arrangements had been fully explained by Mr.
Grantham, in his recent " Treatise on Public Slaughter-
houses."

The opinion of the meeting appeared to be pointedly
in favour of so desirable a measure as the establishment
of Islington Market; and hopes were expressed strongly
that, by showing to the trade that their interest was so
intimately connected with the measure, their co-operation
would be obtained, to their own ultimate profit, as well
as for the public good.
The Papers announced to be read at the meeting of
Tuesday, February 13th, were :—No. 788, "On the Coal
Field of South Wales;" and No. 7.99, " An Account of
an Explosion of Fire-Damp, at the Eaglesbash Colliery,
Neath ;" by Mr. J. Richardson, M. Inst. C.E.

WATERFORD, WEXFORD, AND WICKLOW RAIL-
WAY —Some blasting operations of an extensive cha-
racter took place on Saturday last, at Bray Head,
where the works for the formation of this railway
are in active progress. It was necessary to remove
a huge mass of rock,. to do which in detail would oc-
cupy considerable time. The resident engineer, Mr.
Purdon, resolved upon effecting it by one great effort,
and accordingly three large drifts were made, 25
feet in depth, 5 inches in diameter, and two supple-
mental ones of smaller dimensions. They were bored
15 feet from the s( a-face of the rock, and about 6 feet
apart. About 4501b5. weight of gunpowder were used
in charging them,' the principal part being of
the quality known as Government powder, by many
per cent. stronger than the ordinary blasting powder.
They were connected with a 10-pair battery of Callan's,
and after due precaution had been used to guard against
accident, they were fired, and an immense displacement
of rock was effected. The explosive noise was not loud
but rumbling, and the spells were not driven any
distance. It was found, on examination after-
wards that ten feet to the landside of the drifts were
carried away, and fissures extended much further, which
will enable the workmen to remove the rock with the
crow-bar. The length of the rock displaced was 45 feet,
the breadth -25 feet, and depth 21 feet, which gives an
idea of the cubic contents. Mr. Copeland, the local en-
gineer, was the operator. Several minor blasts were made,
showing the activity with which obstacles formerly consi-
dered impracticable to be overcome are disappearing.
The long tunnel at the southern end of the head can be
passed through walking upright. The scene of these
most interesting engineering operations is now most
worthy of a ♦isit under favourable circumstances of
weather; the publio will the better be enabled to appre-
ciate the indomitable courage the engineer has had
to face such a field of operations, and how the iron-
bound coast is falling into the track for civilization
and enterprise. The original intention of crossing
the deeply indented ravines made by the sea, by
means of bridges, is abandoned, and all will now be
filled up at an incredibly less amount of expense,
and with equal stability, and safety for this great
project. The road along the head over the works affords
ready access for any pedestrian. On Saturday several
ladies and gentleman enjoyed the excitement which a
most glorious spring day presented, without reference
to the operations 'in progress for the furtherance of the
work of this gigantic undertaking.
THE WILTS ♦ND DORSET BANKING COMPANY.
—The thirteenth annual general meeting of the share-
holders of this company was held at Salisbury, on
Monday last, Alex. Lucas, Esq., in the chair. The
attendance was unusually large. From the report it
appeared that the business and profits of the
company had increased during the past year ; the
latter amounted to 8,1651.85. Bd., out of which a dividend
at the rate of 5} per cent. per annum had been paid to
the proprietors. The report then alluded to losses at
two of the branches of the company—at Christchurch,
by the frauds of their late manager, and at Chip
penham, by robbery—and proceeded to state that
these losses had been met from the reserved fund. The
directors had thought it prudent to reduce the dividend
for the last half-year to 5 per cent. per annum, but they
confidently hoped that this reduction would prove
only temporary. The report concluded by informing
the shareholders that the bank had taken the business
of the old and respectable private banking-house of Tice
and Company, of Christchurch. The usual routine
business was then transacted, and confidence in the late
directors testified by their re-election. A vote of thanks
to the general manager and officers of the company, for
their efficient services, was accorded unanimously; and
thanks having been voted to the chair the meeting
separated.

SEVEN LIVES LOST.—lntelligence has been re-
ceived in this town this morning of an accident which has
occurred at Palau oz' a most shocking nature, and by
which several families in this town have been thrown into
a state of the greatest distress. Letters i rem Palau of Jan.
24 state that Mr. 'Fucker, master of the Whitn, Mr. Ro-
berth Nothard, master of the Garnet, with two foreign
gentlemen, and three of the crew of the Whim, werejout
shooting in the boat belonging to the Whim. From
some cause, unexpluice,l by any letters we have seen,
the boat was upset in the surf, and all in her were pre
cipitated into the water. We are sorry to have to add
that not-oue escaped. This event bas thrown consider-
able doom over the town, and is of course felt most
keenly' by all Ll4,.(3c.opne*(l with the dk.mased. The
"vessels, we believe, were entering at Pillau.—Hutl
Packet.