The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-05 00:00:00

7'o THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIN, —Having observed I'rofessur Muspratt's re-
marks upon the rumoured adulteration of tobacco, of
which I confess I know nothing more than that I am
firmly convinced the matter is immensely magnified
by the Excise authorities, and that many a respectable
man has been put to unnecessary expense through
the difficulty existing of coming to a definite opinion
as regards the presence of sugar in manufactured
tobacco; indeed, one remark in your journal of the
Ist instant, and made by Professor Muspratt him-
self, is sufficiently conclusive that the matter cannot
be tested in all cases so conclusively as justice de-
mands. Professor Muspratt states that he first sub-
mitted some tobacco " that had a sweet smell" to the
capreous test, and that the result was the presence of
sugar. No doubt in this the gentleman is correct, but
is he correct in his after remark, that he then tested a
cigar, " which only left faint indications of the
presence of sugar." Was there any indication at all?
If so, I have not the least hesitation in stating that
the cigar was either manufactured expressly for the
purpose, or that the sugar was produced from the
tobacco itself. In my humble opinion the latter is
most likely, as the tobacco plant is as likely to, and (I
believe does) contain saccharine matter as well as
others. My object in writing this letter is not to
deny the fact that some houses in the tobacco trade
are guilty of malpractices, but having been in one
branch of the trade myself, viz., cigar manufacturer
for the last fourteen years, and knowing many of the
tobacco manufacturers, several instance of oppression
have come under my notice, in Leeds in particular;
therefore it behoves the Excise authorities to be cer-
tain in future ere they oppress innocent persons, who
have but little chance of contending against their
power.
As I before stated, the tests resorted to are not con-
clusive as regards adulteration in tobacco, for lam
certain that no person would be stupid enough to put
sugar with tobacco they were going to make up into
cigars, as it would be certain ruin for the best sort
that could be made; hence it is that the professor,
finding sugar in both tobacco and cigar, it must have
existed to a certain extent is the material itself.
A great impression exists that the tobacco and
cigar trade is one and the same thing; so it is, as
regards the name ; but let it be borne in mind that
the tobacco leaf used in one instance is as different as
day from night to that used in the other, and that
the process of manufacture is equally as wide apart;
so much so, that a person may be all his life engaged
in the one and not have the slightest knowledge of the
other.
Apologising for thus obtruding myself upon your
notice, I conclude with boldly asserting that no
cigars are adulterated, as in this form it could not be
disguised.

I remain, Sir, yours respectfully,
London, Nov. 3, 1849. B. C. I.

ANOTHER CASE OF PREMATURE INTERMENT.--The
Paris papers relate a case of premature interment which
lately occurred in the department of La Mayenne. A
soldier, who was supposed to have died from an indi-
gestion produced by too copious libations of wine, was
about to be buried in the cemetery. The coffin had
already been lowered into the grave, when a low groan-
ing was heard. Just in time. To raise the coffin and
tear off the lid was the work of au instant, and the
buried-alive was taken out. It is said that the man of
war intends to bring an action against his officious
friends for premature interment.
WORKMAN'S HALL.—At Messrs. Ransome and
May's establishment, Ipswich, the site of a workman's
hall has been determined upon, and the money is now
ready to build it. It will cost about 1,0001. There will
bo 40 dormitories for single men and lads, which will bo
let at about Is. 6d. a week, including attendance. There
will be a large room for evening resort, a workman's
drawing-room, a library, and reading-rooms. The build-
ing will be fitted up with baths. There will bo a resi-
dent matron and mistress, a kitchen and a cook. The
privileges of the hall will be available to every workman
upon their establishment, upon paying a subscription of
Is. a quarter; each member will thus not only have a
cheerful room to spend his evenings in, but the oppor-
tunity of obtaining his early breakfast, his dinner, and
his cup of tea at a cheap rate.
LEAMINGTON SPA, Nov. 4.—The influx of company
during the last few days has been unusually great, and
among the number several families of distinction, many
of whom have announced their intention of taking up
their abode with us during the winter months. The
arrival-books at the Regent have this week been inscribed
by his Grace the Duke of Bedford, Earl and Cauntess
of Deabigh, Viscount and Viscountess Fielding, Lord
Charles Russell, Lord Cosmo Russell, Lady Pottinger,
Lord Henry Bentinck, and many other persons of rank.
The Baron de Lyons, Lord Clinton, Lady A. Way, lion.
Mr. and Lady Melville, Hon. Mr., Mrs., and the Misses
Lambton, lion. Mr. Creighton, and Mrs. General Maitland,
are sojourning at the Clarendon. Sir Francis Shuck-
burgh and Miss Shuckburgh, Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Charle-
ville, Colon( I and Mrs. Arbuthnot, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis,
Messrs. Philipson, Turnour, Stanley, and Graham, have
taken up their abode at the Bedford. Lady Tolh macbe
and Miss Lyster, Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Corbet, Colonel
and Miss Campbell, Rev. 11. St. John Howard, Messrs.
Coke, Villiers, Chisholm, &c., &c., are also lifelong our
general arra vale. Madame Sontag's morning concert on
Friday, at which Signor Calz,ilari, F. Lablache, Belletti,
and M. Thalberg assisted, Was brilliantly attended. Mr.
:nd Mrs. Chas. Kean, at the theatre on Saturday night,
met with a very flittering reception by a fashionable
audience.

PRUSSIAN SOLDIERS.—A horrible execution took
place on the frontiers of France last week. Three
Prussian soldiers were condemned to death for refusing
to fire ori•the people. Three etffins were placed beside
them. One wan was shot, thrust into the coffin, and
buried before he was dead. The next was then shot,
half dead with horror. The third was so far from being
dead when in his coffin, that he broke off the lid when
placed i❑ the gr. und. His wire and four children were
within a hundred yards of this awful scene of ferocity.
TUE ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR.--It will not be
forgotten that Vice- Admiral llacres, when commander-
in- chief at the Cape, about two years since, proceeded to
Madagascar to endeavour to restore frieadly relations
between Great Britain and the Queen of that island, but
that he failed in his mission in consequence of the ex-
traordinary demand of the head of Captain Kelly, of her
Majesty's ship Conway (who had a short time previ-
ously chastised the barbarians), and some thousands of
dollars as a " peace offering." By recent intelligence
from the island, we hear the important fact of the death
of Ranavalo Marigaeka, Quee❑ of Madagascar. This
event, there is reason to hi pe, will put an end to the dif-
ficulties which had hitherto existed, as her son, who
succeeds to the throne, is a Christian, and likely to
11 pursue a more liberal and more tolerant policy than that
followed by his mother, of whom England and Franco
had so much reason to complain. The French, however,
appear to have some work on their hands in that quarter,
fur a Mauritius paper of the 6th of August states that
the Sacklaves bad made an irruption into the French
possession of Nossi-E6, killed almost the whole of the
garrison, and forced the inhabitants to take refuge en
board the vessels in the roadstead. The French vessels
on the station were concentrating in order to take yen-
geance for this attack.

THE BANK OF ENGLAND—EXTENSIVE IMPROVE-
MENTS.— In const quence of the great increase of busi-
ness in the private banking department of the Bank of
England, considerable alterations and improvements are
now being carried into effect in the interior of the build-
ing fur the accommodation of the numerous clerks,
which will be complete in the course of a few days.
The site on:which this office is erected is on the south side
of the Bank, adjoining the west wing. It is about 138
feet in length, 46 feet in depth, and 45 feet in height,
with a roof in the form of a dome, in which are lour
skylights; lofty fluted columns at either end, with
ornamented pilasters. A kitchen will also be constructed,
for the purpose of providing dinner and refreshment for
the clerks who will have their meals in the establish-
ment. A new accountant office is to be built, as the
area to be occupied by the private banking department
was formerly that in which the accountant office stood.—
Weekly Chronicle.

THE EARL OF GUILFORD AND THE ST. CROSS
HOSPITAL.—The Right Honourable and Reverend Earl
of Guildford has announced his intention of resigning the
living of St. Mary's, Southampton, estimated to be
worth between 2,0001. and 3,000/. a year. It appears
also that in prosecuting an investigation into the abuses
of St. Cross Hospital at Winchester, of which the Earl
of Guildford is master, some informality has been dia.
covered as to the appointment of the Earl to that office,
and it is not improbable that he will have to refund the
vest sums which he has received from the revenues of the
hospital.
TILE New CANON OF WESTMINSTER. -- We have
much pleasure in stating that the Rev. William Cure-
ton, of the British Museum, has been nominated to the
Canonry of Westminster, vacant by the promotion of
Mr. Milman to the deanery of St. Paul's. Mr. Cureton
is well known, not only in this country but on the Con-
tinent, as one of the first Oriental scholars of the day,
and is the same gentleman of whom we recently an-
nouncedenProufsstihaenbtohldapmperdeceilatoiofnthine Order M,
othfeMKeirnitg,
that he had received from the King of Prussia
haselda
thetok
Mr. Cureton for his recent edition of the " Ignatian
Epistles."

MINISTERIAL
,MOVEMENTS.—VisCoUnt and Vis-
countess Palmerston are expected to-morrow (this
day) on a 'Visit to her Majesty at Windsor, where they
will remain till Wednesday. Earl Grey is expected in
town on Monday, in order to be able to attend the
Council on Tuesday. Bis Lordship will be present at
the Lord Mayor's inauguration dinner on Friday next,
the 9:h of November. Lord Palmerston will also be

present. Sir George Grey is expected to arrive in town
before Friday, and will attend the dinner at Guildhall
on Lord Mayor's-day. Lord John Russell and several
members of the Government will be present at the City
festivities. At the Council on Tuesday, at Windsor,
Count Colloredo will take leave on his return to Vienna,
where it is not unlikely that he will be called upon to
take part in the Government of the Austrian Empire.
The Turkish Envoy and the Russian Ambassador
visited Lord Eddisbury at the Foreign-office yesterday.
—Observer.

MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN,--ThiS company took
-possession of the lands in this county through which the
extension line to Galway will pass, in consequence of
which considerable employment will be given to the la-
bouring population of the district. We have heard,
upon the authority of one who ought to form a tolerably
exact estimate of such things, that the expense of
throwing a bridge across the Shannon at Athlof!f will

onowitl9 upwards of 40,0006 Weetmtath e?wardiail•