The Sun.
London, England, 1836-12-28 00:00:00

c(iuntry until with great difficulty a road was opened down
the hill. In the City several cabs were seen drawn by two
horses, a la tandem.
More snow has already fallen than during the whole of
the forr preceding winters.
During the last few days the fall of snow has been greater
than :ts recollected by the oldest inhabitant of the metro-
polis.. In the memory of our readers, the year 1799 may
not have been forgotten. By those who reside in the imme-
Iliate neighbourhood of the place where the circumstances
took place _which we are about to relate, it is scarcely
known :—On the 2d of February, in the year named, Mrs.
Elizabeth Woodcock, a respectable resident of the village
of Impington, about three miles from Cambridge, was re-
turning home from market, and was overtaken by a snow
drift. She fell by the side of a hedge and remained there
for eight days and nights. On the 10th of the same month
she was discovered, and conveyed home to her family and
friends, in the full possession of her faculties, and well re-
membered hearing the bells from her native village chiming
for the church service. Equally accurate was her hearing
on the morning of the day she was relieved from what she
thought would he her death-bed—again the bells chimed,
and she recognised them. A monument was been erected
to commemorate this event, which exists to the present
day, and proud is the villager to point it out to the tra-
veller who passes near the spot.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
HVNI.EY, DEC. 27.—Since the year 1814, so great a
drift of snow as the present has not occurred in this part of
the country. The Gloucester mail yesterday was four
hours behind, having been imbedded in the snow at Nuf-
field for a considerable time, till extricated by the labourers
and horses of Mr. Newton, at Gould's-heath. The Wor-
cester strap bags did not come at all, that mail not being
at Oxford in time for the regular conveyance to Henley.
The Reading cross-postman was the only person who ac-
compEshed the journey between the two towns in the
course of the day, and he was three times dug out in his
progress. In many of the lanes and roads the snow has
drifted considerably above the hedges. This morning
(Tuesday) no mails either up or down arrived ; and Messrs.
Dixon's Henley coach (which went yesterday and returned)
started with the London bag at nine o'clock ; Mr. George
Dixon drove, and with a strong supply of horses had the
good fortune to open the communication between this town
and Maidenhead, which had been closed more than twenty-
four hours, thus releasing the Stroud and Gloucester mails,
and the Birmingham, Cheltenham, and Oxford coaches de-
tained there ; and the whole (six in number) got to Henley
between 11 and 12 o'clock. Too much praise cannot be
given to Mr. Dixon, through whose exertions their release
was much accelerated. The Stroud mail was fifteen hours
behind time on its arrival this evening—a great part of the
distance over fields, the roads being in many parts utterly
impassable. Not a single Oxford coach left that city via
Henley since Sunday ; and at the time I write this (10
o'clock) the Gloucester mail has not arrived.

THE GLASGOW TOWN COUNCIL

AND SIR R. PEEL.

At the meeting of this body on Thursday the Lord Pro-
vost called the attention of the Council to Mr. Burns's
motion that the freedom of the city be conferred on Sir R.
Peel. _ _ _

_
Mr. BURNS said those marks of distinction which the
Council had it in their power to confer should not be con-
flied to the leaders of one party more than another ; and
be trusted a majority of all parties would join in saying that
they should not exercise their privileges for party purposes.
He hoped the example shown by one party in the Council
to the other, on the last occasion on which they conferred
this honour, would be followed that day, and that the mo-
tion would be passed both courteously and unanimously.
The distinguished individual whom he called upon them to
honour was entitled to that mark of distinction, as he was
officially connected with the city by being Lord Rector of
the University of Glasgow. He was an individual of first-
rate classical attainments, and his character was most ex-
erntl ry.
Mr. HOPE seconded the motion. He thought there
would be no opposition to the motion whatever, for he was
sure by agreeing to it, they not only conferred honour on
Sir R. Peel, but paid a compliment to the University.
Mr. DOUGLAS said the first of virtues was sincerity. He
did not think that any one could sincerely say the motion
was disconnected with politics ; for Sir Robert Peel, it
was said, should be merely viewed as Rector of the Uni-
versity. But he was chosen solely on political grounds,
though it was true that his party had fallen back on his
personal character as safer to stand on than the noble can-
didate they abandoned. He (Mr. D.) was always ready to
discuss such political questions in good temper, and to al-
low every just praise to a fair political opponent. As a
Member of the Reformed Council of Glasgow, chosen
by a Reforming Constituency for similarity of politics, he
did not wear opinions like a cloak for the hustings, which he
would betray the people and disgrace himself by leaving
behind him on a pe.g when he entered that room. The seat
he held there it was given to the citizens to bestow on him,
in spite of the strenuous opposition of the party of which
Sir R. Peel was the leader, only more dangerous to free-
dom for his great talents ; and he should stultify himself
if he should vote the city's freedom to him who opposed
the freedom of that very city. He would not waste time
in recouueing all the striking instances in which Sir R.
Peel ha'i opposed the cause of liberty and reform, but
simply refer to the memorable case when he voted against
the two liberated Members cut off from Retford being
transferred to the great manufacturing metropolis of Eng-
land, Manchester, to which he owed his birth and the for-
tunos of his family—for supporting which four Ministers
were expelled from the Cabinet of which he was the Com-
mons' leader. Mr. Douglas concluded by moving an
amendment—" That this Reformed Council, who owe
their seats to that Reform which was opposed by the
party of which Sir Robert Peel was the leader, cannot,
without stultifying themselves, offer him a vote of appro-
bation."
Mr. TURNER seconded the amendment.
Mr. MiGaviN, when he concurred in the vote to confer
the freedom of the city on Lord W. Bentinck, was never
more surprised than at notices of motions being given for
conferring that honour on others. There had been repeated
warnings given by the same party against making that
chamber the arena of political discussion, but the present
was the greatest political question which had ever come be-
fore the Council. For his own part, he bad never brought
forward anything political, or, if he had, he would have
made a motion to confer the freedom of the city on Feargus
O'Connor.—(Laughter.) The value of the thing did not
exceed 2s. 6d., except from the approval of the character to
which it was presented. Now he dissented as much from
the political sentiments of Lord William Bentinck as he did
from. those of Sir Robert Peel. He therefore supported
the amendment.
Mr. DALGListi said they had many precedents of what
the old Town Council had done, and which he thought the
present council ought to follow, and one of these occurred
in 1830, when Lord Lansdowne was appointed Rector.
Upon that occasion the Marquis of Lansdowne was pro-
posed to be honoured with the freedom of the city as being
an eminent Statesman and a man of liberal sentiments in
politics. If politics had been discussed at that time there
would have been a majority against his Lordship ; but he
could say for that Council that there was not a dissenting
voice. Not one individual, however much opposed to his
Lordship's political opinions, uttered a word of dissent.
Mr. CRAIG thought, had Sir Robert Peel come here by
accident, it would have been very good taste to have given
him the freedom of the city upon personal considerations ;
but the purpose for which he was to visit Glasgow was
clearly political—there was to be a great dinner of his
friends, avowedly for a political purpose. Mr. Douglas
bad observed, Sir R. Peel was at the head of a party
who bad opposed that burghage liberty which they now
enjoyed ; and as there was a great noise made about re-
action, they would be held as recognising the principles
of the Hon. Baronet ; the cry of more re-action would
be raised, and with tolerably good grounds, if :the re-
form town-council of Glasgow so far forgot their poli-
tical opinions as to give him the freedom of the city under
the pretence that it was merely from personal respect. He
would, therefore, vote for the amendment.
Mr. CAMPBELL was exceedingly sorry that the dis-
cussion had assumed a political appearance. They had
many grounds for conferring the freedom of the city on
Sir R. Peel without at all entering upon political grounds.
lie had been raised almost immediately to a very high
rank, and they could now hail him as a man of great
wealth and influence—not on account of his wealth, but
influence, which arose from the principle of the motto
that " Knowledge is power." He did not like the little
pettish principle of saying, had Sir R. Peel got his will
they would not have been there ; that was a very un-
gracious mode of retaliating.—(Laughter.) It would be
an honour and a credit to the council to give the freedom
of the city to Sir R. Peel.
Mr. BANKIER was very much surprised when he heard
the notice given of this -motion. Gentlemen need not dis-
guise the real purpose of the motion. It was a political
motion, and they need not attempt to screen it under the
pretence that it was merely personal. If there were any
public act which Sir R. Peel had done for which he could
give him credit, he would do so. Needed he to say that
there was only one act which he did approve—namely, his
granting Catholic Emancipation ? He did give him credit
for that, but he did not feel warranted in giving him a vote
of thanks, knowing, as they all knew, that Glasgow was not
a Catholic city.
The DEAN of GUILD, notwithstanding the reiterated
assertions of some of the members of Council that this
motion was brought forward with a political view, must re-
peat his own assertion that he did not understand it as such.
Gentlemen need not be afraid of their political opinions

being in jeopardy, for their opinions on political matters
were all well enough known ; and as well might it be said
that he agreed to the vote for honouring Lord W. Bentinck
on the principle argued. The public dinner to be given to
Sir Robert Peel did not affect this question, because the
same thing took place in the case of Lord Lansdowne.
Mr. J. B. GRAY observed that the Dean of Guild had
said he did not view this as a political, but merely as a
personal, question. According to the report of the speech
of the Dean of Guild which he read in the newspapers,

as having been delivered at the meeting for making ar-
rangements for the dinner, the Dean of Guild said that it
was not a political question to which he spoke—that the
dinner was to be given on personal considerations. Had
he stopped here he raight have been borne out ; buh•
what did the leader of that party say in opposition to the
Dean of Guild ?—" A reaction has taken place, and this
dinner would be a proof of such reaction." [lllr. Neil—
That is only one man.] There was the secret let out.
There it was stated that this dinner was to.be a political

dinner ; that it was got up to prove the reaction—to prove
that there was reaction in the political feelings, not only

of Glasgow, but of Scotland. - He did not blame the
opposite party for making a demonstration ; let them con-
gregate in thousands, to do honour to the celebrated
leader of their powerful party. What he (Mr. Gray)
said, was that this was a political question—that the
dinner was a political question—and he was now
asked to give the freedom of the city, whatever might be
the political principles avowed. The election of Sir R.
Peel as Lord Rector, was an election arising out of poli-
tical objects alone. The parties were ranged on each
side, and all avowed that they were actuated, and he
would hazard contradiction on that point, from political
feeling alone. If they conferred the freedom of the city
on Sir Robert Peel, they would be doing what Mr. Craig
had said—giving an additional proof that there was re-ac-
ion. They would be said to represent the political feel-
ing of Glasgow, and as approving the feelings of their
opponents. But, added the gentleman who brought
forward the motion, on account of his classical attain-
ments, they should confer the freedom of the city on Sir
R. Peel. The only precedent the other party had was
the Marquis of Lansdowne, and no one needed to fear
his politics. The freedom of the city might be conferred
on him without doing much injury to any political feeling
whatever. Under these circumstances how did it come to
pass that Sir Robert Peel was to be presented with the
freedom of the city ? At that time political feeling was as
strong as it was now, and the party who held the situation
they now held would have considered it a falling off from
their political sentiments had they conferred the freedom
of the city on those persons whom he had named ; and
would they now honour the leader of him who, as Mr.
Douglas had said, opposed to the utmost that reform which
they now enjoyed, and who left his protest in the Journals
of the House •f Commons against it? However unim-
peachable his personal character, however eminent his clas-
sical attainments, these only made him a more powerful
supporter of the principles of the party wbo gave him
their support, and for one precedent which that party had
shown of their honouring those opposed to them in politics
he had referred to many others against them. He was not
going to enter upon Sir Robert Peel's political life. The
opinion men held they were free to express, and the other
party need not seek him to approve of their political opi-
nions by the vote which they asked. They must endeavour
to make the most of what they had said they would do by
their demonstrations—prove that there was reaction. He
would not assist them. He would say by his vote that
there was no reaction. The question was solely a political
question. Why the gentleman on his left hand had said
he would do everything in his power to discountenance the
conversion of the Council into an arena for political discus-
sion, and yet asked them to confer the freedom of the
town on Sir Robert Peel, as being an able man—a man of
eminent classical attainment's and a politician—he could
not say.
The DEAN of GUILD said the report which Mr. Gray
had quoted was not altogether correct. He never denied
that it was to be a political dinner ; but he never confounded
the dinner with conferring the freedom of the city. He
never wished to do so.—(Cries of " Spoke.")
Mr. PAUL had pledged himself not to support a vote
for conferring the freedom of the city on any other man
until it was conferred on Lord Stanley, who, for an enligh-
tened mind and Christian attainments, was as well entitled
to receive that honour as Sir Robert Peel. Mr. Paul went
into a detail of the proceedings which took place when he
made the motion for conferring the freedom of the city
on Lord Stanley about two years ago. He was left with
only six of a minority in the Council at that time. He
never held the political opinions of Sir Robert Peel, but he
would be the last to detract from the merits of that gentle-
man, or who would wish to throw a damp on his visit to
the city.
Bailie FLEMING supported the amendment on the same
grounds as Mr. Campbell supported the motion. Mr.
Campbell had said Sir R. Peel was one of themselves, but
he joined the aristocracy of the country, and his splendid
talents were employed in opposing the class from which he
had sprung. He would not act so " spanielly" as to confer
compliments of such a kind on this man.
Bailie DUNLOP was one of those who supported the free-
dom of the city being conferred on Lord Stanley, an honour
which he would confer on any great public servant. He
proposed voting for the motion, but he could wish it carried
without a division.—(Great laughter.)
The Deacon CONVENER hoped the gentlemen opposed
to Sir Robert Peel in politics would act with the same libe-
rality as the other party did when the vote was carried for
Lord William Bentinck. Did itey suppose that those who
acceded to the motion did so as aimark of their approbation
for his Lordship's political opinions ?
Mr. J. HUTCHINSON regarded Sir Robert Peel as a man
of great eminence, but were he to do as he was asked to do
by this motion he would be giving the lie to his whole poli-
tical life, and the wishes and feelings he entertained on the
grounds of his character as a Reformer would be blasted.
Sir Robert Peel had not desisted from his opposition to
Reform. The last session of Parliament he resisted Re-
form in the municipal corporations in Ireland till the very
last. He was an opponent of all Reform. He was no
doubt a great man and an eminent scholar, and he would be
glad to see him join in the cause of reasonable, not Radical,
reform.—(Laughter.)
On a division there voted, for the motion 12 ; for the
amendment.l9.—Glasgow Chronicle.
A more preposterous motion (says the same paper) was
never submitted to the consideration of a deliberative as-
sembly. No Member of Council laying claim to the
slightest particle of consistency as a Reformer could have
supported it. A great deal too much was said about Sir
Robert Peel's talents. For our parts, we shall never ad-
mit that real talent is possessed by those who set themselves
against the liberties of the people. Sir R. Peel is the most
dangerous enemy of popular rights now living, and the re-
brmed town council would have stultified themselves, and
ncurred the contempt of their constituents, had they fallen
into the Tory trap.

Earl and Countess Amherst and Lord and Lady
Holmesdale and family have arrived at Montreal, near
Seven Oaks, where they will pass the Christmas holydays.
The Countess of Plymouth, from Knowle Castle, has arrived
at Montreal. _ .

The Dowager Lady de Clifford will arrive at her
mansion in Carlton-terrace on the 6th of January, to make
preparations for the approaching marriage of her niece, Miss
Sotheby, to the Rev. Mr. Eatcourt.
The Duchess Countess of Sutherland is expected
to return to Hamilton-place to-day, from Oatlands, where a
select circle are enjoying the hospitality of Lord Francis
Egerton.
Between eight and nine o'clock on Sunday night, a
respectably dressed female, about forty years of age, was
brought into the North London Hospital, in Upper Gower
Street, Bedford-square, by a police constable of the S divi-
sion, who had discovered her leaning against the railings of
the inclosure of Euston-square. She was directly attended
by Mr. Pearce, the house-surgeon, who ascertained that she
was labouring under the effects of a powerful dose of lau-
danum. The stomach pump and the usual antidotes were
employed, and the whole of the poison was extracted from
her stomach ; after which she was kept in motion and
awake for about five hours, when a re-action in the system
took place, and confident hopes are entertained of her re-
covery. She states her name to be Jane M'Less, 46 years
of age, and the wife of a respectable tradesman residing at
No. 26, Charlton-street, Fitzroy-square. She was jealous
of her husband, and after a few words with him, as they
were sitting together to enjoy the Christmas evening, she
suddenly left the room, and, putting on her bonnet, went
into the first chemist's shop she came to, and obtained six-
pennyworth of laudanum, which she drank off, and then
wandered about until she lost all recollection of what was
passing round her.
THE NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.—EDITED
BY THEODORE Hoots, ESQ.—Among numerous other dis-
tinguished contributors to this popular Magazine, which,
from the Ist of January, will be edited by Theodore Hook,
Mr. Colburn announces the following .
Author of " Tremaine." Douglas Jerrold, Esq.
Authors of " The Rejected Ad- Miss L. E. Landon.
dresses." Miss Mitford.
Barry Cornwall. Sir Charles Morgan.
Haynes Bayly, Esq. Lady Morgan.
S. Beasley, Esq. The Hon. Mrs. Norton.
Laman Blanchard, Esq. R. B. Peake, Esq.
J. B. Buckstone, Esq. J. R. Planche, Esq.
Thomas Campbell, Esq. John Poole, Esq. (the Author of
B. D'lsraeli, Esq. " Paul Pry.")
Ebenezer Elliott. Hamilton. Reynolds, Esq.
The Rev. G. R. Gleig. Leitch Ritchie, Esq.
Mrs. Gore. The Author of " Glances a'
Mrs. S. C. Hall. Life."
Benson Hill, Esq. N. P. Willis, Esq., &c,
Leigh Hunt, Esq.