The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-01 00:00:00

HOP IN TELL IGENC,E.

BOROUGH, JULY 30.—This morning the accounts
come decidedly worse from Mid-Kent. From the
Weald of Kent and Sussex the stated improvement of
last week amounts to nothing. We have a firm
market, with few hops on sale. Duty down to
70,0001.

MAIDSTONE.—In our best grounds the late rains
have done good. Some of the crack grounds begin
to " look up," but the weak grounds are foul and un-
promising. The rains seem to have washed off many
of the vermin, and stimulated and refreshed the plant.
The growth of our immediate neighbourhood will,
however, probably be unequal.
The present state of the grounds in this immediate
district may be gathered from the following observa-
vations made during a ramble through the parishes
named. In Boxley the grounds have suffered very
severely. Bearsted and Thurnham are in the same
category, with one or two exceptions. Boughton and
Loose will probably grow a good crop for the year. In
Linton the Golding grounds are short of bine, but gene-
rally healthy, and will produce a good, though perhaps
a short crop. The Joneses look better than the
Goldings, end all have improved since the late rain.
In the higher parts of Hunton the grounds seem
better than in the lower, but though short of bine
they appear healthy and likely to grow a few
hops. In those parts of Marden near to Hunton,
the grounds have suffered great:y, and will
scarcely recover. The Yalding grounds are highly
favoured, and some are quite as good as those of
Boughton and Loose. The West Farleigh grounds
are not so good, down towards the river, as
may be seen higher up. There are, hoWever, both
bad and good, in both localities. Banning, which
has been much blighted, is not improving. Some of
the pieces look badly, but others will probably pro-
duce a short crop. The Ay lesford grounds are mostly
gone, excepting some few pieces. Generally speak-
ing improvement is visible during the past week,
although many grounds ace " past praying for."
WATERINGBURY AND MERENVOUTII—The hops
have not improved within the last week to the extent
that it was supposed they would, and some of the
grounds have gut won e.
BRENCHLEY.—rhe hops have not improved gene-
rally in this palish since last week with the exception
of very few gardens ; a total blight must be the result.
I notice a great improvement in our neighbouring
parishes (Yalding, &c) but that is confined to a small
space, consequently will not swell the duty as some
may calculate. Our annual hop dinner takes place
on Wednesday.

HAWKIIURST.—This district, which is of consider-
able magnitude, is still bad, and the crop will be only
a few on the top in the best grounds, in others, none
at all.

IGIITHAM AND SEAL.—With the exception of a
few grounds which continue slowly to improve, the
hops are looking very bad.
WHOTHAIII.—The hops are not looking at all well
this week. They are nearly as full of insects as ever,
and look very black. Considerable fears are enter-
tained that there will be very few hops here this
season, as there is no time for them to recover.

DIALLING.—The improvement in some grounds is
very slight, and the young shoots and burr are still
followed up by the vermin, while other grounds are
looking worse daily.
CRANBROOK.—The late showers have had the effect
of bringing out the burr in some of the grounds, but
there is still a considerable deal of bine which is any-
ting but promising.
CANTERBURY.—The bine has recently mad© some
improving shoots, and there is hope among the
planters that Canterbury will contribute its quota of
the anticipated low duty. The speculations with the
betting men are very confined, and few are bold
enough to back 100,000, but there are such either
from judgment and hazard, or because it "suits their
book."

BOUGHTON MALHERHE AND KENNINGTON —The
hops in these parishes and neighbourhood are very
black, and full of vermin, and from the shortness of
bine the crop must be very small, although some im-
provement is visible since the late showers.
EDENBRIDGE.—There is an improvement in some
of the strongest bine, but the weak do but little if
anything.
ORPINGTON.—The late storms have washed the
hops, and made them look better, and the hill 3 that
were possible to improve have done so, but the others
romain in statu quo, upon the whole they look more
propitious, v.ith less vermin.
HURSTGREEN.—The late rains have improved some
plantations that were in an improving state, but
others have gone worse and are judged past recovery.
The general accounts do not app ar to warrant an
advance of duty.
FARNHAM, ALTON, AND COUNTRY DISTRICTS,
JULY 30.—We refrained from trans:nitting you a re-
port of the state of the hop plantations last week,
in the hope that we should be able to speak more con-
fidently of an improvement at the present time, but
we are sorry we cannot do so. A small portion of
Farnham is still looking well, as also a few acres in
the country; but the very great proportion of the dis-
trict, which were struck so hard with the blight, is
past recovery, and is certainly looking worse since the
abundant and fine rain with which we have been
favoured.—Maidstone Gazette.

MANCHESTER, TRADE REPORT.—TUESDAY.—We
have again to report a considerable falling off in that ac-
tivity which has been so evident for the last month or
two. The past week has witnessed less inquiry for all
kinds of goods, and there is little doubt but that foreign
buyers have become well stocked for some time to come,
and that there will now be a pause in their operations.
Besides which prices as quoted from the Indian market
can scarcely be said to be as favourable as might have
l e
been expected. This circumstance, together
at
large amount of goods now in transit, and the cio:vdniutcrline,utd
firmness of producers, may be expected
in the p
Ore market.
least for a time, considerable inactiviryani
fi as eve r, and
To-day manufacturers have
unt of business tram
also are firm, but thek
buyers have been and are
in many cases were firmer in t.lbtmeeieorndaesmands than before.
sacred is limited. The Grer
t.
on of goody
rn markets.
Countess of Errol wlis
heavy purchasers,
he
EanoL.—Weread •
vasbturet the greatest proportion
in a letter
is shippeda,tta to the
COUNTESS T
tjhurloyuglho :13—onaventure-street, when she
let the reins drop. The horses took
fright, and she jumped from the back of her carriage,
forgetting that there was a seat behind. She cleared
tdi na drivingtroe drt Mn°lla ertrisyee
the first one very well, but her clothes caught on the
back one, and she was dragged tome distance before
the horses were Stopped. Fortunately she is not much
hurt, but the injuries may yet prove serious, as she
is very delicate." Lady Errol is the daughter of General
Gore,
commanding the British troops in Lower Canada.
She has not yet teen twelve months married. In society
she is generally beloved for her goodness of heart and
her accomplishments. We sincerely hope the injury may
prove slight.

BRITANNIA TUBULAR BRIDGE.
MENAI STRAITS, JULY 30.—The preparations
here for performing the important and perilous ope-
ration of hoisting this enormous fabric to its psrma-
nent position over the straits are on a scale of immense
magnitude. This will be all the more readily under-
stood when it is stated that the total dead weight to
be lifted 100 feet from high-water mark is upwards
of 2,000 tons, or equivalent to the elevation to that
height of upwards of 30,000 men. A general impres-
sion appears to prevail that when the tubular bridge
was floated the whole operation was completed ; but
this, if it may be so termed, is a vulgar error. The
floating was nothing more than the launch of the great
iron ferry to the precise site from whence it has now
to be raised by mechanical power specially con-
structed for the purpose, to a height nearly equal to
that of St. Paul's. The stroke of the hydraulic presses
employed for the purpose is six feet; that is to say,
they are only capable of raising it six feet at one
lift. The tnhe of 2,000 tons has consequently to be
sustained while the presses are lowered and a fresh
hold obtained. This sustentation, owing to the im-
mense magnitude of the labour, will be effected by
building up successive layers of masonry, at every six-
feet lift, under the tube, to support it securely in its up-
ward ascent, during which arrangements will he made
for another six-feet hoist, until the whole 100 feet
are finished. Were it not for this process of building
up, the operation would olnv cocupy about a day; but
as it is, it will take a fortnight. This precaution has
been adopted by Mr. Stephenson and Mr. Clark to
guard against the prcbability of casualty, seeing
that, should an accident occur, the labour of years
and the outlay of half a million would besinevitably unk.
To insure security, however, some contrivances are
adopted by which the supporting chains as they rise
are to be continually followed up by wedges of wood,
so that in the event of any accident arising to the
lifting machinery, no injury, it is expected, would
happen to the tube, the first lift of which, should no
unforeseen accident arise, will take to-morrow (Tues-
day), or if not then, on Thursdas.
The mechanical contrivances for the purpose are
the largest in the world, and the most powerful ever
constructed. Favoured by Mr. Clark, one of the
able engineers of the works, we are enabled, from a
close personal inspection, and the advantage of that
gentleman's explanations, to give a description of
the vast apparatus for hoisting the huge burden.
The machine used to effect this is an enormous
hydraulic press, a contrivance invented by Bramah,
and used in operations where intense pressure is re-
quired. Its construction is of the most simple charac-
ter, and consists only of an exceedingly thick and
heavy iron caylslindooef ri,rolink,ecaallme
do rt tha
er . r a
tAn swt roor nkgs
up ips taonnd,
down inside this cylinder, and is fitted with a leather
collar at the shoulder, so as to render it water-tight.
Water is forced into the cylinder by a force-pump,
through a small orifice which may be compared to
the touch hole of a gun, and this water gradually
forces up the piston. The whole secret of the im-
mense power of there machines consists simply in the
prodigious force with which the water is driven into
them, and which, in the present instance, says my
informant (Mr. Clark), is so great that it would
throw the water to a height of nearly 20,000 feet,
which is more than five times as high as the neigh-
bouring noble pinnacle of Snowdon, and 5,000 feet
higher than the monarch of mountains, Mont Blanc.
It, in fact, resembles the piston of a steam engine,
but instead of using steam at 301bs. or 40Ibs. pressure
to the inch, water is used at a pressure of B,ooolbs.
or 9,0001b5. The cylinder, of course, is of almost
adamantine strength, to enable it to sustain and with-
stand this pressure. The sides of the largest of the
presses used in raising the bridge are 11 inches thick.
The weight of the cylinder, which is of cast-iron, in
one piece, is 16 tons alone, but the whole machine
complete is 40 tons. The ram or piston working
within it is 20 inches in diameter, and if worked to
its utmost power, this press would alone be quite ca-
pable of raising one of the tubes. The marvellous
thing above all is this—that, in spite of its immense
proportions, its stupendous action is guided and con-
trolled with the most perfect ease and precision by
one man. This hydraulic giant was constructed by
Messrs. Easton and Amos, engineers, of Southwark.
It stands on two beams, in a lofty sort of eyrie at the
top of one of the towers, from whence a grand and
open view is obtained of the straits seaward, while its
elevation above the ravine is upwards of two hundred
feet. The press is composed of wrought-iron plate,
rivetted together at the top of the side towers,
where, with its assistant machinery, it occupies a
large chamber to itself, about 29 feet above the level
to which the bridge has to be raised. The sensations
experienced on looking down from this lofty
elevation, over the rushing stream of the straits, and
the great tubes and machinery strewn round about
below, are of a peculiarly impressive character. In
addition to this large press, there are two smaller
presses, with ramslB inches in diameter, placed side by
side at a similar level in the Britannia tower, and
which act in conjunction with the large press. The
chains by which the power exerted by the presses in
their lofty position is communicated to the tube lying
at the base of the tower, re.setnb!e the chains of an
ordinary suspension bridge, and are similar to those
of the bridge at Hungerford. They were manufac-
tured by the patent process of Messrs. Howard and
Ravenbill, of London, and consist of flat links, 7
inches broad, 1 inch thick, and 6 feet in length, with
an eye at each end, and are bolted together in sets of
eieht tnd nine links alternately. The weight of
these chains ernplo3ed in lifting the 2,000 tons is
about 100 tons, far exceeding that of the well-known
equestrian statute of the Duke of Wellington at
Hyde-park, which has hitherto been regarded as one
of the greatest "lifts" of the age. These chains are
attached to the tube at two feet from the end ; and in
order to get sufficient purchase at the part, three
strong frames of cast iron are built into each end of
the tube. The innermost frame only stiffens and
supports the sides while the tube is resting on its ends.
The two outer framss are the lifting frames. The
chains are attached to these by three sets of massive
cast-iron beams, placed across the inside of the tube,
one above another, their ends fitting under dtep
shoulders or notches in the lifting frames, where
they are secured by screw bolts. As an additional
security, two very strong wrought-iron straps pass
over the upper pair of beams, and desceni into the
bottom cells beneath the frames, where they are
strongly keyed. The weieht of these lifting frames
and cast-iron beams is 200 tons; and it is even a
matter of wonder among the engineers themselves
how machinery can be made strong enough to raise
the ponderous load. The way in which the chains
are connected with the press is by an exceedingly
thick and heavy beam of cast-iron, strengthened by
wrought-iron ties across the top. It rests like a yoke
upon the shoulder of the rani, and is called the cross
head of the press. The two chains pass through
square holes at either end of the cross head, and are se-
cutely gripped at the top of it by an apparatus called
the clams, consisting of two strong cheeks of wrought
iron, drawn together by screws, like a blacksmith's
vice The beams on w hick the presses stand, the
crossheads, and all the parts that are subjected to a
very heavy strain, are either constructed of or
strengthened by wrought iron, which is found to be
less brittle and more trustworthy than cast iron. As
the tube is twelve feet longeer, allowing six feet at
Nevalcilhc
h end,
the
stehparrei
sstehse
wdoisrkta,nrcee
cesses betweenorg the
roo,,,etsoawreers in
left
in the face of each of them six feet deep, in order to
receive the additional length, and of sufficient width
to allow the end of the tube to slide up easily within
them. These recesses extend from the bottom of the
towers to nearly the height of the hydraulic machines.
It is in the low end of these recesses, on a soft bed
of timber placed to receive it, that the great tube
since its successful floating, has been lying in state
across the estuary of the straits, until these vast
mechanical equipments for ballooning it to its per-
manent level, 102 feet above high water-mark, were
completed.

TENEL—This very delightful watering place is
now overflowing with respectable visitors. This is at-
tributable to the fact of its being one of the best sea-
bathing places in the kingdom, and as at Ab,rystwith,
that pt,rsons may bathe in transpirent sea wateratvaz
state of the tide. We are pleased to find thatt thelod,ings
fors do not complain of high charge's, but
d riahtae cost. In
wlkeihl killed
and board are to be had at a very
moderate
for Bristol
addition, or rather a fortiori,
are conveying passengers in
r„nby to Haverfordwest for
1 i
loest;llianb6riftlati;a
nicietlio,:ii.iAno isa roemr enamantaiwrykeaass b
on deck for 2s 6d.; thothbeesattecastbin for 55., and
t
fry distance of one hundred
Gs. more, so that trav
horse; her age was 106. There
miles now ostsofbbyt?...:
the longevity
there last
9okon.s-in the place
ages "e 8° , P rwho wish
LAUGHANINE.— e sons
enj salu-
brious and invigorating sea air at a very moderate cost,
quiet little town which
will do well. to visit this
'tvohwomastlnsePaer4Lk olinidgoinisht.hanlt
aith,.ugh in Carmarthenshire, is inhabited by 'persons'
anyis m oor
tehlike
placesom some
in
nt thethe smellking
dom. House rent is less than half of what is paid a
13 Ath) Ch“ltenham, or Brighton; provisions extremely
cheap. Beef and mutton sd. per lb.; ducks or fowls, 2s.
per couple; eggs, forty for a shilling; soles, 3d. per lb.;
geese in the season 4:1(i. to sd. per lb. Pendine sands
near the town are the best in South Wales, not only for
bathing, but for carriage drives, being eight miles long,
end as firm as those neer Weymouth. Very few places
f the sir. can boast of so many respectable resident in*
habitants, so that comfort, health, and economy, may all
be ensured here.— W elshman.
LAYING OF THE FIRST STONE OF TIIE NEW
FULHAM WORKHOUSE.—OR Monday afternoon the first
stone of the new workhouse of the Fulham Union was
l tid by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of London, in
the presence of the members of the present board of
guardians of the union and those of the past year, and
ilae leading and other inhabitants of both parishes, to the
amount of about 800, a large number of whom were
ladies. The workhouse, the hospital and receiving-house
of which are already erected, is to be built to contain 480
inmates. The contract is for 12,0001,