The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-22 00:00:00

LONDON? THURSDAY EVENING NOVEMBER 22 1849

NEWSVENDERS' BENEVOLENT
AND PROVIDENT INSTITUTION.

The first annual dinner of the Newsvenders' Bene-
volent and Provident Institution took place last even-
ing at the Albion, Aldersgate street, Mr. Charles
Dickens in the chair. Upwards of a hundred gen-
tlemen were present, and amongst them we observed
Mr. Robert Bell, Mr. Richard Taylor, Mr. Henry
Colburn, Mr. Jerdan, Mr. Leach, Mr. Pickersgill,
and Mr. Mark Lemon. Messrs. Staples served up
an excellent repast, and after Non Nobis had been
sung,

The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were drunk
with all the honours.

The CHAIRMAN then rose, and said that it had now
become his duty to give to them what was usually
called " the toast of the evening." Therefore, his
duty, as' Shakspare said, "could not be silent;" but
he would promise them that what he said should be
said earnestly and to the purpose, and at once as much
and as little as possible. As he learned from the
pamphlet which had been placed in his hands, "it
was ten years since, the new svenders, being a large
and an industrious body in London, established
a benevojent and provident institution, for granting
teinporairy relief and permanent assistance to
persons engaged as masters and servants in that
body ;" and he observed that the institution,
so originated, had this excellent feature—that only
those were eligible, as its permanent pensioners, who
were members of the society, and had contributed to
its funds—as he thought, a very salutary and wise
regulation, not only as encouraging provident habits
and a very wholesome feeling of brotherhood, but
also as sparing the reduced recipients of their bounty
any humiliation in the receipt of those funds—(Loud
cheers)—as inspiring, which he considered was a most
excellent thought, " I can take the money without a
blush. I did a just thing when I subscribed to this
institution ; and I did it for others no less than my-
self. I did not then know that the hour of sickness
and distress which comes to so many of us would
come to me; but, being come, I thank God I was
mindful of it, and that I can take this pittance with
an independent spirit and an upright head."—(Cheera.)
This institution, although it had a portion of 1,0001.
hard money at interest, which was a very tolerable
fortune for a very young creature, was still exceed-
ingly young. As yet its whole life had been passed
in the nursery. It was so young, indeed, that it had
never until to-day come down to show itself after
dinner.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) But as there
was in the infancy of almost all young creatures a
certain period when the frame was collecting vitality
for future stature and strength, so he believed of
this creature that it had employed these ten years
in taking the necessary amount of sleep and very
mild sustenance, and that to day a young giant was
exhibited to them for the first time, which, like the
giant in the " Arabian Nights," would contemp-
tuously kick over the casket which had contained it,
and, unlike the giant, never be able to get into it
again.—(Loud cheers.) The rapidity with which
healthy children out-grew their clothes was, he be-
lieved, a frequent subject:of complaint in most families
—he knew it was in his.—(Cheers and laughter.)
If this child of theirs did not grow out of his first suit
of 1 0001. whilst the nap was yet glossy upon it so
as to compel them to measure him in quick succession
fur a suit of 2,0001., 5,0001., and 10,0001., all he meant
to say was, that the fault would be theirs alone, and
that they would deserve to be made an example of as
must unnatural parents.—(Loud cheers.) For him-
self, as a friend of the family, he never should be
satisfied unless he had an opportunity of saying to the
grown-up bantling, "I knew you when you were a
mere baby, with a very weak chest.—(Laughter and
cheers.) I sat at the head of the table on the very
first occasion when your pinafore was taken off,
and now I see you a strong man—who, if I may
venture to adopt the phraseology of the sporting
portion of the press (with which they were, no
doubt, all familiar) may be heard of once a year at
the bar of the Albion, whose money is ready for all
corners, and who will be very glad to meet with
any customers who may do me the honour of calling
upon me."—(Laughter.) The claims of the news-
venders as a body, upon one another and upon the
public, to erect a provident institution of their own,
and not only that, but to elevate themselves and those
whom they employed in the social scale, in intelli-
gence and good conduct, seemed to him most unde-
niable. It was not that they toiled in all weathers
—that they were up early and late—that they were
watching whilst others were sleeping—that they were
at our doors daily throughout the year ministering to
our requirements, although this was much, and in
virtue of which we owed them a debt of gratitude ;
but it was because they were connected with that
great power which had become the axis upon which
the moral world turned round.—(Great cheering.)
Humbly connected, no doubt, but usefully and in-
separably, they were to that fountain of knowledge to
all men, which was popularly called " the press,"
what conduits were to a well of water, or what the
pipes which undermined the streets of this city were
to the great gas works from which the light came
that turned the night into day.—(Cheers.) It was that
they went for ever between us and those mighty en-
gines which, working night by night, the whole
night through, were felt in their faintest throb
throughout the civilised world.—(Cheers.) It was,
that those men should be in a high degree worthy
of their trade, and should not be behind the members
of any other industrious calling—but should be up
250withy
tehaer
sfor sincee foremost.—(Cheers) o st th.
that
theCh every first am onreewtshpaan.
per was conceived in this island —to stimulate the
ers)lt
was
idea not
of
people to resist the Spanish armada. It was not 200
years since the first notion of a regular newspaper in
anything like the present form was reduced to prac-
tice. A hundred and fifty years ago there did not
appear to have been a single daily newspaper in Eng-
land, and, ten years la'er, only one. When he com-
pared such a state of things with that which now ob-
tained, he felt as if the humble men who were con-
nected with newsvending ought to be in advance of
those times in some proportion to the newspapers
which they sold, and that they should, and that they
might composedly take their stand upon the footing
of their useful trade, and be as recognised and as much
respected in it as the papermaker or the printer.—
(Cheers.) The object which had brought them
together that day might at first appear small enough ;
but it was so great and comprehensive in principle
that it deserved their best consideration. His opinion
was, however humble, that every follower of that
great plough which was ever stirring up the world,
and knew no season of pause in its work,:was de-
serving
of their highest consideration. Therefore, he
proposed to them to drink heartily and cordially
" Prosperity to the Newsvenders' Benevolent and
Provident Institution."—(Loud cheers.)
The toast was drunk with three times three and one
cheer more.

Mr. RICHARD TAYLOR had the privilege of giving
the next toast, though he felt himself inadequate to
do it justice. It was a very happy thing for this in-
stitution that it had for its chairman on the present
occasion a gentleman so much distinguished as was
Mr. Dickens—distinguished in various ways—not
less for the excellence of his genius in having taken
the lead in works of imagination, but for the admi-
rable tendency of all his works—the great knowledge
of human nature which they displayed, and their
tendency to improve the minds of all who read them,
and inspire them with a love of their fellow creatures.
—(Cheers.) After some further complimentary
remarks, Mr. Taylor proposed " The health of their
Chairman, Mr. Charles Dickens."

The toast was drunk amidst great cheering.
The CHAIRMAN, in acknowledging the compliment,
said he thanked them most heartily for this very cor-
dial mark of their goodwill, which, he confessed, he
could not separate from something of the earnestness
of private greeting, rather than of mere public wel-
come.-(Cheers.) He thought that having been
himself a speaker so often already he should now '
confine himself to producing divers unwilling gen-
tlemen whom he saw around him, and contemplating
their sufferings and their triumphs.-(Laughter.) In
thanking them for the honour they had now done
him he could not forget that his first entry into
life, his first success in life, and his first view of the
bearings of life around him were in connexion with a
London daily newspaper. That connexion had always
lived in his remembrance. and he acknowledged it as
a source of great pride and pleasure.-(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN subsequently rose and gave " The
Press in all its Ramifications, and Mr. Jerdan, in
connexion with Periodical Literature."-(Cheers.)
Mr. JERDAN returned thanks.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed " The President,
Vice-Presidents, and Committee of Management of
the Institution."-(Cheers.)
Mr. GILBERT then proceeded to read the report for
the past year, by which it appeared that the funded
property of the institution amounted to 1,0001, and'
that the contributions of parties who were unable to
attend the dinner exceeded 1001., including Mr.
Crompton, 101. 10s.; Mr. Harmer, in addition to
several previous subscriptions, 101. 108. ; Mr. Morgan,
101. 10s.; the Morning Post, 101. 10s.; Mr. Byfield,
51. ss. ; Mr. Whiting, 5/. ss. ; Mr. Walter, M.P., 5l ;
Mr. Wall, M.P., 51.;
Mr. Cassell, Standard of Free-
dom, Si. The contributions at the dinner table
amounted to a liberal sum. Mr. Dickens subscribed
Si. ss. ; Mr. Dawson, Si. ss. ; Mr. Woodburn, Si. 55.;
the Examiner, 21. 2s. ; Mr. Charles Knight, 2/. 2s. ;
Mark-lane Express, 21. 25.; the Record, 21. , 2s. ;
Mining Journal, 21. 2s ; r. Pickersgill, 3/. 3s. ;
Scripps and Sons, 101. 10s. ; and Mr. H. Colburn,
51. ss.
The next toast was " Mr. Pickersgill and the
Artists."
Mr. PICKERSGILL acknowledged the compliment.
Mr. Robert Bell gave " The Health of the Pub-
lishers of England and Mr. Henry Colburn."
Mr. COLBURN returned thanks.
Several other toasts were afterwards drank, and
the company separated at an early hour.
The musical arrangements were under the manage-

ment of Mr. Farquharson Smith, who was assisted by !
Messrs. Goddun, Turner, and Williamson.

RAILWAYS, THE DEEP SEA FISH
ERIES, BILLINGSGATE FISH MARKET, &c.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sra,—There is an. old saying, " That it is a bad
wind that blows nobody good," and that there is
seldom an evil done but some party or other is
certain to reap advantages from it. Since their
construction Railway lines have been effective of
both good and evil almost everybody knows. That
the evil effects must be less than the amount of good
derived must be unquestionable, otherwise how could
railway lines have prospered in the way they have
done? When the injury inflicted upon any certain
class of a community by any sudden innovation or
change is seen, the next duty is to endeavour by
every fair means to try and alleviate the sufferers, and
to do so, if possible, without retaliation upon the
supposed injurers.
I have been moved to the above reasoning in con-
sequence of a discovery latterly made of the disas•
trous effects that railway traffic in fish has upon the
general features of the fish market of London, as
well as upon the pockets of the owners of all decked
welted smacks, for supplying the market with living
cod.

Before the time that railway lines, with their
branches extended from London to almost every sea-
port town and fishing village along the coast, the
London fish market was supplied with cod, ling,
skate, turbot, halibut, plaice, soles, Johny-dories,
&c. &c., from the deep seas, the decked-welled smacks
proceeding hundreds of miles to sea, where the very
strongest and best description of fish are to be had.
Those fish were brought up to Gravesend living in
the vessels' wells. At midnight the fish were taken
from the wells, and sent up the river to Billingsgate
market, to be sold at five o'clock in the morning.
They often were jumping on the salesmen's tables.
The London inhabitants at that time could actually
get living fish in their houses to cook for breakfast.
Like beautiful features suddenly changed by small-
pox, how suddenly have the features of our fish
market been changed since the construction of rail-
way lines. All open-boat and shallow water fishers 1,,
along the coast, (whose fish immediately die, or at
the farthest very soon after they are caugpt, as. they
have no wells to keep them alive), thinking they will
receive high prices at the London market, they put
their fish on the rail, before even consulting the wants
of the inhabitants of the towns they belong to, and
send them direct here. Were only a few to act in
this manner, perhaps the 'effects might be salutary
enough for the London market, as dead fish never did
fetch such high prices as living ones do ; and thereby
poor people might be enabled to purchase fish (such
as they are) at a reasonable rate. But the fact is,
many hundreds of fishermen, from all parts of the
coast, keep sending their catchings by rail in the
same way. The consequence is the market is often
times glutted to excess with a readily perishable
article. They are sold, of course, at prices low
enough; but fish is an article of food, if kept too
long after dying, in (what is termed) a fresh state,
they are dear even as a gift. So many dead shallow.,
water fish being brought to market daily, (all looking
well enough, although not near so good in quality as
the real deep-sea living ones), they are purchased by
many who can afford to pay a better price for living
fish. The results are the decked-welled smack
owners, who are obliged to uphold their vessels at
considerable expense (and in consequence of the
competition offered to them by so many open boat
fishers, whose expenses are small in comparison),
are not realising above half profits sufficient for their
living fish, so as to enable them to pay their crews'
wages and provisions found them. So that, from this
statement, it would appear that they are daily sinking
money. I have been told by a party who ought to
know pretty well, that within the last nine months
the smack owners for supplying. the London market
with living fish have sunk capital to the amount of
nearly 30,0001.
From the above it will be seen who are the
parties in the fish trade that suffer from the evils
caused by railways, namely, the smack owners
and the smack builders. As it cannot be ex-
pected that the smack owners can carry on much
longer at the losing game they are now going on
with, should they find themselves compelled to aban-
don the deep-sea fisheries, what then, it may be asked,
is to become of all the hands now employed in those
vessels, amounting to above 250 smacks, nine hands
on board of each ? It is to be hoped that some
speedy measure will be adopted to avert such an evil
as this step would cause by railway traffic in dead
fish. The present felt and supposed evils caused by
railway traffic in fish, let us now see who are the
parties that the change of wind has blown good to.
I would say, first, railway proprietors for convey-
ance; second, carriers from the railway to market;
third, basket makers which the fish are packed in ;
fourth, the increased supply of fish has more than
doubled the number of retail dealers, particularly
those that may be termed hawkers. The hawkers,
of course, seek out customers to buy their fish who
cannot find time to go to market or a fishmonger's
shop to purchase.
The black and white sides by the change having
now been shown, the question that will naturally be
asked is—Where is the remedy ? The most feasible
remedy that I can see is, that which would do pretty
fair justice to all parties, as the pecuniary interests of
few would be effected by the change.
Let a stable joint-stock company be formed, and
purchase all the smack property from the private
owners at a fair valuation. This company would
keep the smacks going, not only because they are
better calculated for training youth to be able seamen
than open boats are, but because they would be able
to keep up a supply of the very best description of
deep sea fish, as they used to have in olden times.
Now that there are railways, there would be no oc-
casion for the smacks to come to Gravesend. The
fish could be landed at the nearest port from the
fishing ground—Berwick-upon-Tweed, Newcastle,
Hartlepool, Hull, Yarmouth, or in fact any handy
place. Taken from the smacks' wells, packed in ice,
and put upon the rail, they would arrive in London
market as fresh as if they had just been hauled from
a depth of 60 or 100 fathoms water.
I am, Sir, dsc.,
H. DEMPSTER.

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERSe—At the
meeting of Tuesday, Joshua Field, Rol., president, in the ,
chair, the discussion upon the Grimsby Docks being I
continued, the speakers, led by the Very Reverend the
Dean of Westminster, were induced to diverge very
widely from the original subject, to point out the ac-
knowledged advantages that would result from engineers
possessing a more accurate knowledge of geology, and
being able to discriminate between strata by an exami-
nation of the component parts, and to decide upon their
origin, as a guide in judging of their capability of sup.
porting the weights likely to be placed upon them in the
construction of works. The Reverend Dean gave many
instances where, in his opinion, more accurate knowledge
would have secured greater success, or have presented
casualties. On the other hand, although it was admitted
that an accurate knowledge of geology was most valu-
able to engineers, it was contended that they were not
so ill-informed on the subject as had been assumed. In-
stead of accusing engineers of knowing so little, it was
rather a subject of surprise that they knew so much; for
no profession demanded such varied acquirements or the
exercise of such general common sense and judgement.
The discussion was closed by the Dean of Westminster
giving an example of the urgency forcngineers becoming
geologists; and on Mr. -Kende] stating that the clay at
Leith was so hard as to regnire to be blasted, and yet
that, when exposed to a small currant of water, it com-
pletely dissolved within a fortnight, he at once explained
it, as arising from the presence of a multitude of minute
particles of mica, whose non-adhesive properties pro-
duced the speedy disintegration of the mass. This was
admitted to be the fact, and had been observed and al-
lowed for by the engineer in the construction of the
works. The paper announced to be read to the meeting
of Tuesday, November 27, was "An Account of the
Southend Pier; and Notices of the Ravages of the
'iTeredo Navalis,' in timber structures," by Mr. John
Paton.
DEATH Or CHARLES GORING, ESQ., M. —The
mournful intelligence reached us en Monday that at
half-past nine o'clock on the preceding evening this gen-
tleman breathed his last, at Wiston House. Mr. Goring,
who had*married so recently as September last, had been
more or less indisposed for some months, which caused
the postponement of the nuptials. A fortnight ago his
illness assumed a more serious aspect, ultimately taking
the character of typhus fever, under which he sank on
Sunday evening, as already stated. Mr. Goring sat for
the borough of Shoreham and rape of Bramber ever
since 1841, and his death causes a vacancy in the re-
presentation.--Brighten Guardian.
SERIOUS OCCURRENCE AT BRITANNIA•BRIDGE.—A
mishap of a very serious kind occurred yesterday fore-
noon connected with the operation of lowering the great
hydraulic machine from the summit of the pier. The
capstan gang, nine or ten in number, seized with a
panic, suffered themselves to be overpowered; and the
consequence was most serious injury to two of the men
—one being dreadfully bruised about the head, the other
having sustained compound fracture of the thigh. The
tide being favourable, the poor fellows were taken in a
boat to Carnarvon hospital. The press went to the
bottom, and will have to be fished up again.—LYorth

Wales Gazette.
THE HORSE GUARDS CLOCK.—Report states that
the Horse Guards clock Rill probably be brought under
the operation of the Winding-up Act, in consequence of
some irregularities that have lately been observed. We
regret to say that its old hands have not been so faithful
as heretofore, though there has been no actual stoppage
of the works. We cannot undertake to say the cause of
this melancholy change in the habits of the clock, but
there is reason to believe that there are, as the saying
is, " wheels within wheels."—Punch.
BIRMINGHAM, WEDNESDAY.—The visit of the Lord
Mayor and Sheriffs of Lundon to the Exposition of Ma-
nufactures at Bingley House, in this town, has been una-
voidably postponed.
Borrowed thoughts, like borrowed money, only
reveal the poverty that compelled the loan.—Eliza Cook's
Journal,

SIR J. FRANKLIN'S EXPEDITION
UTILITY OF BALLOONS IN ARCTIC VOYAGES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Six,- On the fitting out of the Arctic expedition
under Sir John Franklin, some years ago, I submitted
to the editor of the Times my plans with respect to
the applicability of balloons in Arctic voyages, and I
am fully convinced that had they been carried out
not only might the friends of Sir J. Franklin and his
party, and the public generally, have been saved
great anxiety, but also an immense outlay of money.
I regret that when my scheme was submitted to the
editor of the Times it did not meet with the atten-
tion it deserved ; but I suppose the press of business
prevented thel editor of the Times giving it insertion.
The announcement of Lieutenant Gale, the aeronaut,
in The Sun some time back, and since in other

journals, makes me desirous to lay my plans be-
fore the public. With your kind permission I will at
once proceed to do so.
I propose that an aeronaut, with a complete set of
aeronautical apparatus, should accompany the expe-
dition, or that some person connected with the expe-
dition should he well instructed in all matters relat-
ing to the science of aerostation, the inflation, manage-

meat of a balloon, &c.
I will now point out what the apparatus should
consist of. In the fint place, the balloon should be
constructed of very light silk, about 25 or 30 feet in
diameter, with a net, a light car, Sm.; apparatus for

the production of hydrogen gas should also be taken,
vitriol, iron filings, zinc, &c. A quantity of tissue
paper should also be taken for making small pilot
balloons to serve as signals, ascertain the state of the
upper currents, &c. And now for my mode of work-
ing. Suppose that the shipa are beset by ice, or
frozen in, and the parties wishing to cross an iceberg
or mountain, which would otherwise be attended with
dangerand
tvv o
persons
sfatigue,ascend l letw
t thetlarge r balloonoper t
telescopes,
ebsec
pi inflated,
a ttehde,
drifting of a balloon being prevented by a rope secured
to the ship, and by means of which the aeronauts
might remain at any altitude required, the parties in
the car taking a survey around them, supposing their
altitude to be one mile 4 which would be as high as
they could attain with ropes.
But our knowledge as to the exact power of vision
is so very crude and defective, that I will not here
attempt to set any definite limit to the circle of view
that may be attained at this or any other altitude.
That we gain a vast circle of view by ascending
above the irregularities and obstructions which present
themselves to our sight on the earth's surface is
certain, and I am now making arrangements to carry
out a series of scientific experiments, with a view of
laying down!some positive data on this highly in-
teresting and important subject.
To continue an ascent the balloon may be freed
from the ropes, and a height of two miles can be
attained, and here the parties might possibly see to a
greater, but not (as I think I can prove to the satis-
faction of science) to the enormous extent stated by
Lieutenant Gale, who says, at " an altitude of two
miles, a panorama of at least 1,200 miles would be
placed within observation."
Supposing Lieutenant Gale's statement to be true,
signals made by so small an object as a man on the
earth could not be seen from the car of a balloon at
a height of a mile, nor could the car of a balloon be
seen at this height by parties on the earth. This
must be well known to all who have ascended with
a balloon, though we may on a clear day see the
earth, towns, water, &c., but we cannot discern any
given object. The report of a gun may be heard at
an altitude of one mile ; this being the case, rockets
and maroons could be discharged from the car of the
balloon, which might draw the attention of the missing
parties to it.
I also would propose that a small line of some fa-
thoms in length, wound on a real, should be fixed to
the car, the end of the line made secure at the
place of starting ; let this line be paid out
as the balloon ascends, and it would answer two
purposes. It would lighten the balloon as it was
paid out, so that the weight would serve as ballast—it
would also serve as a guide to the place of ascent or
descent. There could he no objection to this line, as
it could not do any damage, no towns or houses
being in its way. This plan would save much time
and labour. In a few hours the parties in the car
could survey and ascertain what would otherwise take
them weeks to accomplish. "With respect to the
pilot balloons, these could be made of oiled tissue-
paper, and filled with hydrogen gas, or rarefied air.
By means of these pilots fireworks might be sent up,
giving reports. &c., as signals for the missing par-
ties; great numbers of these might be sent up day
and night, as the wind varied—the expense would
be very trifling. These pilot balloons could be
traced on the ice, if found by the missing
parties. Dispatches could be enclosed in a
small car, or in bladlers partly blown, so as not to
sink in water. By this means the latitude and longi-
tude of parties in search could be communicated. I
have no doubt but that if Sir John Franklin had sent
off a number of these pilot balloons in the above
manner, stating his position, some of them would have
been picked up either at sea or on land by the parties
who have been so long in search of him. They
might be so constructed as to remain in the air a
considerable time, by dropping ballast at intervals by
an invention which I shall be happy to explain. A
balloon which was launched at Paris at the coronation
of Buonaparte,. in 1804, remained in the air twenty-
two hours. It fell near Rome, having in that short
time travelled 900 miles. _

I trust, Sir, you will excuse my long let-
ter, =and give it a place in the columns of your
valuable and widely-circulated journal. I shall feel
highly gratified, as I have only one object in view,
namely, to assist in the discovery and preservation of
those brave men who have risked their lives in an
attempt to discover the north-west passage for the
benefit of their fellow-men.
Nothing will give me greater pleasure than render-
ing every assistance in my power in any undertaking
for the discovery of Sir John Franklin and his crew.
I am, Sir, yours respectfully,
JOHN HAMPTON, Aeronaut.

Rotunda, Dublin, Nov. 17, 1849.
P.S.—I shall be happy to attend any committee, if
called upon, to lay before them my plans and draw-
ings, fully illustrating my views.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, WEDNESDAY.

The Queen, with their Royal Highnesses the Prince
of Wales and Princess Royal, drove in Windsor Park
this morning. Her Majesty was attended by the
Viscountess Canning and Colonel Hon. Charles Grey.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert went out
shooting this forenoon, accompanied by the Duke of
Bedford, Sir Robert Peel, and Viscount Canning.
Lord Dufferin, Colonel Hon. C. B. Phipps, Captain
Hon. J. Denman, and Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon,
were in attendance on his Royal Highness.
The younger members of the Royal Family took
their usual airings.
Sir David Dundas (Judge Advocate-General), and
the Right lion. Thomas Pemberton Leigh, left the
Castle this morning.
The royal dinner party this evening included
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent (attended
by her Royal Highness's Ladies in Waiting), the
Duke and Duchess of Bedford, the Dowager Lady
Lyttelton, Viscount Canning, Sir Robert, Lady, and
Miss Peel, General and Lady Isabella Wemyss,
Colonel Hon. C. B. and Mrs. Phipps, Sir George and
Lady Couper, the lion. Mrs. J. Denman, and Mr.
Glover.

Sir George Grey arrived in town on Tuesday night
from his seat, Fallodon, Northumberland. Mr. Sidney
Herbert and Mr. Kingscote had an interview yester-
day with the Right Hon. Baronet at the Home-office.
Mr. li'Lachlan had an interview with Earl Grey
yesterday, at the Colonial-office.
Sir William Clay and Mr. Cobden had an
_interview
with Sir George Grey yesterday.
Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governor of Hong-Kong.
The Earl of Yarborough, Sir James Duke, and
Viscount Chew ton, had interviews with Sir George
Grey yesterday.

HEALTH of the QUEEN DOWAGER.
(From the Court Circular.)
" The Priory, Wednesday, Nov. 21.
"The Queen Dowager passed a tranquil night, but
without much sleep.
" Her Majesty remains in the same state this
morning. "DAVID DAVIES, M.D."

THE OPENING OF THE COAL-EXCHANGE TO THE
TRADE.—Yesterday the Coal-Exchange was opened for
the transaction of the public business of the trade. Mr.
John Wood, the chairman of the coal, corn, and finance
committee, and most of the members, attended in the
building, and when the clock struck twelve, the clauses
of the Act and the Gazette notice having been read, the
entrances to the hall were thrown open. Cheers were
given for the Queen, the city of London, the coal trade,
the chairman, and the architect of the building. The
whole of the arrangements seemed to give perfect satis-
faction to the merchants and factors, and the business of
the day was immediately commenced.
DUBLIN THEATRICALS.—Mr. Marston's tragedy of
Strathmore has been played with great success at the
Theatre Royal, the two principal characters being sus-
tained by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean.
A GAMBLER.—At the entrance of the " Pines," a
man met us in a waggon, and one of the hunters said,
" That man has lost his eyesight with gambling."
" How so?" inquired one of my companions. "It was
thus: He bad a good farm which he neglected, to
engage constantly in gambling. On one occasion he
had sat up eight days and nights consecutively, and he
won another man's farm, house, cattle, and a steamboat;
but he became stone-blind from exhaustion. andis no. w
partially recovered, only sufficient to allow him to drive
a waggon!"—Sir J. Alexander's "Acadie.,”
In compliment to the splendid hospitalities of Sir
James Duke, his mayoralty is known in City history
as the Duke dinnersty (dynasty.)—Punch.

SIR CHARLES FORBES, BART.
Our obituary had to record yesterday the demise
of Sir Charles Forbes, who expired, after a short
illness, at his house in Fitzroy-square, on Tuesday
night, the 20th inst., in the 76th year of his age.
Sir Charles has been for more than forty years head
of the first mercantile and financial house in India,
that of Forbes and Co., of Bombay, and his name
stood in the highest repute in the commercial world
for ability, foresight, and rectitude of character.
As a member of the House of Commons for more
than twenty years, he enjoyed the respect and esteem
of men of all parties, for his love of justice, his kindly
feelings towards the suffering or oppressed, and for
the plain, straightforward honesty with which his
opinions were expressed and his votes were invariably
given. A Tory in the strictest sense of the word, he
never allowed his political creed to cloud his fine
judgment and keen sense of right aad wrong, and his
wanly spirit was readily engaged in favour of the poor,
weak, or persecuted.
Connected from early youth with India, and de-
voted to the welfare of its people, from principle as
vs ell as from feeling, every faculty of his nature was
enlisted in behalf of a country where he had spent
the happiest years of his life, and in which a large
portion of his noble fortune had been most honourably
acquired. In Parliament and in the Proprietors'
Court of the East India Company his advocacy of
" justice for India" was ardent, untiring, uncom-
promising, and regardless of all personal considers
tions but the rights of the people of his adoption.
And well they appreciated such devoted attachment.
From one end of Hindostan to the other—by the
Parsee, the klindoo, the Moslem, by men of all creeds
and ranks—his name was beloved, and his character
deeply reverenced. On retiring from India he was
presented by the natives with a magnificent service
of plate, and 27 years after his departure from Bom-
bay a large sum of money (about 9,0001.) was sub•
scribed for the erection of a statue to their friend and
benefactor—the first instance on record of the people
of India raising a statue to any one unconnected with
the civil or military service of the country. The
chisel of Chantrey has admirably represented the coin.
mending form, lofty bearing, and massive, benevolent
features of the deceased, and this record of gratitude,
at whose feet votive offerings of flowers are presented
by the natives, now stands in the town-hall of Bombay,
between the statues of Mountatuart Elphinstone and
Sir John Malcolm.

The address of the natives of India respecting the
statue deserves a record—
"TO SIR CHARLES FORBES, BART.
"Dear and respected Sir,—We have long cherished
the desire of publicly recording the sentiments of respect
and esteem universally entertained towards you by the
native community of India, and of evincing the admira-
tion and decp gratitude with which we have beheld your
unceasing efforts to promote the interests of this country
and the moral and political improvement of its people.
"Twenty-seven years have tiow elapsed since you
parted from us, but so vivid are all your recollections
and so great is the interest you take in all that concerns
India and the welfare of its inhabitants, that it would
seem almost as if you were still present amongst us,
directly participating, as you formerly did, in all cur
anxious cares for the amelioration of our condition and
the extension of tour social, privileges. This feature of

your character is highly honourable to you, as it is a
rare and remarkable one, for our experience has fully
shown us that but few 111,'D, however estimable, retain a
recollection of their Eastern friends when they have re-
turned to their native country. New connexions, new
friends, new ties, break the links of their regard; and if
they do not forget us, they cease to take that warm
interest in our aff,:irs which we bad hoped for and anti-
cipated. To this common failing of humanity your
conduct has ever formed a distinguished exception; time
and absence, instead of leseniog your regard fur the
natives of India, appear to have the effect of increasing it.
"To your steady and uncompromising advocacy of
our cause we feel that we in a great measure owe the
important civil rights of sitting as jurymen and acting
as her Majesty's justices of the peace. It is felt and
acknowledged by all, that unless you had stood forward
as you did, many years would have elapsed before these
important concessions would have been yielded to us.
Our individual character and capability for appreciating
such high distinctions of social life, if not altogether
disbelieved, was at least reluctantly acknowledged by
those authorities who have the control of our destinies

in England, and the prejudices existing on the subject
could only be overcome by such exertions as your zealous
interest in our cause, your personal knowledge of us,
and we may add, your peculiarly prominent position as
an acknowledged and unvarying friend of India, enabled
) ou to afford.
" Reverting to the earliest period of our connexion
with you, we are proud to acknowledge its beneficial
influence on all that relates to our worldly prosperity
and the prosperity of this island. Your penetration,
intelligence, and enterprise as a merchant, afforded a
stimulating example to commercial undertakings which
was previously unknown in Bombay, and which, being
followed by others, pus been productive of the best
effects in developing the capabilities and resources of the
country. At a period when natives were held less
entitled than they now are to the courtesies of European
society, your condescending kindness and friendly treat•
ment on all occasions of personal intercourse effected
much, in your person, to attach them to European cha
meter and customs, and paved the way for many social
advantages which they now enjoy, and for which we and
our posterity must ever feel grateful.
" To the existing generation your virtues and their
obligations are well known. The old are acquainted
with them from experience, and the young have learned
them from grateful report. This, however, is not suffi-
cient, and we should be wanting in duty to ourselves, did
we not take steps to perpetuate in the most lasting form
the sentiments entertained by us. With these feelings,
it is solicited by us, that you will afford to Sir Francis
Chantrey, or any other eminent artist whom you may
appoint, such sittings as may enable him to execute a
statue, which it is our wish to have erected in some con •
spicuous place in Bombay, so that our children and our
children's children may have before them the image of
him who was the friend of their fathers and the unwearied
advocate of all that tended to benefit India and the people
of her soil.

"With every sentiment of respect, we beg to subscribe
ourselves, dear and respected Sir, your most obliged and
grateful servants,

"CURAMCIIIIND RIITTONJEE,
TARACHUND VASSANJEE,
" And 1,040 Principal Native and other
Inhabitants of Bombay."
But it was in his private charities that the character
of Sir Charles Forbes was peculiarly manifested ; their
extent throughout along life was probably unparalleled;
they were distributed without reference to any other
consideration than the necessities of the recipients, and
in a manner best calculated to soothe and cheer the
unfortunate. The afflicted never solicited Sir Charles
Forbes in vain • the appeals made to him might be
those of simulated distress, but he frequently observed
he would rather be deceived any number of times than
reject the claims of one real sufferer. And so unos-
tentatious was his charity that almost literally the
right hand knew not what the left had bestowed.
One more point, out of many, deserves notice in the
character of this truly good man—one of whose last
acts was the appropriation of a very large sum of money
to procure for the natives of Bombay a plentiful
supply of pure water in all seasons—the liberality of
his mind was as remarkable as the benevolence of his
heart; he was ever disposed to look favourably on the
faults of others—to extend his sympathy to those who
were suffering even from their own errors—to respect
and esteem goodness in others, and to think most
humbly of himself.