The Sun.
London, England, 1831-07-27 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Quarter before 7, p.m., July 25, on board the
Kent hoy, from Iterne-bay,
have just witnessed one of the most wanton
pieces of carelessness (to say the least of it) ever wit-
nessed on the river. A barge was getting up sand out
of the river off the point below Woolwich, when a steam-
vessel, without a name, but apparently a Government
steamer on trial (as I afterwards saw her lying
off Wool-
wich dock-yard), ran down the barge, although I
distinctly heard the parties in the barge call out, and
there was sufficient room for at least four vessels of her
sire to pass between the barge and the vessel in which I
witnessed the transaction. The consequence was, that
four individuals (three men and one woman) were in
moment plunged into eternity. I am quite at a loss to
conjecture the cause of the accident, if accident it was.
My inducement, Sir, for writing to you is, not to pr,ju-
' dice the individual having command of the said vessel.
In the event of the bodies being found, I shall consider it
as a public duty to attend the inquest and give the fullest
statement of the whole of the transaction, as I believe I
witnessed it fully from beginning to end, and saw one of
the men and the woman clinging to the steamer and calling
out for assistance, but, I am sorry to add, in vain.
C. B. C.

BEDIFORD.—The new Barton Hill road is
now fast advancing towards completion : it is intended
that it chat! be open to the public some time prior to
Michaelmas. The cutting is of immense depth, and after
being inspected by several military engineers employed hY
Government to make a survey of that line of road, has
been declared to be as fine a specimen of engineering as any W
extant, either in this or the adjoining counties. hen the
beauty of the scenery is taken into consideration, it will
form one of the most attractive objects of the day ; the hill
through which the road is cut being one of the highest
points above the level of the sea, on the north-west of
Loudon. There will be a huge bonfire on the promontory
of the bill pn the first night of the road being open, in
order to announce the event to the public. The fire it is
expected will be visible at Cambridge, Bishop's Stortford,
Oxford, and a considerable distance on the Portsmonth
road.—Hertford County Press.

Two poor weavers who had landed at Bristol
from Cork, were re-shipped there by the parish officers, and
died of starvation on board the steam-vessel ! ! !

LONDON,
WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 27, 1831.

Hi 3 MAJESTY, escorted by a party of the
9th Lancers, arrived at half-past one o'clock
this dly from Windsor, and shortly after held a
Levee. His MAJESTY will return at half-past five.

Despatches were received this morning at the
Colonial Office from Malta, dated July 8, from
Gibraltar the 14th, and from Cadiz the 17th,
entirely relating to matters connected with the
colonies.

A Cabinet Council was held this day at the
Foreign Office, Downing-street.

Up to the present hour (Three o'clock) we
have no further news from Poland of an authentic
character. It is reported that SKRYZNECKI has
gained some decided advantages over a portion
of the Russian army forming the rear-guard, but
particulars are not mentioned. The thing is very
probable, as a good opportunity would be afforded
to a General of SKRYZNECK enterprise, when
the main army had nearly crossed the Vistula, to
fall on the remainder, and thus strike a decisive
blow, for it would be impossible for the Rus-
sians to re-cross in the confusion consequent
on the attack with any hope of advantage. We
sincerely trust that this report may be confirmed.
The shameful conduct of Prussia is not more
dishonourable to herself, than it is disgraceful to
France and England to tolerate such revolting
partiality and breach of faith. But the day of
retribution is fast coming, when Prussia must
yield up her share of the plunder, and Poland
once more recover her ancient provinces on
the Baltic. It is the foreknowledge of this
dreaded certainty that makes Prussia at this mo-
ment both a knave and a coward—too dishonest
to resign the spoil, and too fearful to vindicate
her injustice.

The French Chambers will not proceed to any
important business for some days yet—the choice
of a Speaker and other preliminaries being
first indispensible. We must therefore wait
till the anniversary of the three great days
are over—(this i 3 the first the 27th)—before
we can hare any proceedings of consequence.
A trial of strength is expected on the choice of
Speaker, tuhich lies between LAFITTE and
DUPlN—the former being the man of the people,
the latter of the Government.

In the House of Lords last night Lord
ABERDEEN put some questions to Earl GREY
on the subject of Portugal, and the demolition
of the Belgic fortresses, for the particulars of
which we refer our readers to the debate.

Previous to the commencement of the labours
of the Reform Committee, last night, in the
House of Commons, Colonel EVANS made
some sensible and pertinent observations on the
slow progress of the Bill. He said that the
country was beginning to stir on the subject;
that a strong and alarming feeling had been ex-
cited in consequence of the delays by which it
had been met ; and that a conference had been
held between the Political Unions of Birming-
ham, Manchester, and Glasgow, as to the steps
which, according to their sense of duty, they
itlltetfiolernsiammeeatasrudrye
manner. The Hon. and Gallant Member has
ocliiitnuteod tatkoe,bein ca
protractedse the
spoken out at a seasonable period, and in a
fitting spirit. The country is precisely as rest-
less as he describes it to be, and though far from
distrusting Ministers, is yet vexed and surprised
to find that a measure for which, during the re-
cent elections, it made such Herculean exertions
to procure supporters, is so strangely delayed,
especially when the motives of those who oppose
it are evident, and indeed scarcely denied. If.
the Duke of WELLINGTON, by a mere show of
energy, could carry the Catholic question
against the sense of the country—or at least
with no very overwhelming declaration in its
favour ;—we do not see why the present Minis-
ters, now that the people are unanimously with
them, should not carry the Reform Bill with
equal, or even superior energy. At any rate
rer oef s
inconve-
nience, attend-
ing
of
in-'
should at once put an end to all unneces-
sary delay ; for they may'rely on it, that every
day in which no progress is made, is a serious
loss to them, and a partial triumph to their
opponents. But Sir R. PEEL would lead us
to suppose that no unnecessary delay has
taken place, for that private business must
of necessity be attended to. What mise-
rable sophistry is this ! Is private business
for an instant to be put in competition
with a question of such paramount import-
ance as Reform ? Was the present House
of
to Commons
matters
appertaining
for
the
to purpose
e in
dividuals ; or was it elected in order to pass ci„,p4
great, all-absorbing measure ? There is, we bir
• lieve, no private business so imperiously pressin,
as not to be able, with comparatively little
to give place to Reform. Let not this
sophistry then be urged in justification of delay.
Sir R. PEEL well knows that it is untenable
anti so do those who hear him. The Right
Hon. Bart. also spoke with, if not contempt, at
least something very like it, of the poplar de-
.