The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-31 00:00:00

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No one, however differing from the political opinions
of his Lordship, can with truth deny him the credit
of being just, benevolent, and gifted, in his character
of landlords resident proprietor, and man of science.
The Galway Vindiealor of yesterday has a report
of a Protection Meeting, called by the High Sheriff,
but counter resolutions were passed at the instance
of Mr. M. J. Blake, M.P. and the Rev. Mr. Daly.
The Cork Examiner reports a meeting at Dun-
garvon, in which Mr. Maguire, editor of that paper,
addressed the electors, promising to seek their suf-
frages at the next election, in opposition to Mr.
Shell, Master of the Mint.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
INSOLVEIVT DEBTORS' COURT,Dic, 29.
(Before Mr. Commissioner PHILLIPS.)
IN RR ROBERT TALBOT.
The insolvent, a captain in the Royal Artillery,
stationed at Wool wich, was opposed on his application
to be discharged by Mr. Sargood oa behalf of a
creditor named Jefferies. Mr. Dowse supported.
The opposing creditor was formerly marker to the
Garrison Racket Ground at Woolwich, but the officers
for some cause becoming dissatisfied with him, he
received notice to leave, to which he did not attend,
and ultimately he was forcibly expelled by orders of
the insolvent as treasurer to the society. Jefferies
brought an action for assault, and another for an
alleged balance of wages, which were arranged on
coming on for trial, the plaintiff to receive 201. and
his costs. His present claim under this arrangement
was 3691. 17s. 9d. The case was heard on Friday,
and was adjourned until to-day that Mr. Commissioner
Phillips might consult the Chief Commissioner.
Mr. DOWSE, in reply to a question from the Court
this morning, stated that no arrangement had been
effected Nith the opposing creditor, nor was it pro-
bable that an adjournment would assist that object.
Mr. Commissioner PHILLIPS then gave judgment.
He said i❑ this case the opposing creditor had brought
an action for an alleged malicious assault and tres-
pass, in which, by an arrangement effected on the
Home Circuit, with the concurrence of the Chief
Baron, who presided at the trial, 201. damages was
accepted, and the costs, to be taxed as between attor-
ney and client, to be paid by certain instalments.
Such being the arrangement by consent the insol-
vent, who held a highly honourable situation in the
Artillery, arranged with a relative, an uncle, who
happened to be a professional man, and who went to
a tailor named Lenney, a creditor to the insolvent to
the amount of 451., and it was agreed that Lenney
should consult his attorney and that he should bring
an action against Captain Talbot, being indemnified
for costs, and although Lenney would have no legal
claim upon the insolvent after his discharge by this
Court, yet he admitted upon his examination that he
expected Captain Talbot would pay him, and there
was no doubt he would do so. By this means the
insolvent was placed in a position, by his own act, to
petition this Court. He had done so, and there was a
certain sum of money paid into court, some 1181.,
which it was alleged would have been swept away by
Jefferies if this petition had not been presented.
This fact was the only one which caused a doubt in
the mind of the Chief Commissioner, to whom he
(Mr. Commissioner Phillips) had mentioned the case,
but, having regard to his debts, comparatively small in
amount, it was found that, pUtting Lenney's debt
aside, and that of the insolvent's own attorney, 300/.
for costs of defending the opposing creditors' actions,
and omitting the claim of Jefferiea, there would not
be more than 1001. left. Without considering on this
occasion the evidence of Jefferies, who stated that he
had suffered severe injuries from the violence of the
assault, and that he had expended all his savings of
years in the prosecution of these actions, he (Mr.
Commissioner Phillips) should take as his guide the
evidence of Lenney, combined with what he was
bound to say did the insolvent great credit, Captain
Talbot's own frank admission that this arrest was got
up with his own concurrence for the purpose of re-
lieving himself from Jefferies' debt. Upon that evi-
dence he concurred in the decided opinion expressed
by the Chief Commissioner, that the petition was not
such a petition as the Act of Parliament contemplated
should enable a man to be relieved by this Court, and
therefore it must be dismissed, the insolvent, of course,
receiving back the money paid into court.
Petition dismissed.

There is no news in the other provincial papers
received to day, with the exception of a fall having
taken place in linens. The Banner of Ulster says
" We regret to report a still further reduction in the
price of linen fabrics during the past week, amounting
in some districts to a fat thing a yard, and others a half-
penny. The consequence has bet n a very general reduc-
tion of ten, and in many cases fifteen per cent. on the
wages of the weavers. The trade is fully as brisk as
ever, the decline in prices having been caused by the
immense increase of hands at the looms, not by any want
of demand on the part of consumers. The export from
Belfast during the past week amounted to 1,374 packages
considerably above an average "

HIGH SHERIFFS FOR 1850-51.
A NTRIM. —Alexander Montgomery, of Potter's Wall.
A RMAGEI--James Harden, of Harry 4rook,Tanderagee.
CARLOW.—Beauchamp B. Newton, of Rath wade.
CARRICKFERGUS TOWN.—Peter Kirk, of Thornfield.
CAVAN.—Hun. IL Cavendish Butler, of Lanesborough
Lodge. _ _

CLARE.—lrsior William H. Bull, of Fortfergus.
CORK.—Sir George C. Colthurst, Bart., of Ardrum.
CORK ClTY.—William Wrixton Leicester, of Cork.
DONEGAL.—John Ferguson, of Castle Forward.
DowN.—Archibald Rowan Hamilton, of Killileagh
Castle.
DROGHEDA. TOWN.—J. Chadwick, of Drogheda.
DUBLlN.—Robert Alexander, of Garristown.
DUBLIN CITY.—John M‘Donnell, Esq., of Merrion-
square.

FER3IANAGII.—Thoraas Morris Jones, of Belloo.
GALWAY.—William H. Gregory, of Coolpark.
GALWAY TOWN.—Thomas M. Ptrsse, of Newcastle.
KERRY.—Maurice John O'Connell, of Lakeview.
KILDARE.—Nathaniel Barton, of Straffan.
KILKENNY.—John De Montmorency, of Castle Morris.
KILKENNY ClTY.—Richard Smithwick, of Birchfield.
KING'S CullNTY.—Edward John Borr, Ballindolan.
LErTnim.--Willians Johnston, of Kinlough House.
LIMERICK..—Eyre Lloyd, of Prospect Castle, Castle
Connell.

LIMERICK C.lTY.—William Spaight, Limerick.
LONDONDERRY CITY AND COUNTY.—RQbert Peel
Dawson, Moyla Park.
LONCFORD.—John Shuldham, of Mov.
LOUTH.--Sir Frederick G. Foster, Bart., New Spring-
gardens, London.
MAYo.—Cbarles Mahon, of Mountpleasant.
MEATI —Michael Thunder, of Lagore.
MONAGHAN.—WiIIiam Verner, of Churchill.
QUEEN'S COUNTY.—Henry D. Carden, of Rathmanna.
RoscommoN.—Henry S. P. Mahon, of Strokestown
House.

SLIGO.---Bernard Owen Cogan, of Liscotny HousP.
TlPPERAXY.—Lieuteuaut Colonel W. Palliser, Derry
beAten House.
TYRONE.— Henry D'Arcy, of Necairn Castle.
WATERFORD.—Edward O'Dell, of Carriglea.
WATERFORD ClTY.—Henry Bolton, of Tramore.
WESTMEATIL—Sir J. Nugent, Bart., of Balenlough.
WEXFORD.-Edward W. Nunn, of St. Margaret's.
WlCHLOW.—Richard H. Brooke, of Castle Howard.

TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING

Six o'CLocs,

CHESTER CUP.
50 to 1 agst Peep• o'-Day Boy
50 to 1 agst M-lody
50 to 1 agst Lismahagow
50 to 1 k.gst Dough
50 to 1 agst _Mahon
50 to 1 agst Chanticleer
50 to 1 agst Cossack
66 to 1 agst Woodlark
66 to 1 agst Ruby
100 to 1 agst Chatterer
100 to 1 agst Horn of Chase
100 to 1 agst Ellurdale
100 to 1 agst Clermont

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Dec. 29.
(Before Mr. Commissioner GOULDURN.)
IN THE BANKRUPTCY OF WILLIAM THOMAS FERRIS.
This case (which had not concluded when our re-
porter left) occupied the Court the greater portion of
the day, and was ultimately adjourned to Friday next.
The COMMISSIONER said that as the case had only
been heard ex parte, he thought its publication ought
to be deferred until the whole of the facts were before
the Court. It would be unfair to publish them in
their present shape.
A country brewer named Goodwin came up for his
certificate, which was suspended for 12 months from
the date of the fiat on the ground of reckless trading.
Protection was granted.

DERRY.
The only bets were 11 to 1 agst Ghillie Callum, and
30 to 1 agst Mayors.

METROPOLITAN STEEPLECHASE.
30 to 1 offered on the field
LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.
20 to 1 each agst Vain _Elope, Vengeance, Peter
Simple, and Knight of Gwynn?.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.
On Saturday Richard Sppers, conductor of om-
nibus No. 7,450, which plies to and from Sloane-
street, was summoned before Alderman Humphery,
by a gentleman named Webb, for having loitered in
Cheapside, and also for having used abusive language
Fleet-street to the same complainant.
It appeared from the statements made by Mr.
Webb and another gentleman, that they got into the
omnibus in Cheapside, and that they proceeded at a
sneaking pace for a considerable time, during which
the defendant was repeatedly requested to " go on ;"
that at first he took ne notice whatever of the soli-
citations of the passengers, and that when he did con-
descend to answer he intimated contemptuously that
they could not expect any better accommodation for
their 31. a piece; that he was the owner of the
vehicle and horses, and that he would not drive at any
quicker rate to please those inside. It also appeared
chat the time occupied in going in the omnibus to St.
Dunstan's Church, in Fleet-street, was 25 minutes,
end that the sneaking system was persevered in as far
as the Strand, notwithstanding the repeated cum
plaints and remonstrances of all the passengers.
The defendant said he had been engaged as a con-
ductor for 17 years, and there never had been any
complaint made against him upon any former occa-
sion ' • that he had baen delayed in the streets by the
crowded state of the great thoroughfares, and that he
really did all he could to make satisfactory way. lie
hoped his excellent character on the road would plead
for him upon the occasion.
Alderman HUSIPHERY—It seems that you did not
consider the offence of loitering sufficient, but that
you must add.that of insolence. If you do not con-
sider 3d. sufficient pay for a passenger why do you
put up that price on your windows ? Defendant—l
was as polite as I could be, your worship.
Alderman ITUMPHERY-1 find that you did not
attend to the first summons. I fine you 103. for each
offence, and 12s. costs.
The defendant immediately paid the penalty.
Alderman HUMPHERT thanked the gentleman for
having taken the trouble to come forward upon such
an occasion, and said he every day witnessed occasions
in which it was incumbent upon the passengers to act
in a similar manner.

LONDON, MONDAY V.,VENINO, DECEMBER. 311 I.

Mrs. Balls, the mother of the prizoner, who was be-
tween 50 and 60 years of ago; that Balls' went out
after him, and accused him of committing adultery
with his mother; that be thin dragged him into the
house and knocked him down by a tremendous blow
with his fist. That he was then struck by Balls with
a poker on the head, and was robbed of all his money.
He cried out "Murder" as loud as be was able, and
some policemen came to the door of the house, when
Balls locked the prosecutor into the back room and
went to answer the door, during which time the pro-
secutor jumped out of the window and went to a
doctor's house to have his head bandaged, which was
very much cut, and bled profusely. The other pri-
soner, Jones, was present during a part of the time.
After much evidence had been gone into, Mr.
INGUAM, the magistrate, said that a jury must decide
on the case ; he should, therefore, commit Balls fur
trial. There did not seem to be any evidence against
Jones, who must, consequently, be discharged.

formation of a new Manchester League on the basis
laid down by Mr. Cobden, and the conclusion at
which they will arrive is, that it is safest to rermin
as they are. Mr. Reynard, of Sunderlandlick, is
we feel confident, of that opinion. Peel's timely
surrender saved the country ; and we are much
mistaken if the country gentlemen who are now
foolishly and insanely attempting to get up a protec-
tionist opposition to his policy do not live to admit as
much. A hundred meetings such as that held yes-
terday at Driffield would not prove the least reaction
in favour of protection. On the contrary, they rather
demonstrate, by the languor of their proceedings and
by the class of persons taking part in them, that the
really influential farmers want to know a little more
about free trade before consenting to part with it.
We observed at the Driffield meeting yesterday that
the protectionist petition to Parliament was entrusted
to the care of Mr. Conyers, the Coroner for the
Riding, who appeared as if specially summoned to hold
an inquest upon the corn •laws, whose rotting remains
were exhumed for the occasion. Now, the verdict of
a Drif field jury will not reverse that of the Parliament
of this country. As the rime.B of yesterday well ob-
serves—" Tile agriculturists must not waste their
time on the defunct corn laws. they must leave
the dead to bury their deal,' and betake theinselvts
to some more lively and promising occupation."

"ROTECTIONIST MOVEMENT.
(From the Hull Advertiser.)
As Free-traders, we begin to be terribly alarmed
for the permanence of the free trade system. Pock-
lington has risen in bucolic fury—Driffield has
assumed an attitude perilous to Cobden, Peel, and
Parliament—and mutterings of rural disaffection
have been heard in the neighbourhood of Snaith.
With such mighty marts of industry and emporiums
of commerce as Driffield and Pocklington against us,
what comfort can we derive from having Hull, Leeds,
Bradford, Halifax, and Wakefield in our favour ? In
Pocklington the Hon. and Gallant Member for Thet-
ford, Captain Duncombe, has raised his standard, and
formidable is the array of rosy-faced full-fed farmers,
whom Mr. Harrison, of that Ilk, has assisted in rang-
ing under his banner. The just indignation of the Hon.
and Gallant Captain was greatly roused by an observa-
tion made by Mr. Currency Muntz, at a recent meeting
in Birmingham—namely, that the Birmingham people
thought nothing of eating up a farmer every night for
supper. Captain Duncombe has no notion of sub-
mitting to such freaks on the part of the one eyed
Polyphemus of free trade ; and sooner than allow any
of his corpulent and appetite-whetting audience to be
so devoured by the men of Birmingham, he declared
he would have a fight 'for it, whereat all the fat
farmers cheered most lustily. Lord Hotham, is re-
ported to have been present at the Pocklington meet-
ing, but it is not reported. that he took any part
.in
it. His Lordship is, of course, reserving himself
for the great demonstration which is fixed to take
place' at Beverley, and where• we expect to hear
Mr. Henry' Broadley and' himself propose the ex-
periment of a reduction of 25 per cent. on their
rents. If a meeting of farmers he held at Beverley.
we trust those of the middle division of Holderness
will not forget the East Riding magisterial job of
a lock up at Sproatley, and the removal of the
petty sessions from Heddon, so vainly protested
against by the tenant•farmera on several recent occa-
sions. One of Colonel Thompson's favourite remedies
for curing a famishing horde was to try him with
corn ; and our remedy for distressed tenant-farmers
is to try what lower rents would do for them. We
feel assured that not one of them will object to the
experiment being made' upon him. This the land-
lords can accomplish without going to Parliament, or
without troubling their heads as to what Ministry
are in office. It would not be necessary to do this
for a very long period. With the great improvement
of the country consequent upon the development of
free-trade principles, rents will eventually rise; for
we are strongly of opinion that agricultural prices
are now at the lowest, and that their tendency hence-
forth will be upwards. But the Honourable and
Gallant Member for Thetford did not con-
fine himself to the dangers to which farmers
are exposed from the jaws of the men of Bir-
mingham. He referred to the condition of the
poor needlewomen of London, and gravely assured
his audience, on the faith of an agricultural Member
of Parliament, that their starvation was one of the
effects of free trade 1 Can any one doubt that Ten-
terdon Steeple is the cause of the Goodwin Sands
after this? The profession of arms is a sufficient
excuse for a superficial acquaintance with facts well
known to those engaged in peaceful avocations ; but
gentlemen not remarkable for the profundity of their
erudition have been known to read Punch, and poor
Hood's heart-touching "Song of the Shirt," com-
posed ere the sliding-scale was erased from the
statute-book, made its first appearance in that re-
pertory of wit, fun, and pungent satire. There has
been no reduction of the miserable wages of needle-
women since the repeal of the corn-laws, and the poor
creatures would indeed stare if, with such wages,
they were-asked if it would improve their condition
to double the price of their bread. But the Honourable
Captain Duncombe evidently knows nothing about
these things. He may be willing enough to fight
for Protection, but he will never trouble the House
of Commons much by adVocating it after a more
rational fashion. Borne away by the impetuous
current of Captain Duncombe's oratory, at Pockling-
ton we are forgetting the not less threatening
exhibition at Driffield, at--which we had the good
fortinie yesterday to be present. The chair was
taken 'by Edward 11. Reynard, Esq., of Sunder-
landwick, and it is a pleasure for us to have to
add that he filled it as became a high minded
English gentleman. His language was moderate,
his deportment manly and impartial, and his
whole bearing that of a man who felt that he
had a character to lose, and that if sent at
some future day to Parliament, it would of
do in the face of that high assembly to be
taxed with having made foolish speeches for
the purpose of gulling Yorkshire farmers, Ile
was followed by the Rev. John Blanchard, of
Middleton, who modestly stated that he was not
a practical agriculturist, and whose fine plump
appearance indicated that he was more in the habit of
consuming fat poultry than in hatching them for the
Driffield market. His part consisted in merely read-
ing the proposed petition—for it had been prudently
provided not to trouble the meeting with resolutions.
At this stage of the meeting an unexpected auxiliary
made his appearance, in the person of Mr. Clarke, the
ex-Mayor's (Mr. John Lee Smith) Hull Commis-
sioner, who was formerly in the office of. Messrs.
Brownlow and Pearson, of this town. The farmers,
kind, simple, credulous souls, knew nothing about
him; but they ware manifestly enraptured with the
solemnity with which he assured them that they were
to have back protection, and with the glibness with
which he revealed Cobden's conspiracy with the Pope
to revolutionize England. He alluded mysteriously
to the singular circumstance of the proceedings at the
Chartist meeting held at Kennington• common, on the
10th of April, having been known in
Paris two days previously to their having
happened in London—and hinted that he
smelt a rat somewhere. This was nearly too much
for the gravity of the farmers, and the chairman
looked as if he fancied the speaker was there to hum-
bug them. Mr. Henry Hill, of Sledinere, with blunt
honesty, attacked the Members for the Riding for not
being present, and read Mr. Henry Broadlev, M.P.,
one of the very best lessons we ever heard on the
duties of squirearchical and representative hospitality.
It does one good to hear a little of this plain speaking
at agricultural meetings. The other speeches were
not remarkable for any quality inviting criticism.
Mr. Harrison, of Pocklington, in a few observations,
defended the character and conduct of Lord Hothain ;
and Mr. Harrison, of Driffield, went out of his way
ridiculously and intemperately to assail that of Mr.
Cobden. There was one slight interruption to the una-
nimity of the proceedings by the appearance on the
platform of one Free-trader from Hull ; but as the
forte of '.that gentleman never consisted in public
speaking, and as he is, in fact, about the worst public
speaker in Yorkshire, theonly thing remarkable about
his appearance was, that he was listened to SO patiently.
As the speaker in question is the writer of this article,
such criticism will be regarded as perhaps too favour-
able. But he had no enthusiasm to contend against.
The farmers, of whom there were about 150 present—
the remainder of those present being shopkeepers of
Driffield and importations from Hull—were remark-
ably passive throughout. They appeared to feel as if
they were brought there merely to hold up their
hands. The fact is, that there were scores of farmers
at the meeting in iffield yesterday, who would not
know that they are distressed if they were not told so
by the landlords, who are growing uneasy about
their rents. It is here where the shoe pinches. Many
of them have their property so encumbered that
they would find it difficult to follow the example of
the Rev. S. W. Hall, of Wolfreton House—James
Walker, Esq., of Sand Hutton—and Robert Craven,
Esq., of Hull, who have returned ten per cent. on the
rents due to them ; and therefore it is that they seek
to persuade,the farmers that the question is not one
of rent, but of protection. They virtually say to the
Farmers "We know you cannot pay your present
rents at present prices : let us unite together, and
we'll see whether we cannot compel Parliament to
make the commercial and manufacturing classes pay
them for you." This is the plain English of all the
mysterious jargon about protecting British industry.
The farmers will very soon begin to see it in this
light. As for the present Protectionist movement,
it is a foolish and ill-timed one. We will
tell the protectionists how it will end, although
we dislike playing the part of a prophet as much
as Mr. Reynard himself. It will fall out thus :
Before Parliament has assembled one week
prices, which have now reached the lowest, will rise,
and the gentlemen charged with presenting protec-
tionist petitions will be ashamed to lay them on the
table, for fear of the ridicule attaching to the panic-
stricken agriculturists. A hundred excuses will be
made for the expression of intemperate opinions—
there will be peals of laughter from both sides of the
House of Commons—and the petitions will go the
way of those presented for paying off the national
debt, establishing moon-and-green-cheese companies,
and the like. Sensible country gentlemen will wisely
consider whether it would be well to provoke the

THE WEATHER AND THE PARKS.
l'he frost which commenced on Wednesdey last
continued, with the exception of a few hours whilst
the sun was shining, the whole of yesterday (Sunday),
and at six o'clock in the evening the thermometer at
the Royal Humane Society's receiving house stood
at 30 degrees, with a clear sky and every indication
of the frost lasting for some time. Towards the
evening the wind, which bad been the previous day
N.N.W., chopped round to the N.E. and blew ex-
tremely cold. From neon until nearly four o'clock,
however, the sun shone most brilliantly, when the
mercury rose as high as 37 in Hyde-park, which
caused the edges of the ice in the various parks to
thaw rapidly, rendering it exceeding dangerous for
persons togo thereon. The Royal Humane Society,
therefore, adopted every precaution that was possible
to prevent accidents. Large printed bills, stuck
upon poles, were placed on the banks, which stated
that the ice was dangerous and thawing fast. Au
extra number of men were sent into the parks, by
order cf Mr. Superintendent Williams: but netwitbe
standing all that was done by the patties to prevent
the people from risking their lives, many thousands
ventured upon the frozen waters during the day,
and as will be seen from the subjoined official reports,
some nearly lost their lives by so doing.
Sr. JAMES'S PARK.—About 2,000 skaters and
sliders ventured upon the ice in the inclosuro of this
park, whilst the banks were literally crowded with
persons witnessing the spo: t. The ice was only an
inch in thickness, and many parts were broken to
dater people from going on, but without success.
About twelve o'clock, whilst a number of sliders
were amusing themselves, a portion of the ice gave
way, when a person named George Castles fell
through into deep water; another person, named
Henry Blair, who was on the same slide, unable to
stop himself, also shot into the same hole; and a third,
named George Wolf, fell in likewise. A cry for
assistance brought icemen Collins and Pavey to the
scene, and, with the aid of the sledges and hand-
ladders, the three parties were rescued, but nearly
exhausted. They were taken to the society's tent,
where stimulants were administered, and, having been
attended to byAr.M`Cann's assistant, they recovered.
About three in the afternoon, M. Soyer, the re-
nowned cook of the Reform Club, had a very narrow
escape of losing his life. He was leading a young
friend who had expressed a wish to walk on the ice,
when he fell through into sixteen feet of
water, opposite the Horse Guards. Finding that a
number of parties were approaching towards him, he
had the presence of mind to tell them to keep back,
and not to offer to assist him till the. Humane So-
ciety's men arrived. Had he not dome so, it is quite
probable that many more persons would have fallen
m, and his chance of recovery been rendered thereby
more difficult. As it was, iceman Martin got him
out, and conveyed him to the tent, where he was met
by Mr. M'Cann, of Parliament-street, surgeon to the
society, who immediately placed him in a hot bath,
and having been rubbed for some time, he was put to
bed, when Mr. M'Cann administered a glass of whisky,
which he considers one of the best stimulants on such
occasions, After the lapse of a few hours, M. Soyer
was able to be removed to his own residence in a cab.
Shortly after the icemen had been ordered off the ice,
and everything appeared perfectly quiet, an accident
occurred, which caused a most painful excitement
amongst all who ,were within the inclosure. It
appears that Mr. Butler, of No. 8, Theobald's-
road, Gray's inn lane, was in the act of crossing
the ice in the company of his wife, when they both
fell into eleven feet of water. The man tried to
pull his wife out and save himself, but the more he
tried the greater danger both were placed in by the
breaking of the ice around them. Iceman Thomas
Pavey iminediately.went to the spot with his breaker
ladder, but, in attempting to get to the pour creatures
his foot slipped through the ladder, and he nearly fell
upon them. Pavey, another icemah, and Pat sons.
deputy-tuperintendent, went to his aid, but so rotten
was the ice that as fast as it was touched it broke away,
and nothing but death looked the man and his wire in
the face. At length the iceman, at great peril, suc-
ceeded in rescuing both parties, but they were so
much exhausted that it was feared both were dead,
they having been in the water upwards of four
minutes. They were immediately removed to the
tent, placed in the hot bath, and afterwards put
to bed, and, under the skilful care of Mr. M'Cann,
they both recovered sufficiently to be removed to
their home in a cab. Whilst these parties were
being attended to, a cry was raised that a boy had
fallen through the ice, and had disappeared. The
icemen went to the spot pointed out, but no one could
be seen. The bubbling of the water, however, satis
tied them that some person must be below. With
their machines they dragged the spot, but for five
minutes could not find any one. At length they got
hold of what appeared to be the lifeless body of a boy,
Havingbathan d
obteheenr tmeansaken tt
oo
animation were
about fourteen yeartsheofwaagrem.
rtehsetosroacityseusp's tent, the
resorted to by the
medical gentleman, which happily proved successful;
and after two hours the boy was able to give his
name and address, which were William Egan, 9,
Angel court, King-street, St. James's. Mr. Charlier,
the secretary ; Mr. M'Cann, the surgeon ; Mr. Wil-
liams, the superintendent; and all the deputy-super-
intendents, worked like common labourers during the
day, and had it not been for their exertions several
lives must have been lost.
THE SERPENTINE, HYDE-PARK.--The average
thickness of the ice on this river was not more than
one inch, and at twelve o'clock at noon the ther-
mometer rose as high as thirty-seven degrees, render-
ing the occupation of sliding and skating very dan-
gerous. Mr. Williams, the superintendent, had long
ropes thrown across from shore to shore, whilst
breaker ladders and sledges were placed at convenient
distances. Owing to the advice given not more than
300 persons ventured upon the river at any period,
and though several immersions took place, the parties
were not injured.
THE LONG WATER, KENSINGTON-GARDENS.---The
Skating Club had their tent pitched yesterday, and,
iocluding the members of the club, there were about
2,000 persons on the ice. Not a single accident of
any importance took place during the day. The ice
here is much firmer than in the other parks.
Tus ROUND PoND.—_The ice on this pond was
very thin, and about 1,200 persons ventured on. No
accidents occuired.

TUB REGENT'S-PARIC.—TIIO thermometer at this
place varied from 33 deg. to 40 deg. during the day.
fhe ice upon the ornamental water was exeeedingly
rotten. Boards indicating such were stuck up along
the bulks ; notwithstanding, however, about 10,000
persons, of all grades and both sexes, ventured upon
the ice. At one time ab.mt fourteen lads and boys
broke through into seven feet of water. For some
time the deaths of several appeared inevitable, and a
cry of " Save, oh save them," echoed completely
across the park. Iceman Davis and Deputy Super.
intendent Chitty, with the aid of lines and breaker
ladders, succeeded in rescuing the whole of the par
ties immersed. Shortly afterwards, Mr. J. Walmsley,
of No. 3, Montagu-street, Montagu-square, fell
through into seven feet of water, but was taken out
by iceman Davies. Mr. Richard Bastard, of Camden-
house, Camden Town, was walking over the ice in
company with a lady, when it broke, and both fell
into deep water. After being in the water some time,
they were rescued by the icemen, and removed to the
society's tent, where stimulants were administered,
and they recovoied so as to be able to be removed
home in a cab. Other accidents took place, but the
parties were speedily removed to the tent, and were
soon ab!e to return home.

TABLE CUTLET.--A very important improvement
in table cutlery has just been patented by Messrs. Bur
dekins and Greening, of Sheffield. It is well known
that there exists two causes of complaint to which the
best ivory table knives are subject. The one, the blades
becoming detached from the handles ; the other, the
cracking of the ivory handles, in consequence of their
being so reduced to make them balance. We (and no
doubt most of our readers) have bud frequently to com-
plain of these defects, and we are glad to see that some-
thing has been introiluced which completely remedies
these faults. The construction of the knives now pa-
tented is such that the blades cannot in the least become
separated or detached from the handles; and in the case
of knives with silver ferules, the latter are not liable to
bruise or come off; and a new mode of balancing renders
the handles much stronger, and thereby less liable to
crack—qualifications which must bring the patent into
general favour.—Hereeld.

The late Queen Dowager's stud has been removed
to Carlton House stables, and will be exhibited on Fri-
day at Tattersall's previous to being brought to the
hammer.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE EXPERIMENTAL SQUADRON.,
PORT3.7IOUTII, SUNDAY —By letters received from
Gibr.,lter, dated rsepectively the 14th ati'd 18th inst.,
we are informed that the Hogue, 60, captain Mac-
dougal ; the Arrogant, 4G, Captain Fitzroy ; and the
Encounter, 14, Captain Cordon (all screw-steam-
ships), have been in company, and have been steaming
against a heavy head sea and strong winds. The
performances of the three ships were highly satisfac-
tory. Under favourable circumstances the Hogue
steamed nearly eight knots; ;he Arrogant, nearly
nine; and the Encounter, 10. The most interesting
matter, however, which has occurred afloat for some
time is a trial between the Arrogant and the cele-
brated and much eulogised French screw-frigate Po-
mone—a vessel that, in the House of Commons and in
print, has been held up in some sort of terror to
all "136,ishers." She is, beyond question, the
first and best screw ship in the French
fleet, and having been seen by more than one officer
whom we have the honour of knowing at this port,
we are thus particular in giving a descleption of her
perform Inces ;—On the arrival of the Arrogent at
Gibraltar she was ordered to Mogedore, the forgone
having started from that place with hostile intentions
the day before, and had 24 hours' start of the Arro-
gant. As the Governor of Gibraltar had received
intelligence that the Bedouin Arabs had threatened to
massacre all the Christians in Mogadore in time event of
the French firing upon the place, it was important
that the Arrogant should arrive soon enough to pro-
tect the place • the steam was, m
bs, therefore, imediately
got up, and the two ships arrived off the port about,
the same time. Toe distance of the run we. 330
miles. Toe Arrogant reinairmed at M ,gadore two
hours longer than the Portione, havieg occasion to
communicate with the Consul, and the :team vves let.
down, but on starting Captain Fitzroy deemed it a
good opportunity to try his ship's speed under steam
against that of the Pomone, making due allowance for
difference of tonnage, &c., and accordingly the steam
was .got up again.
The following shows the character of each vessel :
ArrOgilit. Pomone.
.Artr un,.nt (guns) ... 46 50
Horsepower of engines... 360 ... 260
Cemplemeut of amen ... 450 ... 390
Numberofdaysprovisions 140
... 140
Number ot days' water... 80 48
Stores sufficient for ... 12 months six months.
Coals.stowed in bunker... 260 tons 360 tons.
Diameter'of screw ... 15 feet. 14 tt. 6 in.
En4ines made by Penn and Sons, Count Rosen.
The French ship had the start by two hours, and
it took the Arrogant six hours to come up with her.
The result was, that the later arrived at Gibraltar
24 hours before the Pomone, having beaten her 26
hours in the run under steam alone, as there was no
wind. As a ship of war, the Arrogant is considered
greatly superior to the Pomone in her internal ar-
rangements as well as speed. The lower deck of the
Pomone is occupied with engines, boilers, and coal-
bunkers, which are built up to the main deck ; the
crew have, therefore, to mess on the main deck, be,
tween the guns, and are a great encumbrance upon
that deck. It does not appear that either the screw-
propeller, the engines, or the boilers of the Pomone
are low enough to be secure from damage by shot, as
both the aperture and the screw may be very plainly
seen.
The Hogue, Arrogant, and Encounter were under
orders to return to Lisbon te join the remainder of
the squadron (Prince Regent, 90, Captain Martin;
Thetis, 36, Captain Codrington ; Leander, 50, Captain
nacres ; Conflict, 12, Commander Drake, and
Scourge, 6, Commander the Hon. Lord F. H.
Kerr); but if Captain Martin had not then arrived,
the senior captain of the squadron (Captain Codring-
ton, C. 8.) was to take the command of the whole
and proceed on a general trial cruise.
The Contest, 12, Commander the Hon. J. IV. S.
Spencer, was inspected yesterday at Spithead by
Flag-Captain Blackwood, of the Victory, for the
Commander-in-Chief. She sailed about sunset fur
Devonport, to ship the mail for the coast of Africa.
The Cormorant steam sloop, Commander &horn-
berg, arrived at Rio from this port on the 26th of
Ocr ober.
The Griffin brigantine, Lieutenant Thurburn, ar-
rived at Rio from Bahia on the 26th of October, en
route to England, to be paid off.
The Hydra steam•sloop, Commander Skipwith,
returned to Rio from a cruise on the 17th of October,
and having been relieved by the Cormorant, was
about sailing homeward to be paid off.
Wind, N.; fresh breezes and hazy weathor.
APP“INTMENT.
WOOLWICH, DEC. 29.—Assistant-Engineer James
Magma' to the Fi-gerd flag ship at Weolwich.
Rear-Admiral M. F. F. Berkeley, C. 8., returned
to the Admiralty this evening from Berkeley
Castle. The Right Hon. Sir F. T. Baring, Bart.,
First Lord, and Admiral I)undas, C. 8., First Naval
Lord, will return in the early part of the first week
of the ensuing year to their official duties at the
Admiralty.
The Terrible steam frigate, Captain Hope, C. 8.,
left Greenhithe at three o'clock, r M., to-day for
Devonport, and will call at Portsmouth on her way
round.
Tne Enterprise, Captain Collinson, C. 8., and the
Investigator, Commander M'Clure, have a great
number of hands employed upon them to get them
ready for sea. Three gangs of convicts were em
ployed to day in putting stores and a quantity of
coals on hoard the Enterprise, and as many men as
could find room to work were engaged in every part ot
the vessel. In clearing out the ballast, amounting to
several tons of limestone, from the Arctic regions, seve-
ral pieces were found eornposed mostly of innumerable
shells and minute fishes and skeletons of sea animals
in a petrified state. Other portions ot the limestone
contain perfect specimens of petrified moss and a few
petrefactions of the ground willow, the largest plant of
the Arctic regions, similar in appearance of the
branches to the stunted heath of' the north of Scot-
land, only of a beautiful willow green colour, with a
willow-shaped leaf'. Several of the officers of the
garrison have selected the best specimens of these
fragments of rocks from the Arctic regiops with the
intention of preserving them.
The Northumberland, 78-gun ship, was towed up
the river to-day from Standgate-creek, where she had
been stationed on the quarantine service, and is to be
broken up at Deptford. She was towed by the
Monkey and African steam-vessels.
The Advice steam-vessel, in charge of Master
Commander Petley, went up to Deptford to-day, and
towed the Prometheus steam-vessel to Woolwich, to
have her boilers and eng'l I put on board. The
master shipwright and shipwrights of Deptford Dock-
yard have turned out a very fine steam-eloop of 200-
horse power, from a ve,:el some time ago considered
only fit to be broken pp.
The Waterman steam-boat No. 1, brought down
130 male convicts yesterday from Millbank Peniten-
tiary, and put them on board the Bengalore hired
convict ship, at present moored opposite the Royal
Arsenal, under orders to proceed with convicts, under
a guard of pensioners from Tilbury Fort, for Van
Diemen's Land.
THE TIDES.—The - usual rise of spring tides at
Woolwich is 18 to 19 feet, according to the direc-
tion and strength of the wind at the time. The an-
ticipated extraordinary high tides during the present
full moon did- not take place, as the highe,t tide
during the week ending to-day was on Thursday last,
when it reached 18 feet 6 inches. The tide on Friday
morning presented a singular phenomenon, it being
high water at shortly after 9 o'clock, A.M , instead of
11.45, a.m. It then fell one foot six inches, and
again commenced rising, and rose six inches previous
to 11.45, the time of high water, after which it ebbed
as usual. Considerable interest was excited to witness
its progress on Saturday, and notes were taken at
Woolwich of the mode and height to which it
rose. The first hour the tide rose five
feet three inches; the next half-hour two feet seven
inches; and the two last hours one inch each hour.
The next quarter of an hour the tide rose one inch,
and at a quarter-p ist 1 o'clock, P.M., began to turn,
having only attained a height of 17 feet 10 inches,
being eight inches less than on time previous Thurs•
day, although the wind was blowing very strong on
Saturday frorn the north west, the quarter which was
expected to produce a very high tide.
SUNDAY, DEC. 30.—Her Serene Highness the
Duchess of Saxe-Weimar intended to have embarked
in the Black Eagle steam-vessel, Master-Commander
S. B. Cook, for Ostend yesterday, but in consequence
of the boisterous state of the weather the carriage and
eleven large packages belonging to her Serene High-
ness and the members of her suite, were sent to the
Bricklayers arm, station. Her Serene Highness the
Duchess of Saxe-Weimar will proceed to morrow
(Dec. 31) to Dover, by railway, and thence to Ostend.
The Jasper steam vessel is now at Woolwich, the
officers and crew recently serving in her having been
transferred to the Fire Queen, for service on the
Holyhead station.
The tides to day have only risen their usual height,
and the period has now passed when danger was to be
apprehended.

THE NEW NOVEL, " Tale WILMINGTONS," by the
author of .4 Emilia IVyndham," and " Two Old Menu'
Tales," is published this day by Mr. Colburu, and allay
now be bad at all the libraries. A 150,2. Leonard Norman-
dale; or, The Three Brothers, by the Hon. C. Stuart
Saville. 3. Pussagts in the Life of Mrs. Margaret
Maitland, of Sunny Side. 4. Ernest Vane, by Alexan-
der BAH° Cochrane, M.P. 5. The Maid of Orleans, by
the author of " Whitefriurs." 6. The Old World and
the New, by Mrs. Trollope. 7. Lady Lister Kaye's
British Houses and Foreign Wanderings. 8. Rocking-
ham; or, the Younger Brothi-r, second edition, 3 vols.
'llll3 METROPOLITAN POLICE.—Sir Charles Rowan
having resigned his place as 0-'9 of the Commissioners
of the AL.tropolitan Pollee, 1 -r. Richard Mayne be-
comes Chief Commissioner in his room; and Captain
William Hay, the Assistant-Commissioner, succeeds
to the place of Commissioner, rendered vacant by Sir
Charles Rowan's resignation.

THE COUNT'
I LIVERPOOL, DEC. 29.—E
s. d. s. d.