The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-25 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

POR
TSMOUTH, highly interesting
experiments in fortification were made this morning
on Rat Islind, in this harbour, under the direction of
Captain Chads, C 8., of the Excellent gunnery•ship,
for the instruction of the officers and marine cadets of
the above ship, and the students of the Royal Naval
College. The experiments were on a stockade, made
of some of the oak timbers of her Majesty's brig
Curlew, lately broken up in this dockyard, against
which a charge of 51b. of gunpowder in a flannel car-
tridge was placed on the ground, close to the bottom
of the defence, which was fired by four feet of Bick-
ford's match. The stockade stood the shock, and was
not in the least injured. A charge of 101 b. of pow-
der, similarly enveloped, was next hung about three
feet from the ground and fired in like manner, and
with a similar result. A third trial was then made
with 51b. of powder, in a flannel cartridge, over
which a large bag of sand, weighing about 1201 b.,
was put, which was fired in the same manner as the
former. This blew down three'planks of the stockade,
and threw the fragments in all directions, some of the
splinters being blown a considerable distance. We re-
gret to say the experiments were brought to a close by
an accident happening to Commander Hewlett, of the
Excellent, who was struck on the left leg by one of
the splinters, and knocked down. Much alarm was
excited, and surgical aid instantly sent for, and was
immediately rendered from her Majesty's ships Illus-
trious and Excellent, and Dr. Nutt, of the letter ship,
conveyed the sufferer on board her, where every
attention that skill and judgment could render was
paid. As far as we can glean, and as far as may be
judged from the very swollen state of the limb, we
believe we are correct in stating no bones are broken,
but the patient is suffering great pain. We trust the
experiments will be continued to a satisfactory close,
as we know of no point in an officer's education of
more importance than practical instruction in the
approach to and attack of stockades, which the dis-
astrous results of the Heki pah warfare in New Zea-
land, in 1846, most amply proved.
Captain Gordon, of the Cormorant, has arrived in
London from Germany, and is expected here to-
morrow to take up his appointment to the Encounter
steam. corvette.

The Myrtle steam-tender, Master-Commander
Bradden, returned from Plymouth this morning with
marines and seamen paid off from the Scout.
The seaman Bunday, who fell from the masthead
of the Tartar yacht, at Spithead, during the contest
between that vessel and the Drift for 1001. aside,
expired of the injuries received at five o'clock last
night, leaving a wife and child to mourn his premature
loss.

Wind—S.S. W.; light breezes and fine weather.
WooLwicn, SEPT. 24.—The Monkey steam-
vessel, Master Commander W. Bryant, embarked
Captain Flude's company, 7th battalion Royal
Artillery, with detachments of the 2d, 3d, 7th, Bth,
and 9th battalions, at the dockyard, at six o'clock,
Ix., and conveyed them to Greenhithe, where they
were transferred to the Hercules store-ship for a
passage to Gibraltar, and the detachments to fill up
the companies at the stations on the Mediterranean.
The Terrible steam-frigate, Captain Ramsey, is
ordered to retain her guns on board, and will he
paid off without being dismantled, and all that will
be required to render her again fit for service will
soon be effected. Several of the articles have been
recovered from the Bee lighter, which sank along-
side of her, but the vessel has not been raised.

IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE
SANITARY COMMITTEE.
Last evening a meeting of emergency of the Sani-
tary Committee, convened by Mr. Corder, the clerk
to the Guardians, by direction of Mr. Poolton, the
Chairman of the Committee, was held in the Board-
room at the Workhouse. At the hour of meeting
(half-past five o'clock) there was a numerous attend-
ance of the committee, consisting of Mr. Poolton,
their zealous chairman ; Mr. Dee, the Chairman, and
Mr. Allday, the Vice-Chairman of the Board of
Guardians ; Messrs. liebbert, Mason, Beale, John
Milks, Joseph Rinks, Mills, Collins, Heaton, J. W.
Lloyd, Maiden, and others.
The CUAIRMAN reported that he had received a
letter that morning, the contents of which he would
submit to the committee ; and he further stated that,
considering the serious nature of such communication,
he lost not a moment in directing Mr. Corder to
convene that meeting ; and he trusted, when they
heard the letter read, they would deem its importance
a sufficient apology for calling the committee to-
gether on the Sabbath-day.—(Hear, hear.) Mr.
Poolton then read the communication as follows
Birmingham, 23d September, 1849.
" Sir,—l have been informed that the Cavalry have
been removed from the Barracks at Coventry in conse-
querce. of several deaths from cholera. At the present
time there are four or five soldiers not fit to be removed.
I understand that the barracks there are to be taken
charge of by a guard, from the Infantry Barracks here,
and to be relieved every seven or ten days by a fresh
party from here—the others returning to the quarters
at Wordsworth's. In my humble opinion I don't think
that is fair for the inhabitants. If ou agree with me,
Colonel Arbuthnot is the gentleman to see, at his office,
Vauxhall, about eleven A.M am, &c."
The name of the writer of the letter did not
transpire.
Mr. ALLDAT stated that he had seen the captain of
the infantry at the barracks in Cheapside that morn-
ing, on the subject of the communication received by
their chairman, who had communicated the same to
him, and that the gallant captain admitted the truth
of such statement, and informed him that he had, by
order of the commandant, sent some of his men frcm
Birmingham to take charge of the barracks at Co-
ventry, where the cholera was now raging, and that
such men were to be relieved on Saturday next.
These communications created quite a sensation in
the meeting ; and
Mr. DEE strongly protested against the introduc-
tion of any of the military from Coventry into the
town under the circumstances ; and if driven to such
an alternative he, for one, would join his brother-
townsmen in opposing their entrance.—(Hear.)
It was then moved by Mr. ALLDAT, seconded by
Mr. BEALE, and resolved—" That Mr. Dee and the
Chairman be requested to wait on Colonel Arbuthnot
this (Monday) morning, for the purpose of remon-
strating, on the part of the Sanitary Committee and
the inhabitants of Birmingham, against the proposed
removal of any of the troops from Coventry into this
town."

After the transaction of some other business the
committee adjourned.
We are happy to add that no further case of cho•
lera was reported to the committee.
As cleanliness and pure water are strongly recom-
mended by the Board of health, it is satisfactory to
know that the authorities of the Birmingham NVater
Werks Company have, at the suggestion of the sani-
tary committee, resolved to furnish the town daily
with a copious supply of water.
It is a remarkable fact, and one that ought to form
a subject for deep and reverent thankfulness to the
Almighty disposer of events, that whilst the prevail-
ing pestilence is committing its awful ravages, and
daily sweeping off its numerous victims in so many
other districts, including the metropolis itself, the
borough of Birmingham, with a population exceeding
200,000 souls, has had but one indigenous case of
cholera.—Aris's Birmingham Gazette, Sept. 24.

THE PREMIER AND THE CIRCU-

LATING SOCIETY OF REVOLU MONISTS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The Governor of Malta could not allow the
Roman refugees to land, as they might possibly
belong to that formidable society—a society evidently
omnipotent, and also omnipresent. They first inflamed
all Sicily, then Paris, Berlin, Naples, Vienna, Milan,
Prague, Venice, Rome, Frankfort, Florence, Baden
and Hungary. Why, they even attempted a revolu-
tion amongst us on the 10th of April ; but, meeting
with such bad success, I question whether they did
not open their travelling bag to let out the cholera
upon us. They are well provided with gold, they
speak the language of every country, and they have
only to present themselves in any metropolis, and
immediately the throne is upset. Seeing, however,
that thrones still maintain themselves, some by fair
and some by foul means, they are now all gone off
to California to collect a new supply of gold. Why,
surely Mr. More OTerrall must be almost as great
a statesman as Lord John Russell himself, and quite
as penetrating and humane. C. 6.

Tim Rum TO CALIFORNIA.—Somebody has fur-
nished us with the following dialogue, which occurred
in this town a few days since between a shipowner and
a strstwer:—Stranger—" How much do you ask Mr.
--ffor a cabin passage to California?" Shipowner—.
" One hundred dollars, cash down, in advance; but I
crn't take you; all full in the cabin." Stranger—
" Well, suppose I go in the hold; how much do you ask
then?" Shipowner—" Eighty dollars; but I can't take
you— hold is full." Stranger—" But can'tas
saggeotliinereth?e"
tore peak? What is the price of a r
Shipowner—Eigty dollars; but I can't take you. Full
fore and aft." Stranger—" Well, can't Igo aloft some-
where—and suppose I do, what will you charge?" Ship-
owner—" We charge eighty dollars to go anywhere; but
can't carry you aloft; got to carry provisions there."
Stranger—lt's a hard case, isn't it. But I want to go
tolerably bad! what will you charge to tow me?" The
shipowner retreated suddenly,:and didn't make his ap-
pearance again till the vessel had ssiled.—Sandwich
Island Polynesian.
SUDDEN DEATII.—On Saturday last an inquest
was held by Mr. James Lewis, coroner for Rochester,
on board her Majesty's ship Royal George, lying in Salt.
pan Itcach, between Chatham and Sheerness, to inquire
into the cause of death of George Brown, a lad nine
years of age, son of Mr. Hudson Brown, a warrant-
officer in charge of the above ship, whose death was oc-
casioraed in the following singular mannert—llcceased,
whilst walking from the ward-room to the cabin for tho
purpose of cutting a candle, carrying with him a pair of
• scissors, tripped anti fell, when the point of the scissors
•
pierced the jugular vein just under the jaw-bone, which
I caused almost instantaneous death. Verdict--" Avci-
dentsl bath.