The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-14 00:00:00

FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 14, 1849.

100,0001., in 4,000 shares of 251. each, and they have
now enrolled among their shareholders the names of
many of the highest personages in the land. The
charter limits the liability of the shareholders to the
amount of the shares, and the rate of interest to five
per cent._

Shortly after two o'clock a large company, consist-
ing of ladies and gentlemen, having aisembled in the
" coffee-room" contained in the new building, the
Etrl of Carlisle took the chair. Among the company
then present were—Viscount Ebrington, Sir Ralph
Howard, Bart., M.P., the Hon. D. Fortescue, the Rev.
Mr. Evans, Mr. W. A. Wilkinson, Mr. J. IV. Tottie,
Mr. E. C. Tufnell, Mr. T. F. Gibson, the Rev. W.
Stone, Mr. C. A. Hanbury, Mr. R. L. Beck, Mr. J.
Toynbee, Dr. S. Smith, the lion. F. Byng, Lady
Ann Tufnell, Miss Tufnell, Mr. H. Sullivan, Dr.
Gavin, Dr. Guy ; Mr. W. Beck, the architect, and
Mr. C. Gatliff, the secretary.

The CHAIRMAN said, that the shareholders of the
institution had already had a meeting for the tran-
saction of business ; but there were circumstances in
the present position of the institution, and, indeed, in
the general state of public affairs, which warranted
them in inviting together a large number of their
friends and well-wishers on that occasion, and in
pressing the claims of the institution on its sup
porters at that time in a more marked and special
manner. They had had an opportunity of examining
the premises, and of forming their own judgment of
the means which had been adopted for securing the
comfort, convenience, and health of the working
man. He admitted that the best test of the successful
application of those means was to be learned by expe-
rience ; but their by-gone experience warranted them
in entertaining some confidence as to the result.
He alluded to the model-house in Pancras• road, now
open for the space of nearly two years, and the actual
practical result of that experiment was, that the
tenants expressed themselves fully sensible of the
efforts that had been made to improve their dwellings
Their complaints were always listened to with atten-
tion, and wherever it was found practicable the causes
of them were removed. One gratifying circumstance
was the punctuality with which the tenants paid their
rents. Of 2,418/. due from them for rents, there was
only one bad debt of 1/. 19s. 7d., and the actual
arrears at that moment from 110 occupants, were
only 71. 103. Working men were also fully sensible
of the superior accommodation enjoyed by them in
these institutions, as a proof of which he might
mention that out of 110 sets of apartments,
not more than two sets had been left vacant.
The superior health enjoyed by the inmates
was shown by the report of Dr. Southwood
Smith, in May last. During the prevalence
of the late epidemics which had spread so much
misery throughout the metropolis, not a single case
of cholera had taken place in their lodging-house,
although in Psradise-place, near them, it had prevailed
to a formidable extent. This consideration placed
the claims of such institutions on public support in a
striking light. The Bishop of London had suggested
that the collections which were made on occasion of
the late thanksgiving should be set apart for the
specific of ject of extending the model lodging-
houaes of the poor, and the greater part of the contri-
butions obtained on that occasion had been given to
another society professing kindred objects with theirs,
but based on a different system—the Society for the
Improvement of the Condition of the Working
Classes. Ile by no means wished to place that
society in any kind of antagoal,:rn to theirs, nor did
he grudge it the amount of the contributions it had
receiaed, to which, as it was founded on purely
charitable principles, it had, perhaps, stronger claims ;
but he must say, that the contributions made in the
churches en that day hardly seemed to have reached
an amount suitable to the occasion—(Hear)—and
to those who might think that some further exertions
land sacrifices might be gracefully made for the sake of
the poor, he would suggest that that institution
afforded a safe and permanent means of carrying their
charitable intentions into effect. As regarded their
financial affairs, it appeared to him that they ought
to allow a gradual growth to their profits; they had
every reason to hope that their dividend would amount
to 24 or three per cent• when they had carried into
full development that building with the adjoining
lodging-houses, and they might calculate on an ulti-
mate dividend of 5 per cent. when they had attained
the contemplated limit of 4,000 shares, and 100,000/
capital. This, he knew, was not a romantic view to
take of the question, but he felt assured that, at the
present day, benevolence would be most usefully
exerted when the calculations of prudence were
united with the impulses of generosity.— (Hear,
hear.) In conclusion, the Noble Earl begged to
commend the prosperity of the institution to the en-
lightened bounty of his audience.
The chair was then taken by Viscount Ebrington,
the Earl of Carlisle being obliged by an engagement
to leave the meeting.
Sir It. HOWARD congratulated the society on the
amount of success they had already obtained, and
stated that the directors hoped in a short time to pay
a dividend of five per cent.
The Rev. J. HARRIS expressed his satisfaction and
thankfulness to the directors for having established
such an institution in his .parish. He had no doubt
that their most sanguine hopes would be crowned
with success, and, as far as his influence extended,
he would lend his instrumentality to forward their
objects.—(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN expressed his belief that it was
impossible for the Government or Parliament to
afford much assistance to this object, which must
depend mainly for its success on the employment of
private capital and exertion.
Dr. SOUTHWOOD SMITH thought that their efforts
should he principally directed, not so much to build-
ing lodging-houses for single men, as to the improve-
ment of the dwellings of families.

Mr. S. BOWLEYT of Gloucester, explained the
objects of a society formed in that city for improving
the dwellings of the poor, and securing to the tenants
the freeholds of their cottages after a period of fourteen
years.
The meeting then separated.

ENGLAND, RUSSIA, AND
T URKE Y.

The following documents show that the anchoring
of the English fleet below the Inner Castles of the
Dardanelles is no infraction of the treaty of 1841, as
contended by Russia. The first of these documents
is a copy of the official memorandum from Chekib
Effendi, addressed to the representatives of the several
Powers at the Ottoman Porte, dated the 27th of
February, 1845 :
"Your Excellency is aware that the entrance of ships
of war belonging to foreign Powers in the Straits of the
White Sea (Mediterranean) and of the Black Sea has
always been prohibited. This ancient regulation has
acquired much more force by the treaty concluded
the I9th Regib of the year of the Hegira 1257
(September stb, 1841) between the Sublime
Porte and the fire great Powers, so that when ships of
war, either large or small, and whatever may be the
P,,wer to which they belong, wish to enter the above-
meutloned Straits, it shall be first signified to them that
they are not permitted to enter. If they do not pay
attention thereto one or two guns will be fired without
ball; and if they still persist in entering, then as such a
proceeding will be a contravention of the treaty and of
the regulation, they shall be prevented from entering
by being fired upon with shot.
"It is equally known that it is not permitted to mer-
chant vessels in general, either Turkish or of friendly
nations, to pass the Straits after sunset, but from time to
time such vessels are seen, who, not wishing to observe
this rule, attempt to enter; and although means are
tried to prevent them, by firing guns only to warn them
and without any design of hitting them, as they are
aware that those guns will do them no harm, no real ad-
vantage is obtained by it.
" Now this ancient prohibition with regard to mer-
chant vessels is alone necessitated by the impossibility
of discerning whether the vessel which passes during the
night be a ship of war or a merchant vessel ; but the
authorities in writing to us represent that as they attri-
bute to a kind of tolerance the fact that they have fired
upon the vessels which have passed, up to the present
time, with the intent to cause them harm, the greater
part of the vessels endeavour to annul the rule
in question. For this reason it has been definitely
determined to put into full execution, with respect
to all vessels which endeavour to pass the
Straits after sunset, this measure of absolute
prohibition ; a measure which ought to be in-
violably observed as part of our ancient system of
administration of the Sublime Porte, and as a neces-
sary consequence of that which has been established
by the treaty which has been concluded a short time
since with the five Allied Powers. In consequence
whereof, it has been signified to the authorities that a
delay of three months, to count from the Ist of March of
the current year, 1261, has been fixed; that, at the ex-
piration of this term, they are at first to acquaint by
signals those vessels that insist on entering the straits
of the prohibition which exists ; that, if the vessels take
no notice thereof, two or three guns will be fired without
ball ; and that, if the vessels do not take notice of this,
every means will be resorted to to prevent their passing
by firing open them with shotted gems.
" We accordingly address the present official memo-
randum to your Excellency, begging you to cause the
present measures to be brought through the proper
channels to the notice of mowers of merchant vessels,
in order that they may be aware that if in consequence
of the regulations before mentioned being put in force
there should result any damage or harm, they cannot
prefer a claim or plaint; and we beg your Excellency to
have the goodness to give orders so that there regula-
tions may be made compulsory and necessary."
The other is a detailed account of the practice
which has been hitherto invariably observed in car-
rying out the above instructions :
" All vessels, either of war or mercantile, are allowed
to enter the channel of the Dardanelles at any hour of
the day or night; the straits being considered as com-
mencing at their narrowest part (something less than an
English mile), namely—at the inner castles of Charak-
Kalessi, on the Asiatic shore; and at Killic-Bahar, im-
mediately opposite, on the European sides.
" If merchant ships arrive at these straits before sun-
set they pass up without hindrance; but ships of war
cannot so pass at any time without being provided

with a Vizierial letter addressed to the Governor of the
Castles, who resides at Carak-Dales-i. The ambassador
or minister of the nation to which the ship belongs
is utually apprised previously, and obtains this p,:r-
mistiou in time to send it to the Consul at the Dar-
danelles to meet her arrival; but until this is delivered
to the Governor, such ship is not allowed to pass,
but may by at anchor below the inner castles before
mentioned. A recent instance of this occurred with the
American corvette Jamestown in the month of September
last, which entert,d the channel and came to anchor be-
low the inner castles, to wait for the Vizierial letter
from Constantinople, on the receipt of which on the fol-
lowing day she was allowed to pass up. Charak-Ka-
lessi is the Turkish name for the town and castle of the
Dardanelles, where all the European consols reside.
Coming from Constantinople ships of war are nut re-
quired to be furnished with any authority, but pass
down freely ; but all merchant-vessels must be provided,
through their several Consulates at Constantinople, with
a firman to pass, which firman must be delivered at the
Dardanelles, and any that attempt to pass without
doing so is fired on from the castles on either side of the
straits."

It is abundantly evident from the above that Sir
Wlll'am Parker was completely justified by the
treaty of 1841 in taking up a position where he did, and
should he meet with blowing weather in Basika, to
which anchorage he went for the purpose of exercising
his men and firing at a target, Sce., he will return to
his former anchorage below the Inner Castles of the
Dardanelles.

their guidance, with the utmost strictness.
You may laugh ; but, when we heard the sailors
talk of their grog (at a good distance, too), there
was nothing we felt the want of so much as a little
of that liquid and potatoes ! except Mr. O'Brien, who
adheres to his pledge most rigidly. However, we
are now pretty well inured to suffering, and can bear
everything. We don't expect to arrive at Hobart
Town until the end of November. In my letter
to - I have been rather minute in details, and have
directed them to be open to the inspection of all friends.
" I cannot attempt to express my feelings of
gratitude and affection for , and those noble •
hearted beings who sustained me in those hours of
difficulty through which I have passed. t But
neither time, nor distance, nor circumstances, shall
ever alter the deep impression of love and esteem
which such conduct has engravers on my heart. May
I one day be enabled to prove that such generous
kindness was not forgotten, nor wholly unm,rited !
" We all lung to hear news from poor Old Ireland,
in the hope that pesti!ence and famine have abated
their ravages in that beautiful but unhappy land.
May God grant it, and bless again our poor old
Erin !

" Present my best regards to —7—, —,
and , who may have any sympathy for us. I
have written this in so hurried a mode, that I hope its
unsatisfactory vagueness will not be ascribed to any
but the one urgent cause—haste, and the writer not,
by any chance, his own master.

Believe, my dear -, ever your sincere,
attached, and affectionate
" PATRICK O'DONOII0E."

* Plainly, this order wa% owing to the anti-convict
agitation then at its height in Cape Town, but of which
the writer was, of course, uuAwarc.

Dead about six weeks. A young gentleman who
promis,d, like a few other lawyers' clerks who became
barristers, to be eminent in his profession.
Alluding to the liberal contributions subscribed by
the law clerks fer his defence. O'Donotroe was re-
garded, I understand, as one of the best taxing and con-
veyancing cLiks in Ireland.

WRECKS on the GUN FLEET SANDS.
On the night of Friday last no less than six vessels
were lost on these dangerous sands ; five of them
were deeply coal-laden ships belonging to Newcastle
and Shields, the other was a foreigner ; all were on
their passage to London. The night was exceedingly
dark, thick, and rainy ; the wind was blowing strong
from the eastward, with a me at deal of sea and a
strong ebb tide. The vessels had each pa!sed the
Sunk-light in safety, between which and the Middle-
light there is ts long, narrow, and dangerous naviga-
tion, with the Gunfleet Sands on one side and the
Heaps on the other. Unfortunately, also, the Middle-
light cannot be seen until the Sunk has been left a
considerable distance; in a dark night, therefore, the
navigation is excedingly difficult. On Friday, each
vessel struck the sands between this intervening space ;
for although the right bearings were got on leaving
the Sunk, the tide, from the vessels being deeply
leden, set them gradually out of the proper channel,
and carried them on to these fatal sands. In all pro
bability, also, one vessel misled the other, as they
grounded very near to each other. Her Majefey'e
cutter Scout soon got tidings of the disasters, and
hastened to the assistance of the crews, who had
wisely remained on board their vessels. Providentially
they were rescued without the loss of a man. One
collier was, by assistance, got off, and made for
Yarmouth ; the Scout succeeded in getting another
off, but after being in deep. water half an hour she
filled and went down. The other vessels became total
wrecks, but we ham they were all insured in the
Northern Clubs. The crews were conveyed to Har-
wich; but we understand that the Shipwreck Society
therefore refused to relieve them, on the ground that,
though applications had frequently been made, the
Newcastle Society refused to refund moneys that had
before been paid in similar cases by the Harwich
Society. We trust this fearful calamity will show
the necessity that such societies should be on friendly
and honourabje terms with each other. Yesterday
(Monday) afternoon, the united crews, amounting to
about thirty men, had a free passage to Ipswich by
the River Queen. The scene on board was of the
most extraordinary and affecting description.
The rough, weather-beaten seamen, who had
gone through the perils of that night with
undaunted courage, were, is the review of it, com-
pletely overwhelmed with gratitude to God for His
mercy in granting them deliverance. For the most part
they were in the fore cabin of the steamer, and at one
time all would be on their knees in devout prayer
and thanksgiving to God, then a suitable hymn
would be read, and the voices of those who had been
saved from the yawning ocean would presently sound
it forth in solemn thanks to God. From port to port
they were entirely occupied in these devotional exer-
cises, and the effect of them, and indeed the whole
scene upon several hardy sons of the ocean who were
on board, will never be forgotten. A subscription
for the seamen was made on board, Mr. G. Ransome
heading the subscription list by a generous sum ; this
gentleman afterwards addressed the wrecked seamen
in very suitable terms. On their arrival in Ips-
wich they proceeded by train to London.—lpswich
Express.