The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-19 00:00:00

THE SITN, LONDON, MONDAY MORNING, APRIL 19, 1847.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

AMERICAN AFFAIRS

THE HOUSES of PARLIAMENT.
The following estimates r« quired for the year ending
March 31, 1848, are extracted from the estimates of
Public Works and Buildings, issued on S iturday, by
order of the Muse of Comrno-s:—
THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

NEW YORK, MAacirt 31.—Although it is nearly two
years before .he Presidential election takes place, yet the
campaign has fairly opened. The Charleston (South
Carolina) Courier has commenced a defence of Mr. Cal-
houn. and assails in no measured terms the Washington
Union and its editor. The South Carolina paper
charges Mr. Ritchie with abandoning the true interests
of the south, and with succumbing to northern men,
with northern notions and feelings on the question of
slavery.
Air. Calhoun is calling (in a speech recently made)
upon southern statesmen to organise and unite on the
existing topic of slavery, which -IT conceives vital to the
slave-holding population. On this ground he thinks the
Presidential question should be fought. In the speech
referred to he denounces a "caucus," or convention, held
for the purpose of nominating a candidate for the office
of President. Whatever may be said of Mr. Calhoun's
views on other subjects, his remarks in relation to party
conventions merit calm and serious deliberation. They
never fail to exhibit a scene of low intrigue, and some-
times the most profl gate and audacious corruption. I
regret to add, there charges are not i xclusively confined
to one political party.
The Union, Mr. Pelk's mouthpieces, replies to this
assault with great bitterness. He insists urinn a con-
vention to d,signate the candidate of the party, and is
prepared to expel as an unbeliever ani a heretic the
man who does not sustain and support the usages of the
party, and this usage in particular. It is very generally
understood awl believed that Mr. Calhoun is determined
to be a candidate for the Presidency at the next el -ction.
If he consents to go into the convention, he will he
bound by its proceedings, and mi matter what pledges
or assurances are elven to him, he and his friends will
he voted down. This fact Mr. Calhoun understands.
He knows he will be cheated.

IN PRUSSIA.
The Universal Prussian Gazette, of the 10th instant,
contains the following Cabinet Order of the King, re-
specting the admission of the public to certain criminal
examinations regulated by the law of July 17, 1846, as
well as to civil processes :
" I have given effect to two projects of law,
presented
tome along with the report of my Ministers of State of
the 6th of this month, respecting the admission of the
public to certain examinations regulated by the law of
July 17, 1846,
as well as to civil processes
same to my Ministers of State, commanding themto
make them public.

An estimate of the probable sum that will be required
to defray the expense of providing temporary accommo
dation for the Houses of Parliament, committee-rooms,
offices, and temporary official residences for tie Speaker
of the House of Commons and -ether offieers of the House,
&c., for the year ending 31st March, 1848.
Seventeen thousand seven hundred and nine pounds.
For temporary approaches to the new House of
Lords from the royal gallery, and from the
present House of Commons ; additions and
alterations at the Parliament office; a tempo-
rary access for Peers from the new House of
Lords to the committee-rooms in the river
front ; suit( s of rooms temporarily fitted up
for the Private Bill-office, the offices of the
Clerks of the Fees and Journals, and for the
Librarian of the House of Commons. and other

" FREDERICK WILLIAM.

" Potsdam, April 7, 1847."
4` ORDINANCE RESPECTING THE ADMISSION OF THE
PUBLIC TO EXAMINATIONS IN CRIMINAL MATTERS.
" We, Frederick William, by the grace of God King
of Prussia, &c., find ourselves induced to introduce in
the examinations regulated by the law of July 17, 1846,
a publicity which shall answer to the true necessities of
the case, and aeclrdingly ordain, on the suggestion of
our Ministers of State, repealing all statutes to a con•
trary effect, as follows :-
1. Admission to the oral proceedings in the exami-
nations abotenatni-d shall from this time forth be per-
witted to all males; all persons are, however, to be
excluded who have lost the right to wear the national
cock Ade, as welL as those whose exterior is of such a
nature us to awaken fears for the violation of decency
during the proceedings.
" 2. All persons, however, who are not iaterested in
the ca,.e must withdraw when the court deems this to be
necessary, either on account of the public good or of
morality. The court, in this respect, is to he guided by
the representations of the State Prosecutor.

temporary accommodations which will probably
be required during the current year £lo 250
Ditto for furniture, fittings, and c ,sual removals 1,000
For the expense of furniture and fittings con-
tingent upon occupying the new House of
Peers in the present session
For the expense incurred for furniture, end in
the preparation of the temporary rooms for
the Private-bill, Journal, and Clerk of Fees
offices, and rooms for the use of the Librarian
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
For the probable expense of furniture, including,
the hire of chindeliers, in the levee and pub-
lic dining-rooms at the temporary residence
of the Speaker, No. 71, Eatorksquare
Ventilation, &c., under the direction of Dr.
D. B. Reid.

Mr. Benton entertains strong hopes and expectation:,
that he nosy be selected as the candi late of the Palace.
All such hopes are worse than vision ,ry. It was with
the view of promoting that darlit,g olti et that he
struggled so stoutly to obtain the command of the
army. There are, however, so many obstacles in the
way of Mr. Benton's ascending the throne, that I con-
sider the attempt as v6iert..r;.-, and un Northy notice.
The aspirants in his own part, are numerous, while the
Fend between Beaton and Calhoun is violent and uncom-
promising.
The Whig party have made no movement as yet indi-
cating whom they would meter as their candidste for the
office of President; hut there is no doubt a very large
majority of the Whigs; would isreer Henry Clay, if he
could be induced to permit his friends to use his
name for that office, which is very doubtful. Mr.
Clay seeks retirement, and while he enjoys the society
of his family and his friends, he delights in rural pur-
suits, and the cultivation of a superb farm of which he
is the proprietor and the occupant. having settled on it
some thirty years or more, when the surrounding
country was a wilderness.
In a few days (the 12th of April) Mr. Clay will
he seventy years old. He possesses a robust consti-
tution, and is in most excellent health. His friends

" Given at Potsdam, April 7 1847.
" FRED,ERICK WILLIAM."
" ORDINANCE RESPECTING THE ADMISSION or THE
PUIt-
LIC IN CIVIL PROCESSES.
" We, Frederick William, by the grace of God KingWe,
of Prussia, &c., find ourselves induced to introduce into
those provinces in which the ordinance of July 21. 1846,
respecting civil processes is in force,
a publicity which
shall answer to the true necessities of the caw., and
accordingly ordain, on the suggestions of our Ministers
of State, repealing all statutes to a contrary effect, as
follows*—
" 1. Adwissisn to the oral proceedings in civil pro-
cesses shall from this time forth be permitted to all
males; all persons are however to be excluded who
have lost the right to wear the national cockade, as well
as those whose exterior is of such a nature as to awaken
fears for the violation of decency during the proceed-

For the probable expense that will be incurred
for taking up hair-cloth m9.ts, &c., and clean-
ing dirt from under the House, and the supply
of hair-cloth and mats which will be required
from time to time to make good what is worn

out
Rents, Sm.
For one year's rent of rooms to Lady-day, 1848,
at the Westminster Hospital, for the deposit
of papers belonging to the House of Peers
For rent of house, No. 43, Parliament-street, to
Feb. 2, 1848, including the cost of the dilapi-
dations on quitting possession....
For rent of offices, No. 11, Bridge street, taken

for the sale of Parliamentary papers
Rent, taxes, &c., for the temporary official resi-
dence of tke Speaker, No. 71, Eaton-square,
for one year
Allowance to the Clerk of the House of Com-
mons for rent of a temporary official residence
Ditto to the housekeeper

ings.
" 2. All persons not interested in the case must with-
draw as soon as the court deems this to be necessary,
either on account of the public good or of morality.
" The public can only be exc►uded at the request of
one or other of the parties when such reasons for this
exclusion are adduced as the court after free considers-
don deems sufficient. On such occasions the court is to
express its opinion by a resolution after hearing the
reasons adduced by the parties or their representatives.
" 3. The present ordinance does not apply to pro-
ceedings in suits of divorce regulated by the law of
June 28, 1844.

Total for the temporary accommodation of the
Houses of Parliament, including rents of
•
premises hired for offices and official resi-
-17,709
dences 4
NEW HOUSES OF PARLIA MENT
An estimate of the probable sum that will be required
to defray the expense of the works for the year ending
31st of March, 1848, beyond what has already been pro-
vided for by votes of Parliamentl—
One hundred and fifty thousand pounds.
On further account of the carcase works of the
Houses of Lords and Commons, the central
hall and connecting corridors, the Victoria
tower, the clock tower, the Commons resi-
dences, St. Stephen's hall, and the front
towards Old Palace-yard, forming the public
approach from Westminster Hall and St. Mar-
garet-street; and also on further account o'
the finishings generally of the public portions
of the building £68,000
On further account of the fire-proof floors, roofs,
&c., and for warming and ventilating ar-
rangements
For internal carvings, decorative painting and
gilding, stained glass, ornamental floors, brass
screen and nillngs; also for gas services, metal
brackets, pendants. and candelabra for light-
ing, and for the furniture and upholstery of
the House of Peers and corridors, the Victoria
hall, and the public lobby, including the fit-
tings and decorations of the Throne, &c.

in this city are making the necessary arrangements tor
a large and splendid festival in honour of his birthday.
There is no doubt it will be well attended, and' probably
by some of our most distinguished statesmen from adja-
cent states. As he advances in the number of his years,
the respect and esteem of his countrymen appear to
grow stronger, while the asperity of party is daily be-
coming more subdued, losing its bitterness, so far as it
applies to him.
We have recently experienced a tremendous gale of
wind along our seaboard. As far as we have heard,
the disasters have been numerous, and we have reason to
apprehend that the loss of both life and property will
prove great.
The exciting topics in this city are the Irish suffer-
ings and the Mexican war, but especially the latter.
On Friday last the Government ship the Jamestown,
Captain Forbes, cleared at the Boston Custom house for
Cork, and sailed on Saturday. She is leaded with sup-
plies for the relief of the Irish sufferers by famine.
About the 20th of the present month we had rumours
of a great battle having been fought between Santa
Anna and General Taylor, but no details. Rumours,
however, were rife that the Mexicans had been repulsed
with the loss of 4,000 or 5,000 men, and that General
Taylor had sustained a loss of from 1,100 to 1,700 men.
On the 23d the National Intelligencer published a call
from Colonel Curtis, of Ohio, on the Governor of Loui-
siana for 10,000 volunteers, to be dispatched to the seat
of war with as little delay as possible. This requisition
bears date, " Camargo, March 2. 1647." and states
" that all communication has for several days been cut
off between Csmargo and the army above" (General
Taylor's army).
From the 23d of March to the present day we have
had nothing but the most contradictory reports and ru
mourn, without on• line that can be considered official.
et- that can be relied on.
On the 26th of March the Intelligencer received, via
New Orleans, advices from Mexico to the 27th of Fe-
bruary; they announce a revolution in the city ot
Mexico. Gomsz Ferias has been denounced, and Sales
chosen in his stead. Santa Anna, according to the ac-
ecunts, retains his power and influence. The ladli-
gencer publishes a letter from New Orleans, from which
the following is extracted:—
. We have two drys later from Brazos, but nothing
I -.ter from the army—nothing further, iroin the enemy
ing near to Matameras, which is cowed. red safe:*
We have to IN port, via Tampico, of a
settle, and that Santa Anne win repulsed The report
a without any jus; feuteletien. Every one is on tiptoe
'er itrther mimes. God send they may b, fevoureble."
you ehould rec-ise a .1 •z n letters, you will pre
ted;ey receive a doz n different ruin ors and opinions.
I will give you mine in as few words a, possible. 1 be-
1k ve there has been hard fighting, with great slaughter
en both side. The MeNierins, however, are much the
.zreatest sufferers. In my opinion, their force was as
ie,st double, perhaps three times the number of Gene-
al Taylor, who has probably retreatsd to Monterey,
e Mel) he is perfectly able to hold until he receives rein-
4orcoments.
General Scott. before the date of this letter, has pro-
-1)..13!y at tat ked and csptured the city of Vera Cruz and
the Cagle of St. Juan d'Ulloa. This opinion is univer-
selly entertained by the best informed men in this place,
Between the fri••nds of General Scott and General Tay
el. there is some unkind feeling, in consequence of Scott
withdrawing from Taylor his most efficient troops. Al
parties unite in condemning the President and his Ca•
le'net for leaving Taylor in a defenceless state.
7 imes. A GEN EV ESE TRAVELLER.

" FREDERICK WILLIAM.
1‘ Given at Potsdam, 7th of April. 1847."

INSTITUTIGN OF CIVIL ENGI-
NEERS.
Mancu 30, AND APRIL 13.
(o Rennie,
upen s iPr.r. eRs de
he natr
dins
etuh,se cpha
pa ierr.)
on the
The
ventilation of mines was continued through both these
meetings, to the exclusion of any other subjects.
The vari,us methods of ventilation in use in the min-
ing districts of Great Britain were fully described, and
their peculiarities discussed. The causes of accidents by
explosions and the consequent choke damp were inquired
into, and the fitness of the attempted methods of preven-
tion or cure was debated upon. The method of ex-
hausting the air was contrasted with that of forcing it
forward into levels by means of bellows and pipes. The
system used in the north of placing a furnace at the
bottom of the upcast shaft was insisted upon as that best
calculated for the extensive mines of that dist• ict, while
the method introduced by Mr. Gibbons in Staffordshire,
of exhausting the foul air by air heads cut at the top of
the coal. connected with a channel in the side of the shaft,
terminating in a chimney on the surface, was received
as a decided improvement upon the ordinary system in
use in that coal basin, where the extraordinary thick-
ness of thirty feet of the vein of coal renders a peculiar
plan indispensable. Variiius methods of attempting to
carry off the foul air from the "goat'," whether by addi-
tional shafts or by boreheles, were proposed, and shown
by the mining experience to be totally impracticable, and
calculated to be rather prejudicial than useful. The in-
terference of Government was strongly insisted upon, and
as decidedly objected to by those miners whose long ex-
perience and good judgment entitled their opinions to
deference and consideration. It was shown that the
foreign mines which were under the constant supoin-
tendence of Government engineers, far from being
exempt from accident, wer" not only more liable to the
effects of, deficient ventilation, but that the actual loss of
human life was greater than in England ; and that if our
mines were subject to the same annoying trammels the
price of fuel must be unduly raised without any corres-
ponding ftd,antage, or an immunity from danger. There
could be no objection on the part of the coal-owners to
the formation of an association for reg&a:ly inspecting
And reporting upon the states of the various mines, the
communication between the various distric s of the
methods found to su seed best under the attendant p mi-
lli!. circumstances ; but there were good and vale'
roasons given why such a power should never be tamelx
placed in the hands of any Government officers, with the
examples new before the country of the utter useless-
ness of the various commissions that had been lippointed
to report on technical subjects, and whose whole labour
appeared to have been directed to puffing some 't nos-
trum," no doubt strongly recomtntnded by some one
"having authority."
The subject of safety lamps and their uses were also
fully disenssed:—Dr. Reid Clanny's first invention of the
lamp in 1813, whieh necessarily failed from its cumbrous
orm and general inapplicability fir working purposes.
and the recentform he had adopted, cotnbining portions
of the other lamps in use, so as to show a bright light,
and yet be free from danger. The extraordinary co-
incidence of inventive thought between, Sir Humphry
Davy and Mr, George Stephenson, the one acting upon
Purely chemical theor, and the other upon mechanical
knowledge and practice, and yet both simultaneously
producing lamps which we-e almost identical, and which
still r' mained very generally in use under the names of
the " Davy" and the " Geordie."
Our limits will not permit a more extended notice of
these discussions, which were replete with interest from
the information displayed, as well by the purely scientific
debaters as by the eminent practised engineers wbo take
the lead in the animated debates upon the papers read at
the meetings of the institution.
At the monthly ballot the following candidates were
elected :—Messrs. J. T. Harrison, as a member, and
T. Donkin, E. Ilighton, and W. E. Mylne, jun., as
associates.

ji 150,000

WHAT EMPLOYERS CAN to.—An i nteres
ample of the good effects of strict moral supervision on
the part of the employers, is aff Tried by a silk mill,
at liadleigh, near Canterbury. It is more than this;
for it is also an excellent example of co-operation on
tfie part of the working and middle classes, for
the purpose of profitable investment for their com-
mon benefit. The Hadleigh silk factory was erected,
in 1834, by the parishioners, in shares of 50/., and let
on a lease of twenty-One years. at six per c' nt. on the
capital invested, to a large manufacturer of Colchester.
The shareholders reserved powers to the trustees, whom
they appointed, to the following effect:—That no chil-
dren should be admitted to the mill, except by their
appointment ; and that they should have power to sus
pend or dismiss any who should misconduct themselves,
either in or out of the factory—whether children, young
women, overleokers, or mechanics employed about
the premises, though these last three classes were
all appointed by the master. Under these powers,
a number of minor regulations were afterwards agreed
I
upon. Any young woman having a child, or guilty of
improper conduct, was dismissed, and never re-admitted,
The names of those found walking in the streets, in
improper company, at improper hours, or fowid in
public-houses, were reported !o the trustees, and dis
missal followed, if the cause was deemed sufficient.
Those of the female operatives who came from the
country were allowed to lodge only in those houses
which were approved by the trustees, or were subject to
be suspended or dismissed from their employment. Ulti-
mately, the trustees devolved almost their entire powers
as to moral discipline on Archdeacon Lyall, who took a
p,culiar interest in watching over the moral condition of
the factory workers. And the results were most gratify-
ing. After the first year, all parties—the master, the
operatives themselves, and the relations of those em-
ployed—were unanimous in praise of the system. The
master, who was also the proprietor of a large mill at
Colchester, called upon the Archdeacon, and urged him
to use his influence with the clergy of that town to
exercise the same powers over the moral conduct of his
workpeople there, which he himself exercised at Had-
leigh; and applications of the same kind were made to
nim by other large employers of labour. A higher
class of female operatives was attracted to the Hadleigh
mill, by the fact of the high standard of moral conduct
maintained there. An increasing number of respectable
applicants, many of them the daughters of tradesmen,
waited their turn for admission to employment ; and the
general behaviour of the whole was acknowledged to be
equal to that of the best conducted classes of the popu-
lation.—People's Journal.
PAST WARNINGS AND PROSPECTIVE CONSEQUENCES.
—Many sources of disease may be pointed out which
might be removed. It may be highly instructive to in-
quire—how much depends upon our own conduct ?
how much belongs to the action of those inscrutable
causes over which we have no controul ? That many
of those sources of disease are removable I am
'certain ; would that I could inspire my coun-
trymen with that active personal benevolence which
alone can remove some of the miseries incidental to, and
consequent upon, the condition of poverty. Their noble,
their magnificent generosity has never been withheld,
even from those who have infinitely less claim upon their
sympathies. Would to God that a body, who might
be called " legion," would stand forth, and in grap-
pling with the monster, whose gigantic proportions
have overshadowed the land, make their determina-
tion to accept no compromise, until by a well-con-
sidered, well-directed, mighty effort, they have ren-
dered themselves more victorious than the soldier, whose
reputation, built on human sacrifices, is too often based
upon the number of his victims, whilst theirs shall beregis-
tered in the applause of the good, in the gratitude of
millions. The vast numbers of burying-places within
the bills of mortality are so many centres or foci of in-
fection—generating constantly the dreadful effluvia of
human putrefaction acting according to the cir-
cumstances of locality, nature of soil, depth from
the - Surface temperature. currents of air its
'moisture or 'dryness, and the power of resistance in
those subjected to its influence (and who is not?) as a
slow or energetic poison. * * • • Who is
not deeply interested in this question? Families home,
kindred, relations, friends, the thousand sympathies that
have grown w.th our growth and strengthened with our
strength, are so intimately connected with our sub-
ject, that the more deeply we reflect, the more
settled is our conviction of the necessity for the
interference of the Legislature upon a point so inti-
mately involving the best interests of society. I have
freely and earnestly spoken of the tremendous risk in-
curred by the mutilations of the resistless dead, portions
of whose bodies, in various stages of decomposition,
are thus made the instruments of punishment to the
living. Yet no attention is paid to remonstrance, urged
from conviction • no heed given to warnings however
disinterested, and however urgent.— Walker's Gather-
ings from Graveyards.
RIFLE BRIGADE —The Colonelcy of the 2d bat-

TM,: LATE LO,S OF LIFE BY FIRE IN MARTLE.
BONE.—On Friday Mr. Wakley, M.P , held an inquest a
the St. Marylebone Workhouse, on the body of Anne Wilson,
aged 74, the unfortunate female burnt to death in her bed on
the morning of Wednesday last. It appeared from the state-
ment et Henry Wilson, a little boy nine years of age, that he
resided with the deceased, who was his grandmother, at No.
10, Marylebone-court, and slept in the same bed with her.
On the night of Tuesday last, when they went. to bed, the
deceased, as was her custom, placed her lighted candle on a
chair near the fed-side. About twenty minutes after twelve
.o. the Wednesday morning he was awoke by a sense of sun-
cat ion, and on getting up and finding the room full of smoke
and the bed on fire, he ran to the door and called for the
assistance of the lodgers, but before ay.y arrived the bed and
bedding was in flames, and his grandmother still lying upon
it. The candlestick was found under the bed, and it had, no
doubt, fallen from the chair, and having ignited some articles
under the bed, caused the conflagration. Other evidence
showed that before the unfortunate deceased could be rescued
from the bed she was burnt in a frightful manner in various
parts of the body. She was conveyed to the infirmary of
Niarylehone Workhouse, where she expired from the injuries
received about three o'clock the same morning. Verdict,
"Accidental death."
SUOULD NOT PROPER VENTILATION BE ENFORCED
BY Law ? r. Toynbee has submitted the following pro-
positions f,r the adoption of Government to the consideration
of the Royal lieri ate of Architects:-1. That no living,
sleeping, or work-room, shall contain less than 144 super-
ficiaf feet, or sh ill be less than eight feet high. 2. That
such room shall have one window at least, opening at the
t,p. 3. Also an open fire-place. 4 That in every living,
Ileepirig, or work-room erected in future, some method shall
be adopted of all wing the foul air to escape from the upper
part of the room. 5. That every such room erected in future
6. In
tauhenr ehrnueletp:tucofhb
iclirasbn7usti lhttdoiEti
aeuemtga
shall have ,me means of continually admitting fresh air.
upon
e
f combus-
d
theatres,
rtsi you.
ise'rrh.outi7l.B,Tahlaidt
all
other public banning's, shall adopt such inethode cf ventila-
tion
a+ are approved by the medical . officer of health.
The Builder.
BLACK AND WHITE- DISTINCTIONS:FEET of. the
h•
4,000 Ethiopian Serenaders, at present in England, ap•
escapew7roh
ri thec.h g.
paaisur. productsu used,
e od
plo-d f r b-rths on board the Cambria, to return to their
native Ethiopia, but were refused on account f their
colour. It. was only when they had taken the soot off
their faces. and had washed their hands of the foul dis•
vracc of belly! leittline blacks, that they were allowed
to as,ociate with the American passitwers. We wonder
the Yankee, in their Mitred of everytl.ing black, do not,
when they represent Othi 110, make him a white general.
--AAA „
SureosEn S'UICIDE OF CAPT. U. LiowNEs, R.E.
—A melancholy occurrence took place on board the General
Steam Navigation Company's ship Ramona, plying on the
Yarmouth stations, during the last trip made by that vessel.
The Ramona left, Yarmouth -at five r.at. m Wednosday even-
ing, under the charge of captain Dqwrion, with a general
cargo of merchandis., and several passengers, among whom
was Captain Dowries, of the corps of Ruh al Engineers. The
night turned out rough and squally, a heavy sea rolling
(luring the early part of the passage; but nothing particular
occurred calculated to direct the attention of those on board
to the Gallant Officer whose death this paragraph announces.
After leaving Yarmouth he took tea in the chief cabin, at
the same table with several other passengers. Mr. Wood,
the steward of the vessel, believes that he partook of no
other refreshment during the evening; but about half-past
one b'clock on Thursday morning he observed the Gallant
Captain parading the deck and smoking a cigar. Shortly
afterwards !te addressed the steward's boy, requesting
him to make up his bed for the night on the sofa.
This was the last that was seen or heard of the unfor-
tunate gentleman. Some two hours subsequently one of
the seilo,s discovered a hat lying in the starboard fore
sponson, and on conveying it into the cabin it was shortly
ascertairied to have belonged to Captain Downes. A close
search was immediately made for the Gallant Officer, but it
was soon found that he was not on board the vessel. The
first impression was that he must have thrown himself over-
heard shortly after having been seen by the steward ; and
this presumption was afterwards strengthened by the fact of
his manner having been remarked to have been particularly
reserved during the voyage
_by several of his fellow-pas.
sengers. His carpet-bag was opened by the captain, to dis-
cover his identity, and in it were discovered three letters,
which gave the desired information. The only other things
contained in the bag were a night-shirt, and a brush and
comb. On the arrival of the Ramona off the Custom House
on Thursday morning information of the melancholy occur-
rence was given at the office of the company by Captain
Dawson, and we understand, from inquiries which have been
made, little doubt appears to exist, that the Gallant Captain
must have thrown himself overboard while labouring under
mental alienation. Thi weather, it should be stated. bad
moderated before the Gallent Captain was missed, and there
was scarcely any swell on. The spot is supposed to have
been Dear the Ulnae WWI twenty mike below Gravesend.

BLACK FACES AND WHITE MONEY.--There are so
many good points in the American character that we
deplore the existence of those prejudices and weaknesses
.
which go so far to neutralise their virtues. The sight of
.a
great work marred by some lamentable inconsistene. y
s
always a painful on America is not withoutgenerosity.—
is n.ot without
. an enlargement of aympathy an.d.tolera,t.on
..ur famine . stricken islands; and rnaßY a
which in.them. selves are truly admirable qualities. Even
now she giving largely to feed the starving masses in
great move-
ment of philanthropy in this country has received an
impetus from the coldjutancy of our brethren on the
other side of the Atlantic. But American humanity is
of a peculiar character. It is essentially exclusive.
The Americans are very tolerant
—very generous—very
sympathetic—very humane; they would be the most
tolerant, the most generous, the most sympathetic, and
the most humane people in the would,—if there were
no blacks. But even in these days, scouted as they
have been. condemned as they have been,—shown
their own faces as in a glass most visibly, with all
the distortions and grimaces of the most con-
temptible, the most paltry prejudice and narrow-
mindedness,—their liberality cannot go oat beyond the
regions of the white world. Their sensibilitieS are dull
affected by the contaut of a man of colour. They. do
.not-judge men by the hue of their souls—the complexion
of their mind—but by the outer integuments of the body:
It is not the mind, it is the skin that makes the man. '
The " mask of night" on the face of a Bacon or a Na-
poleon would sink him at once to the dimensions of a
piecaniqny. Let him do whet he might, he would still
he a black, not fit to herd with the most insignificant
whites in the cabin of an American steam. ship.—Atlas.
SUDDEN DEATH OF A MAN UNKNOWN IN THE

(; .aefell-street, fell to the ground and
was taken to St. Luke's work-
STREETS.—Yesterday the police received information that on
the preceding day a man, whose is at present unknown, whilst
proceeding
in-
stantly
hou,e' to be owned.. The deceased
. was about fifty years of
age, five feet seven inches high, brown hair, fair complexion,
and he had a wound o moleski
nas He was dressed in
expiarleodn.g
The
body
black body coat, figured trcesers, black vest, blucher
boots, and black hat. An inquest will be held on the body
this day (Saturdaas
ALARMING EZPLOSION IN ST. JOAN'S-STREET.--
On Friday morning, between one.and two o'clock, consider-
able alarm was created in St. John s-street, West Smithfield
in consequence of an explosion of gas, of a serious character,'
taking place on the premises belonging to Mr. Berlin, cigar
manufacturer and tobacconist, situate at No. 48, in the above.
named street. It appears that the gas had escaped from te
burner to such an extent as to fill the front draping-rooiii.
One of the inmates, not knowing that the vapour had es-
caped, entered the apartment, when the gas exploded with a
fearful noise, blowing the windows to the opposite side of the
road, knocking the man down who had the light in his hand,
and doing serious mischief to the apartment. Fortunately no
person was at all injured. Mr. Berlin was insured in the Sun
tire-office. The escape of the Royal Society and the engines
attended very early, but their services were not required.
TUE UNCERTAINTY OF HUMAN Lire.—On Friday
an inquest was held by Mr. Carter, at the Fentimore Arms,
Fentimore-road, Clapham:road, es to the death of Jelin Hen-
sley. Esq , aged seventy six, which occurred in a most sudden
manner. It appeared that the deceased was a gentleman of
independent property, and resided at 4, Fentimore-road. He
had not enjoyed good health for some time, and on Monday
morning, having staid a considerable time in the water-
closet a young man of the name of Cartwright went aft er
him, and found him apparently dead. A mrgeon was sent
for, but it was discoveredl/ him that life was quite extinct.
Ve'rdi..t, "Natural death.'
THE GAS AND %% A.TER COMPANIES IN A FRET.—
Great exertions are making Death different companies and
commissioners to oppase the lth of Towns Bill, circulars
are flying about in all directions,
.. and delegates are to be sent
to London to act in combination on the Government mea-
sure. Jobbing is in danger—monopoly is threatened—and
the occupation of the self-elected is at an end—that is, if the
people support the Government. The interested are up, and
the masses f.hould be up and doing also, or they will not de-
serve the propostd Waite.

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(FRox OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
FRIDAY APRIL 16.

Loss or THE TWEED STEAMER—The itihabaants of
Cowes, in order to testify their high sense of the brave
and disinterested conduct of the noble Spaniard in
saving the lives of so many of the unfortunates who were
shipwrecked in the R iyal Mail steamer Tweed, have at
a meeting resolved that a public sub,ciiption should be
entered into for the purl ose of presenting a stniatle
testimonial to Captain Bernardino Camp, of the Spani h
brig Emilio, expressive of their high admiratiiin of his
intrepidity and humanity. ,tibscrip,ion lists have been
opened at the different banks. Southampton and other
towns we hear propose doing the same.
The Isle of Wight Steeplechase came off nn Wednes-
day, and proved a most disastrous affair. Nine horst s
entered, seven started, six threw their riders, two of
them into brooks, one almost smothered in Blackwater
mud ; one horse was killed. D•entually Birmingham
came in first, attended by Lara ; the rest reached the
star.ing-post after many mishaps in the course of the
afternoon.

EXECUTION OF CATHERINE
FOSTER FOR POISONING HER H USB AN D
THREE WEEKS AF TER MARRIAGrE. -HER

CONFESSION.

BURT ST. EDMUNDS. SATURDAY —The wretched con-
vict, Catherine Foster, condemned to Beath by the Chief.
Baron Pollock at the late Suff.,lk As,iies, for the murde r
of her husband three weeks aber mirriuge, by po,,;oning
a dumpling with arsenic, expi4ted her dreadful offence
this morning on the bcuifold adjacent to the c .uuty gad
in this town.

Those persona who have perused the ( yid-nee adduc d
at the trial have doubtless been at a I.iss to c.)neeive the
motive that could have induced her to destroy her hus•
band, whom she had apparent! loved fr.en a child, and
now that her life has been justly forfeit. al to the law, and
her confession is published to the world, it will be found
that it contains nothing that can be cee into a
motive, and the reasons, therefore, which tempted her to
commit the murder must remain enveloped in mystery.
Earnest were the solicitations of those whose duty it was
to attend her after her condemnation that she should
divulge the whole of the facts connected with the crime
for which she was about to suffer; but although she made
a frank avowal of her guilt, she studiously avoided allud-
ing to any circumstance which might 1e ad to the motive
for which she perpetrated the horrid deed.
The following is a copy of her comfe.3sion:—
" Bury Gaol, April 12, 1847.
"To the Governor,—First of all I must confess that I
am guilty, and very guilty of this awful crime, and well
deserve the death that I am condemned to die; and as
I am soon to stand before my Heavenly Jud,e
I wish to speak the truth. I am sorry to say I
bought the poison at the shop of Mr. H. Ely,
' chemist, Sudbury, three days before I mixed it in the
' dumpling which I gave to my husband. It was served
to me by a young man in the shop. Mr. Ely was not
present ; bad he been present ~e would have known me,
as I had been frequently at his shop on errands for my
mistress when I was at service. The act was entirely
my own. No person persuaded me to it, and my mother
had no knowledge or suspicion of it. I had no cause for
complaint against my husband. He was always good
and kind to me, but I never had any aff. mice( for him,
and wished to go back to service. I d.) not wish to live,
for I never could be happy in this world, and I hope,
through the merits and blood of my Saviour, and a sin
cere repentance of this and all my sins, to obtain for-
giveness of God, and to be received into Heaven I die
at peace with all, having no complaint to make of any
witness that appeared against me en my trial, ae d full of
remorse for the crime which brings me to this premature
death. I wish to express my grateful thanks t the
W. West, the chaplain of the gaol ; th.• Rev. Mr. Ottle3,
my parish minister ; and the Rev. Mr. Eyre, for their
great attention to my eternal interest, and for the spiri-
tual hope and consolation I have received from their i,-
structions and admonitions, I should wish Mr. Eyre to
attend me in my last moments, and earnestly request
that he will do so.
(Signed) " CATHERINE FOSTER.
" Witnessed by—J. Wlntyre, governor.
Thomas West." _ _

On Thursday she took her final leave of her aged
mother ; and on Friday the condemned sermon wu-
preached by the Rev. Mr. Eyre, from the 32d chapter of
Numbers, and 23d verse.
This morning the crowd assembled to witness the exe-
cution was .very great ; et nine o'clock the number of
persons could not have been less than 10,000. A G w
minutes before nine o'clock, the High Sheriff and Under
Sheriff having arrived, proceeded with the other autho
rities to the cell in which she was confined. when she
walked with a firm step and unsuppo, ted to the drop.
where she stood unmoved. The preliminary arrange
ments having been completed, the signal was g►ven, and
the drop fell. The body, after hanging the usuil period.
was cut down and interred within the walls of the prison.
The last execution of a female in this twit was 47 )ears
ago, for setting fire to her master's house.