The Sun.
London, England, 1847-11-29 00:00:00

~
S U. i

N NOVEMBER 29, 1847.

• RIVER PLATE.
-Ekirticts from letters received frOM Buenos
.per packet, &c.:—
the commodore, to land there the Buenos Ayres snail
has b "Bu
Buenos
m o
adet .171 n
Ayres, S elllto.lt Video3e 1847.
"An application to
hag, which he refused to do, as the packets are not
now detained •there, and the letters punctually_ de-
livered here. on their arrival. It seems, however, that
the object of this application is to increase the post-
office revenue at Monte Video, whith is sold to and
adnnlistered by a.foreign
.company there, and every
single latter is charged Is. 3d., whether addressed to
Monte Video or Buenos Ayres.
"s 1 memorial, numerously signed by the Mer-
chants here, is about to be forwarded to Sir Thomilc
Herbert, begging him to 'resist the late extra duties
put on at Monte Video, considering the same a war
tax, from which, by treaty, British subjects are
exempt. We do not think the decree will be tarried
into effect. _

" l'hc; legitimate merchants here are complaining
very much against the present state of things in this
river, end we should not be surprised to see a meeting
'of them,, at which a majority would attend, to peti-
tion the Government to cause the French blockade to
cease. It is really distressing to observe 80 or 100
large or small foreign craft loading and discharging
in the inner roads of this port, more than two-thirds
of which are occupied-in the trade with Monte Video,,
and are solely permitted to do so for the benefit of the
Clisiom- house contractors there, and to support .a
foreign garrison in arms. -The movement referred to,
though tardy, if it takes place, may do good.
We. gingerly trust the French will raise the
blockade on•receipt of advices of England having done
so, as by this means an arrangement would take place
With the in and outside parties at Monte Video, and
a ishortitims after the resumption of trade,. friendly
feelings: would be engendered, and the way paved for
lA. filial adjustment.

HORRIBLE MURDER AT MADRID.
-44tacatis- Nov. 22.—A murder was committed on
graesday loot which his---giveg,: rise to` the otrongeo
worts, though at. fiati& appOttre'd;lnerely on ordinary
case of robbery as the Object, stud of murder as the
Means of effecting it. Senor Fullers, chaplain of the
Duke and Duchess of Rianzares, occupies a house or
suite of apartments, situated in the lower story of the
po anliayc epeof rs
otnh e l
livinga tte r in
with
hthime Cale de la
walsa
feinaise Rejas.
hous
e k e
eTpchre,
who is spoken of as being good looking, though not
very young. It appears that the chaplain had gone
out on the afternoon in iquestion to purchase some,
books in the Calle del Leon. which is quite at the
opposite part of the town. He returned at five, and
found Abe unfortunate woman lying dead on the floor
in a pool of blood, with her head nearly cut off, in
fact only retained by some fragments of skin. It is
said that there were marks on her person which indi-
cated that she made a desperate resistance. A gilt
button, with some blue cloth attached to it, is said to
have been found on the ground. No cries were heard.
The murderer, whoever he was, had washed his hands
afterwards in the wash-hand basin. It does not
appear that any suspicions have fallen on the
chaplain, who is said to have found, on looking
about the room, that four dollars and some copper
money which he had left there were missing, and also
a small miniature portrait. The idea of robbery
having been the object has, however, given way to
other reports, upon which the Eco del Comerci•
has the following remarks. It says :—" In our num-
ber of yesterday we copied what the Popular said
about the horrid murder committed in the house of
the Duke and Duchess of Montmorel, and respecting
which very significant rumours have been circulated.
No one could give the news earlier than the Eco,
since, from its proximity to the Calle de las Rejas, it
m sbwihourct,ryaat
efet
because
hdfsti raherdouveei
ini
cynstt ftcrwukpheolneaess
sort i
or
eswnharo
e.nrinsrle, news, had occasion to know it early in the morning—an
Iseicsloei
ainnst:,
ec
riEooucfs°acnnr
ecclesias-
tic, cs
ce
ha
iosc
hus,ru
resistedc
prudenceh, m i might have
rhuadravesen
denied,
na-
turally increased by the circumstance of the murder
having been committed in a house of such category,
where it is not easy that they can allow persons, un:
less well known, or who state the object which takes
them there, to enter, since no one will believe that
free entry is given in the house of the Duke and
Duchess to all who go there. But there is more :
the murderer seems not to have feared any surprise,
and to have acted as if he had ben in his own room,
since he washed the hands, which he had stained with
the blood of his victim, in the wash hand basin. It
belongs to the tribunals to appreciate the commenta-
ries that are made in consequence of this event, arid
the suspicions connected with it, if indeed they do not
hold back before the considerations which retain our-
auawNnhlenoessoedult Nevertheless
saoweialsenri
hfstthehoohow:efeul
aess
nseeskr
atrocious
servants tell one another
selves."

It is astonishing how little the journals occupy
thpinselves with the murder committed in the palace
of queen kiln J!!,1114. . •1.- -1-,,lnct, has
been arrested, but that he is able to prove that he
had been away for four hours when he returned
that afternoon, while the medical men who were
called in state that the murder could not have been
committed more than three-quarters of an hour be-
fore they saw the body. It should be obseryed that
there is a constant guard of soldiers who parade
before the Palace, and that neither the sentinels nor
the porter of the establishment had seen any one enter
or leave about that time, and, consequently, the
inference that it must have been committed by
some one in the Palace is almost beyond doubt.
The murdered woman "had recently arrived, it is
said, from Valencia, and was about thirty years
of age. The body was taken to the usual receptacle
at the Hospital de San Carlos. The local tribunal of
the district is said to be occupied in investigating the
matter.

------- -
NEW ELECTION FOR EDINBURGIL—Mr. Cowan has
resolved not to attempt taking his seat for the city,
having been at the time of his election a Government
contractor. Ile has now got rid of the contract, and is
to offer himself for re-election. This is precisely the
course which, after the fact of his being a contractor
transpired, we said would ultimately be found necessary,
and which some of our contemporaries, who had not
taken the trouble to examine the facts and the statutes.
set down as ridiculous. Mr. Cowan was in no danger
from a petition ; but he was at the mercy of any in
former who chose to sue before a civil court for the sum
of 5001 for every day he retained his scat. There i 3 at
present no probability of any opposition to his re•elee-
lion. We believe we may say that at least none is con-
templated or desired by the leaders of the party that
supported Mr. Macaulay during the late contest. As to
the Tories, we may infer, from the extensive support
they formerly gave Mr. Cowan, that they are well enough
pleased with things as they are.—Scotsman.
STORY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR.—We are re•
quested to state that Mr. Colburn has this day published
part 1., price 2s. 6d., with illustrations, of "The Story of
the Peninsular War," by the Marquis of Londonderry ;
a companion volume to "The Story of the Battle of
Waterloo." Also, just published, 2. Vol. XI. of " Lives
of the Queens of England." 3. " Sir George Simpson's
Overland Journey Round the World," 2 vols. 4: ."
Lord
Castlereagh's Narrative of his Journey to Damascus," &c.,
2 vols. 5. A third edition of " Hochelaga ; or England
in the New World," edited by Elicit Warburton' Esq ,
2 vols. 6. A second edition cf " Zenon," by the Rev.
R. Cobbold, 3 vols., 21s. bound. 7. " The Story of a
Stag," by Mrs. David Ilanbury, with six plates, 12s.
bound.

TESTIMONIAL TO BENJAMIN HAWES, ESQ.—O❑
Friday evening a meeting of the subscribers to the fund
for presenting a testimonial to Benjamin Hawes, Esq.,
ono of the late Members for the borough of Lambeth,
was held at the Horns Tavern, Kennington, for the
purpose of receiving the report of the committee ap-
pointed to receive subscriptions, and to recommend to
the subscribers the most suitable form in which such
memorial could be offered. Laurence Redhead, Esq.,
was called to the chair; and having briefly stated the
object of the meeting, the secretary read the report of
the committee, showing that the sum of 7001. had been
received, and that additional sums had been promised.
The committee recommended that the fund should be
applied to cover the expenses of any election that might
take place for the return of Mr. Hawes to Parliament
for any borough that might seek his services—a reserva-
tion of 1001. being made for the purpose of presenting to
Mr. Hawes a piece of plate bearing an inscription that
should set forth the object for which the fund had been
raised. On the motion of Mr. Hooper Hartnell,
seconded by Mr. Sim, a resolution embodying the sug-
gestion of the committee was unanimously adopted.—
Surrey Mercury.
FOREIGN POTATOES.—The recent arrivals of this
esteemed vegetable from abroad have comprised some
from the Hanseatic taWns of Hamburgh and Bremen,
Holland, Denmark. Belgium, and Guerni.ey, and one
from Sydney, New South Wales, the largest being from
the first-mentioned place, the supplies from which have
been of an extensive character. The notice of these im. I
portations of potatoes in this succinct and general man-
ner, will be of much interest, as none took place during
the greater portion of the summer and autumn. Two
of the supplies from Hamburgh took place in vessels be-
longing to Pwllhelli, the rest were all in British ♦essels
or in ships belonging to the respective countries from
which they took place.
IMPORTANT TO Ii(11. PLANTERS.—It is well that
those who intend to grub part of their plantations
should be aware that by the 42d section of the Tithe
Act, hops grubbed before the 31st day of December,
1847, will not be liable to the extraordinary rent charge
for the year 1848—but hops grubbed in the spring of
1848 will be liable to the charge for that year.

PRICE

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
SIR CHARLES NAPIER'S SQUADRON.
PORTSMOUTH, Nov. 28.—Our last advices from the
. .

above squadron were to the 9th inst.; we now con-
tinue the interesting details from that date to the

20th
" Nov. 9.--.At.8.30 A.M. signal was made Ven-
geance part company. She was soon under Weigh
for the Mediterranean,•herhand'playing as she sailed
past the other membe of the squadron, Should
auld acquaintance he forgot,' and Rule Britannia!!
The Howe, 120, Captain Sir J. Stirling, arrived, ans,l,
came in -to-day from: Madeira, after disembarking
the Queen Dowager. "The Hecate steam-stamp,
Commander Moorman, sailed in the evening for the
Mediterranean: • The Admiral inspected the-Odin
steam-frigate, Captain the Hon. F. T. Pelham, this
day, and made "ti veryJong and minute examination,
exercised and trained her guns in every direction,
hoisting out paddle-box and other bo:zts, &c., all of
which manoeuvres were executed in a manner highly
to the satisfaction of the Admiral, considering the
short time she had been in commission. At 1.30
P.m., signal was made, "Hoist out, man, and arm
boats,' which was promptly done, and they went up,
the river under the command f Captain Afilne, of
the St. Vincent, and exercised firing, forming line-
of-battle, and performing a variety- of other ma-,
nceuvres. •

" 10.—The Odin sailed for the Mediterranean to
augment the steam squadron under the Commander-
in-Chief there, Vice-Admiral Sir W. Parker, G.C.B.
" 11.—At eight A.M. up royal and topgallant yards.
At nine, signal. made to Shift topgallantmasts and
jib-booms. Caledonia was, as usual, first with top-
gallantmasts, then the St. Vincent, Canopus, Queen,
and Howe..' with jib-booms, the Avenger steam-
frigate was first, but she having no flying jib-boom,
enabled her to do thati next, the Caledonia, Canopus,
Howe, Queen, and Dragon, and last the St. Vincent
and Amphion. (Another Correspondent gives this
manoeuvre thus,—' From sway and lower away royal
and topgallantyards to the yards being crossed again,
topgallantmasts were shifted,—Queen's in 15 minutes;
Caledonia, 16 ; Canopus, 16i ; St. Vincent, 19 ;
g.owe, aledonia was 52
minutes; 4itiati,3s i'lladWarStrbiettiptia,VlTTl9C
Vincent, 90.')
" A signal was made by the Admiral to snake better
arrangements for shifting jib-booms. At sunset
shifted topgallantmasts by signal as follows :—Cale-
donia, Howe, St. Vincent, Queen, and Canopus.
(Another correspondent gives the manoeuvre thus,—
Caledonia, 121 minutes ; Howe, 14k; St. Vincent,
15i ; Queen, 171; Canopus, 20; and adds, a slight
accident happened on board the Queen, which re-
tarded her a few minutes.' Signal from Admiral to
Caledonia, Make less noise.' General signal,—
' Admiral requests the pleasure of captains' company
to-morrow to lunch at two P.M., to meet the King of
Portugal. Full dress.')
"12.—At nine A.M. a funeral- took place from the
St. Vincent, to inter the remains of Mr. Riches, a
a midshipman, who fell a victim to the typhus fever,
alluded to in my last. The gallant deceased's re-
mains were interred in the English burial ground,
followed thither by the captains of the fleet, and a
brilliant staff of mourners from the ships. At one
P.M. the squadron dressed ship and prepared royal
salute, and at 1.30 his Serene Highness the Duke
Bernard of Saxe Weimar and his son the Prince Her-
mann of Saxe Weimar, accompanied by Sir Hamilton
Seymour, the British Minister, who were invited by
Sir Charles Napier to meet the King of Portugal,
arrived and were received on board the St. Vincent
by Sir Charles Napier, at the gangway, under a
royal salute; the St. Vincent's officers being on the
quarter deck. At I'3o the captains and commanders
of the squadron, who had been previously invited by
signal repaired on board the St. Vincent in full state
uniform, and were presented to their Serene High-
nesses. At 2.30 the squadron manned yards, as his
Majesty the King of Portugal was observed coming
down the Tagus in his state barge. At 2.40 his
Majesty, with the Prince of Portugal, Duke of
Oporto, and one of his principal aides-de-camp, was
received at the gangway of the St. Vincent by the
Admiral in full uniform. Their Serene Highnesses
the Duke and Prince of Saxe Weimar, and all the
captains and commanders of the fleet, also the officers
of the St. Vincent in full dress, received his Majesty
On the quarter deck, when the royal standard of Por-
t uwal was hoistcd and a salute fired from all the squadr n,
which the foreign men-of-war joined in, the bands
playing the Portuguese national air. After the cap-
tains and commanders had been presented, his Ma-
jesty and suite visited the decks and store- rooms of
the St. Vincent, whilst the crew were at divisions.
the respective officers of the ship being presented on
passing. After visiting every part of the ship, his
Majesty, the Prince Royal, Duk- of Oporto,
Duke of Saxe Weimar, Prince of Saxe Wt
mar, his Excellency Sir Hamilton Seymour,
and all the captains of the squadron partook of
a sumptuous dsjeuner with Sir Charles Napier, the
magnificent service of plate presented by the city of
London to the Gallant Admiral for his success in
capturing the Allgnelite squadron, being laid out on
the occasion. On cue ~..--:..,a round. Sir
Cnarles gave The health of the Queen of Portugal,
with three times three cheers, the band playing the
Portuguese na'ional air. His Majesty the King of
Portugal acknowledged the compliment, and gave
The health of her Majesty the Queen of England,'
three times three cheers, and many more followed
this, the band playing God save the Queen.' His
Excellency the British Minister, Sir H. Seymour,

returned thanks, and proposed The health-
of his
Majesty King Ferdinand of Portugal,' with three
times three, the band, as before, playing the Portu-
guese national air. His Majesty briefly returned
thanks, expressing his sense of the high marks of
respect paid him by the Admiral and officers of the
British squadron, and her Majesty Queen Victoria's
representative, also the gratification of himself and
sons with the inspection of the flag ship that day. The
brilliant assemblage then broke up.
" His Majesty having expressed a wish to visit the
Queen, 110. the barges were got ready, when the
Duke and Prince of Saxe Weimar accompanied his
Majesty in the state barge, a royal salute being fired
on his leaving the St. Vincent. Sir Charles Napier
and Sir Hamilton Seymour also accompanied the
royal party to the Queen, at the gangway of which
ship the King was received by Captain Sir Henry
Leeke and Commander Schomberg, all the other offi-
cers being stationed on the quarter deck in full dress,
the usual compliments of royal salute, manning yards,
guard of honour, &c., being paid, the seamen were
at divisions. The royal party visited and inspected
every part of the ship, and the King expressed his
gratification and astonishment at the size and capabi-
lities of the splendid three-decker. After expressing
his thanks most warmly, and highly complimenting
the captain and officers, his Majesty left the Queen
at 5.40 e.st., under the same ceremonies as on arrival.
Altogether, the visit of his Majesty was a most
splendid and imposing affair. The Tagus has not
presented so enlivening a spectacle for many a year.
" 13th.—The English mail arrived to-day.
Squadron exercised topgallant and royal yards in the
morning. The Admiral took up his quarters ashore
for the winter to-day.
" 14.—Sunday. No movements.
" 15.—The Admiral went on board the Avenger
' steam-frigate, Captain Dacres, to inspect her, and
continued for five hours examining every part of her,
and performing every evolution in the service, with
guns, boats, sails, masts, and yards, &c. She came
out of the ordeal in a manner highly gratifying to
her captain and officers, and satisfactory to the Admiral.
Captain Dacres will be Flag- Captain immediately Cap-
tain Napier (his successor to command the Avenger)
arrives. At 9.15 signal was made Shift courses,
jib, and spanker,' which manoeuvre was performed
by the ships in the following order :—Canopus, St.
Vincent, Queen, Amphion, and Howe. The Cale-
donia was annulled. A funeral took place to-day
from the Howe, a clerk (Mr. Spong) having died
yesterday. His remains were interred in the En-
glish burial-ground, the officers of the squadron fol-
lowing. Captain J. Stirling, of the Howe, 120, gave
a grand banquet on board to-day, to which 26 of the
first people of the country were invited. Among
them were the Marquis and Marchioness of Fayal,
General Sada Bandeira, the Marchioness of Limes,
the Count and Countess Zeferini, Rear-Admtral Sir
Charles Napier, Consul and Mrs. Smith ; Captains
Moresby, of the Canopus, Sir H. Leeke, of the
Queen, Milne, of the St. Vincent, Dacres, of the
Avenger, &e. The august party met in the handsome
cabin lately occupied by the Queen Dowager, and
separated highly gratified with the hospitality and
urbanity of Sir James Stirling, their gallant enter-
tainer. _

16. No movements.
,617. The Sidon steam-frigate, Captain Henderson,
C. 8., anchored at eight o'clock, five days from Ports-
mouth, with the Earl and Countess Dalhousie, family,
and suite on board, the new Governor-General of
India, en route for Alexandria. Sir Charles Napier
and the British Minister called on Lord Dalhousie
immediately after the Sidon anchored. After these
visits the Earl and Countess proceeded on shore, and
to Cintra, returning late in the evening on board the
Sidon. At nine A at, signal was made for general
quarters, and at ten to man and arm all boats, which
was done in the following time and order :—St. Vin-
cent, 11 minutes; Caledonia, 12; Canopus, 19 (but

- hei- launch was full of water which had
-
to be taken out) ; Howe, i ; Amphion,
13 ; Dragon, 24 ; Scourge, 30 ; Avenger,
31. The: steam-vessels'- paddle-boats were there,
w hen they all pulled round the squadron, presenting
a very pleasing sight, the weather being delightfully
To-day Captain Sir H. Leeke gave a splendid
d feu on hoard the Queen to the Duke of Saxe
Weima -Prince Hermann of Saxe Weimar, the
Du and Duchess de Terceira., Count and Counkn
,sterhazy, the Marquis and Marchioness of Fayal,
)
the )Spanish Minister, Senhor Ayllon, the French
Minister, the Marquis and Marchioness Ferreira, the
Captain of the French frigate Psyche, Count Gour-
don, his Countess and daughter, Sir Charles Napier
and his Secretary, and all the Captains of the squa-
dron. It is almost needless to say the hospitality was
sumptuous and the gratification universal.
"13. The Admiral went on board the Avenger
steam-frigate to-day, and made signal at 9.30 to the
Dragon and the Scourge to weigh ; they proceeded
down the river to Passo dos Arcos, anchored there,
and commenced shot and shell practice, and fired ex-
cf;.dingly well. The Dragon, Captain Hall, per-
formed to admiration, having skot away no less than
three targets, and then assisted the others to destroy
theirs. They afterwards weighed, and under full
steam, made a trial of speed up the river. The
Scourge was first ; the other two were nearly equal.
They _took up their former anchorage. The St. Vin-
rent hoisted ' optional' flag, and shifted jib-boom,
being 70 minutes. The Sidon sailed at noon with
Earl Dalhousie for Alexandria. . .

19. At 9.15 A.M., signal, ' Shift foretopsail yard,'
which was performed as follows :—The Scourge, 24
minutes ; the Canopus, 26 minutes ; the Howe and
the Caledonia, 31; the St. Vincent, 32; the Amphion,
33 ; the Queen, 35 ; the Dragon, 36 ; the Avenger,
48. The Howe made signal for permission to shift
topsails, and did it in 20 minutes. _ _

A parting dinner was given to-day by Captain
Sir Henry Leeke to the ward-room officers of bis
ship and a select circle of their friends, whom the
gallant Sir Henry had invited to meet them, con-
sisting of twenty -four guests." . .
The Britomart, 10, Commander N. C. Chamber-
lain, arrived at Sierra Leone from England on the
27th of September. A letter from her of that date
says—" Just after we anchored in came a prize taken
by the Waterwitch
.on her.passage home., The prize
was in charge of Lieutenant Mansfield, of the Water-
witch, and while his men were aloft three of the
slavers crew rushed on deck and stabbed him (Lieu-
tenant Mansfield) very dangerously. He could only
just utter to the man at the wheel, ' Steer south,
when he dropped. He was fourteen days without
surgical aid, and when he arrived at Sierra Leone
he was nearly dead. It is a kind intervention of
Providence he has lasted the voyage out to tell the
r-taleand bring-to justice his intended murderers. The
pirates are•to be tried for. their lives. On, the Britn.i..
mart's passage out a man of the name of Oda wai
loading a gun, when in the act of ramming borne
the cartridge the charge exploded and not a vestige
of the man has been seen since. It is considered he
was blown to atoms, and that the fatal calamity was
owing to the captain of the gun not serving the vent."
At the date of our letter Lieutenant Mansfield was
doing very well.
The Asia, 84, Captain Stopford, flag of Rear-Ad-
miral Phipps Hornby, C. 8., sailed yesterday morn-
ing for the Pacific, calling at Plymouth. She takes
out dispatches for the Queen Dowager at Madeira.
The Comet steam-sloop, Lieutenant-Commander
Rigge, arrived off Belem Castle, Lisbon, on the 21st,
in four days from Plymouth.
An order was received here on Friday directing
the Admiral Superintendent to make the necessary
arrangements for the formation of a library in tkis
dockyard. It is to be accessible, under certain re-
strictions, to the workmen in the evening. All the
men belonging to the battalion for musket drill are
to be instructed, in addition, in the battery and field-
piece exercise, and every officer and man is to take
his turn of duty.
We are sorry to learn that the Admiralty have re-
fused payment of the head-money, amountitg. to
10,9001., for pirates condemned by the Admiralty
Court, to her Majesty's ship Semarang, Captain Sir
E. Belcher, who is going to appeal against the
judgment to the Privy Council.—Nautical Standard.
Woormicu, Nov. 27.—The Janus steam-vessel,
when tried down the River on Wednesday last, was
found to have acquired a speed of 7 1-10 knots per
hour, making 17 strokes per minute, with 101 b.
pressure, and 121 b. upon the condenser, the immersion
of the vessel being 11 feet 3 inches forward, and 11
feet 8 inches aft. She was taken into the basin to-day
to have her steam power tried by the dynamometer.
The Stromboli steam-sloop, Commander Lord
Aurelius Beauclerk, is under orders to leave Wool-
wich on the 15th of December, for Portsmouth, to be
paid advance at that port.
The Acheron steam-vessel, Captain Loll Stokes,
will leave in the end of next week for New Zealand,
where she is to be employed on the surveying service.
At'e is to take out a number of cases, and fig, mul-
herry, peach, and numerous other fine trees and plants
Hof various sorts, with the seeds and germs of clover,
gra,ses of many sorts, front Garrtiway and Moyes'
!!ursery at Bristol.