The Sun.
London, England, 1840-01-11 00:00:00

DEPARTURES.

Sir Bellingham and Lady Graham, from the Carlton
Hotel, for their house in Park-street ; Colonel and Mrs.
Drummond, for Chevening; Lady Chesterfield, for Ran-
ton Abbey ; Lady Harriet and Miss Mitchell, for Leam-
ington Spa; the Hon. J. G fC. F. Strangways; the Rev.
Lord and Lady Charles Paulet, for Wellesbournc; Col.
Whichcote, for Leamington Spa ; Lieut.-Colonel Rat-
cliffe, for ditto ; Colonel Broadhead, for Brighton ; Mr.
C. Ken ways Tynte, for Yeovil, Somerset.

THE PENNY POSTAGE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Judge of my surprise last night, when I went
to St. Martin's-le-Grand to post several letters, and
pre-pay them, to find the place crowded at a quarter to
six o'clock like the entrance to the pit of a theatre at a
benefit, and (would you credit it ?) only one person at
the window to take the money. The shouting and
crushing was disgraceful to those officials inside, who
could have easily accommodated the public by placing
extra hands, and throwing back the sliding panne!,
knowing, as they must have done, the great influx of
letters'on the first night of the reduction ; an inattention
that frustrates the designs of a wise'and truly liberal
Administration.

I am, Sir; your's respectfully,
A. T. S.

Jan. 11.

PENNY POST.--DESPATCH OF LETTERS
LAST NIGHT.—We understand that the number
of letters despatched by the mails of last night was
about 112,000—nearly four times the average num-
ber at this time last year ; of these about seven-
eighths were pre-paid. Much to the credit of the
Post-office this large number of letters was despatched.

l'he Standard tells a long story, which the Post
reprints, about an alleged " blunder" of the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, which is stated positively to have de-
layed the preparation of pre-payment stamps for the
penny postage. There is not a word of truth in the
story from beginning to end.—Evening, Paper.
GENEROSITY.--A correspondent informs us,
that a fox-hunting farmer, and who is also a guardian of
the poor, who resides not many miles from Fyfield,
has had the liberality to pay the poor women who,
daring the late trying weather, have been working ou
his water meadows, the enormous sum of 4d. a day
each.—lriltskire _lndependent.
Fox HUN T.—Lord Kelburne's well-trained
pack of hounds met at Cuff-hill, near Beith, on Wednes-
day last. They found at Brownmuir-hill. Reynard
was forced to yield to his pursuers near Shutterflet.
Lord Kelburne was first in at the death. The hunt
was seen for upwards of fifteen miles around the coun-
try by the spectators on Cuff-hill ; and all confessed that
it was the most magnificent hunt they had ever wit-
nessed.—Glasgow Chronicle.

THE WEDDING GARNIENTS.--WC must inform
our fair readers', who naturally connect ideas of new
dresses with the Queen's marriage, that her Majesty, at
the request of the Coventry manufacturers, has adopted
lily, or English pure white, as the colour of the ribbons
and siiks to be worn on the occasion. This, therefore,
will be the prevailing colour of the season ; and as this
happens to be leap year, when the ladies are at full
liberty to overcome, not merely by smiles and hints,
but by open persuasion and force of arms, any un-
matrimonial scruples of their masculine friends, these
white wedding looking garments will be very convenient.
ROYAL MEDICO-BOTANICAL SOCIETY.— At
the ordirriry meeting held on Thursday evening, Earl Stan-
hope, president, in the chair, Dr. Sigmond exhibited
several preparations from the Ce)lon marine moss, the
principal material which enters into the composition of
the edible birds' nests. This moss is very gelatinous,
and possesses great dietetic properties, being much em-
ployed for medical purposes by the medical practitioners
of Calcutta, and Dr. Sigmond expressed his opinion
that its introduction into this country might be advan-
tageous, particularly from the concentrated form in
which its properties were exhibited. Dr. Sigmond re-
sumed his remarks upon opium, by stating that there
were some very curious statistical facts upon the sub-
ject which showed that there must be a peculiar fasei,-
nation in opium smoking, as no less than 12,000,000
persons in China were in the habit of its
constant indulgence. In 1820 the number of smokers
in China as 365,469 ; in 1823 upwards of 461,000,
whilst in 1835 they had increased in amount to
2,039,998. The quantity smoked daily by each
individual was stated at about seventeen and a half
grains. A large revenue was derived in India from
opium, which, in Bengal, in 1837 was 961,2311., being
301 per cent. on the prime cost ; whilst the whole
quantity sold in our Indian possessions was 16,916
chests, by which the profits of the East India Company
were 2,155,201/. So enormous was the revenue de-
rived, that notwithstanding all the appeals of humanity,
there was little doubt but that a strong effort wouifl "be
made for the continuance of the trade. In aii:usion to
other substances used in smoking, it was stated
by Dr. Sigmond that the Chinese were now using hemp,
a knowledge of which they had obtained from the
Tartars. The remainder of the paper was devoted to a
notice of the effects of various vegetable substances and
gases inhaled into the 'milts, on which the noble presi-
dent suggested thu erckpriety of making this the medi-
cine for the ;-,clu4istration of medicinal remedies, which
thus evrt a very powerful effect upon the system. The
weting adjourned to the 22d instant.

The
1 Earl and Countess of Surrey, accompanied
by Lord and Lady Fitaallan, returned to Arundel
Castle, on Monday, from Maltravers Cottage. Lord
t(t)l:eeringa
Fitzallan has announced his intention of being present
at the tradesmen's ball, at Arundel, on Tuesday next,
and will act as one of the stewards.
7.—nonOsefnsaelil
desinotffellithe palm for madBENTLEY'S MISCELLANY.-
pe-
riodicals of the day,,etnahtnisdshcrmaerw,rirr ,
:0
jer:,el:noewniteitclledge
broofadexcfuelnl
fi'istc-ile4al.l
of men, manners, and thinn.s, substratumwagg ery
Mr. Ainsworth 's new an nary number,
" Guy Fawkes," 0.-sen, e zplendidl Y, and promises an in-
crease of dexip interest at every step. Sam S
Let-
ter Bag of the Great Ivlick's"
estern" is playful, satiri-
paL. impudent, provoking,
like Martial's friend—
. there
and ag7etable, so that
without him." " The Wishing
Well* is a story rich in
"The Whiske_,,
y ought with an excellent moral.
to be printed separately, and
circulated by tens
cieties. "Stanley'
'Thorn," en excellent
clever story, by the
author of " Valentine Vox," " Mr.
Macaw," by
Alfred Crowquiil, " Lions of the
Modern
h.lßabyloa,s• &c.,
together with the admirable
George Cruikshank, furnish forth 'tease htluttlartat,lon 4 of
f Al last
out the whole month, and w'il ilea; re- eru in-
a year afterwards.—valid ii id P s'.
or
many
:era .
FIRE. .-r•
•
A nis morningc, a fire broke out on the
DTP.-
—.uses of Mr. Proctor, a cheesemonger, near the
tdgoware-road. The whole of the premises and fur-
niture was reduced to ruins ; the adjoining ones are also
much damaged. Itj is not known in what manner the
fire originated. The stock and premises are insured.
SKATING.—ESCAPE.—This morning, about
eleven o'clock, three persons fell into the Serpentine,
but were got out again by the men of the Humane
Society.