The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-14 00:00:00

THE WHEAT AND GRAIN CROPS.

CANANDAIGUA, JUNE 22, 1841.—1 have now visited
most of the grain growing sections of this State, and have
heard by people with whom I am well acquainted, from
those in which I have not been, and I assure you that the
condition of the grain crop is truly alarming. The
wheat crop cannot by any possibility come up to one-
half of a fair yearly average. There is no mistake upon
the subject, for 1 have taken the greatest pains to arrive
at the utmost certainty, and I believe it hardly possible
for me to be mistaken.

The wheat crop of 1839, as appears by the census,
was almost eleven millions, and that was an unusually
pr,xluctive year, and more than the usual quan-
tity of land was in wheat. There is not as much
land in wheat this year as there was in that, so that
it is fair to assume that there will be a deficiency in the
crop of 1841, in wheat alone of at least six millions of
bushels, which will be fully equal to a loss to the farming
interest of as many dollars. But the evil doss not stop
hoe. All the spring crops will be unusually light. Barley,
Oats, and Corn, will generally be almost a failure, and un-
less there is rain soon, the potatoe crop will hardly re-
turn the seed. The spring was so cold and back-
ward that nothing like as much land has been put into
grain as is usual. Grass is generally light, and promises
but a small return in hay.
The situation of the country is gloomy, for with short
crops always come hard times; money gets scarce, and
all. business gets deranged. We must now look to the
Western -States, for a supply sufficient to keep up the
equilibrium.. I fear I shall find the West as bad as our
own State.—New York Express.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT ELMIRA, CHEMUNG COUNTY.
—We learn, from several residents of this flourishing
village, that a destructive fire, which consumed twenty-
four dwelling-houses and stores, took place at half-
past twelve, on the morning of Thursday last.
So rapid was the progress of the flames, that in the
space of one hour and a half, in a perfectly still morning,
the whole of the above premises were reduced to ashes.
Tile fire commenced on the street next the river, running
east and west, a few doors east of the Post-office, which
is among the buildings consumed. The buildings con-
sumed were all of wood, and it is thought that insurance
will cover about one-half the amount lost, both in build-
ings and property. No lives were lost, nor was any per-
son injured.
THE PIRATE BRIG MALES ADHEL.—The case of
this vessel, which has been before the United States
District Court, sitting in this city, for some days past,
was decidcd yesterday. Judge Heath, in his opinion de-
livered yesterday, condemned. the vessel as a pirate, for
acts committed in reference to two of the vessels fallen
with by her—the British brig Albert, and a Portuguese
brig. The Judge acquitted the owners of all censure in
the case. The cargo was not deemed to be liable under
the circumstances of the case, and was therefore acquitted.
An appeal to the Circuit Court was entered by the coun-
sel for the claimants.—Baltimore American.

The. Mosquitoes have established an extensive Singing
School in the office of the Galveston (Texas) Gazette,
and the Fleas avail themselves of the musical advantages
thus afforded, to foot it up and down over the editor's
body, in every sort of a dance, from the slow march to
the rapid gallopade. The editor's position is most inte-
restingly uncomfortable.
The Buffalo Commercial states that " a train of wag-
gons filled with Mormons, or some similarly infatuated
creatures, passed our office this morning on their way to
Nauvoo, or some other newly discovered paradise. They
did not take shipping, but intend to travel the whole dis-
tance, some 800 miles, in their vehicles."

- -
EXTENSIVE FIRE AND Loss OF LIFE IN PHILADEL-
PHIA.—A fire broke out just before two o'clock, on the
morning of the 24th, in the extensive wholesale gro-
cery establishment of Mulford and Alter, north side of
the Market above Sixth-street, which with its con-
tents was entirely destroyed. The fire was the
work of an incendiary. When it was first discovered,
the building was in a blaze in different parts of the third
floor ; and an iron bar was found much bent near the
safe, into which - the desperadoes had been attempt-
irr: to effect an entrance. No fire had been in the
building for some time, except the gas-lights—the
store was closed before dusk. Various circum-
stances strengthen the suspicion that it was the re-
sult of design. The books were saved, but the contents of
the store were nearly destroyed. Fortunately, the stock on
hand was small, in consequence of the active business sea-
son being over. The building was four stories high and ex-
tended to St. James's-street. The walls are standing, and
probably can be rebuilt, as it was originally considered
one of the lamest edifices in Philadelphia. The adjoin-
ing building, recently a drug store, now being altered
into a depot for a transportation line, was slightly in-
jured. Insurance was effected at two offices, $15,000 at
the North American and $9,000 at the Spring Gar-
den Fire Insurance Company's office. The most me-
lancholy and painful part of the disaster, was
the loss of life. While the fire was raging
with incredible fury, a ladder was raised against the front
of the building. Two members of the Phoenix engine
were upon it when the brick covering and part of the
walls came down, crushing three or four individuals be-
neath it. George Eisenbrey was almost instantly killed,
and Mr. Thomas, another member, was seriously injured.
HUMILIATING FACT.—We learn from the census re-
turns of the Marshal for the district of Illinois, that
there are in the State 28,769 persons of twenty years old
and upwards, out of a population of less than half a
million, who can neither read nor write. There is
not a State in the Union with more liberal provisions
for purposes of education ; yet about one in fourteen of her
population are destitute of the first rudiments of edu-
cation. This humiliating fact ought to awaken us to
renewed exertion for diffusion of knowledge. We have
been far too remiss in this matter. At the same time it
ought to be remembered that much the greater portion
of 28,780 were born and reared in other States, and
therefore our common school system is not answerable
for their ignorance.—Peoria (Ill.) Register.
DEATH OF JAMES BELL.—We are indebted to Major
P. Baker for the following statement of the facts
attending the death of James Bell, Esquire, brother
of the Hon. John Bell, Secretary of War. The two
gentlemen named left New Orleans in company on
Tuesday., the Bth instant, on board the steamboat
:New Orleans, for this place, Mr. Bell being on his
-.way to Washington. On the succeeding. Sundly,morn_
ing (the 13th),. ,about sixty miles below
Laving been indisposed during the passenv, in a fit
of mental' derangement, he threw himself? overboard
and. was drowned. Though the ,boats were instantly
lowered, and his body in five minutes brought on
board, he was a corpse. At Memphis Mr. Baker left
he boat, taking the body of his unfortunate friend ashore,
-where, meeting several of Ali. Bell's friends, he gave
the body into their charge. *fore he left. the arrange_
meats had been made for the funeral of the deceased, on
the succeeding day. Many friends are left to mourn this
=timely disaster.—Louisville 4.tfrertiser.
A DREADFUL MURDER AND SCICIDE.—TnO Steil-
ber `lie, Ohio, Gazette, ,9;ives an account, of a most
tragical murder. and suicide' which occurred on the
11th, 'abotit two Miles front that place on. the Vir-
ginia, side of the river. A man and his wife, the
former a German and the latter an American,. were
tcavelling together, when a quarrel arose between them,
nail the wretched husband took a razor from his poc-
-1:(:t and cut the throat of his companion from ear
Ito ear, causing instant death. He then applied the
same instrument to his own throat, but failing to
accomplish his purpose he finished the work of
death !)y..tying a handkerchief about his neck and sus-
pending i:Lnself to a fence. The wretched pair had been
married abot;!. two years, and a little girl, daughter of
the murdered woman by a former husband, looked upon
the bloody scene with indifference.
WRECKS.—The number of wrecks and castaways on
our Atlantic seaboard is astonishing. It averages four
hundred to five hundred a year. In January, 1839,
there were ninety-one American vessels of all sizes
swrecked on the Atlantic Coast—making on an average,
ease, of shipwreck once in every eight hours fora month.
/eat Gazette.
CASE OF A SLAVE AT NEWPORT, R. I.—Our New-
Do -t correspondent, under date of the 24th, says that the
brig Relief, of Cherryfield, Strout, from Norfolk for St.
Johns, N. 8., put in to land a slave, who had secreted
himself ori board at Norfolk, in order to send him back
to his own„,*, The name of the slave is Mansfield Jack-
son, and we are informed is owned by a widow lady—his
guardian's name is Archibald Allen, of Suffolk. We
learn that Jackson had assisted in loading the brig, and
that she had been at sea seven days before he wasdisco-
vered, he having'- provided himself with provisions and
-water. The briga,-.rived here late in the afternoon, too
late. to accomplish the ca7tain's object—he therefore tied
the slave, and retired for the !Light ; but the watch on
deck having gone asleep, the negro'!oosed his cords, stole
the boat, and landed on Goat Island, from thence was
-conveyed over to town by the person having the charge
a the fort. We learn that the blacks have taken him in
charge, and have contributed money and clothes to his
re lief, and would convey him to New Bedford. Jackson
says he- has a wife in New York.—American Paper.
(.:OMMEI!CE OF THE WEST.—Within the last twenty-
fourt,:ours, says the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser of the
22d, the wind has brought
following a large number of vessel&
to our harbour, with the
17,567 bbls flour, agg,regtte of articles :
25,667606977
ili..)usewheat, 435,500 staves,
292.000 feet lumber, Ibls pork, 282 tons iron, 120
bbls ash es. 202 casks ham
swig, 5 do. e_,s, 68 kegs lard, 249 do. butter,
67 bbls bt 713 bushels corn, 2,669 brooms,

163 hides, 34 bbls gin, 2 do. , 191 do. whiskey,
7,550 bshls oats, 3 bbls wax, 11 rolls leaiher, 10 sacks
wool, 29 do. feathers, 11 hhds tobacco.
The Secretary of the Treasury acknowledges the re-
ceipt of one hundred dollars, enclosed in an anonymous
letter, post marked New York, June 9. The writer
states the same to be " for duties long due." The
amount has been placed in the Treasury.—/Vational In-
telligeneer.
KEOK UK NOT KILLED.—The lowa Hawkeye says
that Keokuk is not killed, but still living. He has lately
been giving himself up to intemperate habits, which is
probably the reason why many of his band has forsaken
him, and joired his Hardfish.