The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-23 00:00:00

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SOUTH AMERICA.

Piatu.—Extract of a letter, dated Guayaquil,
Sept. 9 :---" You will, no doubt, have heard, be-
fore this reaches you, of the advantage gained by
the advanced corps of the Patriots at Junin on
the 6th ult. Our subsequent accounts state, that
the enemy's troops continued retreating so ra-
pidly, that it was not known whither they had
directed their march. I hope in a short time to
learn the fall of the Castles of Callao into the
hands of the Independents, when, supposing that
the worn-out and scattered remnant of the Spa-
nish army should even oblige Bolivar to keep the
campaign open for another year, we have nothing
more to apprehend. A fine Colombian corvette,
lately purchased by the Government, and which
left us a few weeks since on her first voyage for
Pananja, with 200,000 dollars on board in siTecie,
was,, on the second night of her arrival in that
bay, carried off by the crew, chiefly composed of
Englishmen I The event has had the effect of
producing an impression not at all in our favour
on the minds of the people here. Her Com-
mander, Captain Spry, was on shore at the time
of the seizure, and had fortunately that morning
landed in safety the whole of the money that
went manifested in this vessel. However., the
whole of the passengers' luggage, and several
thousand dollars' value in gold-dust, have been
carried off. This Government is taking up all
the disposable vessels that can be got, for the
purpose of conveying additional troops from
Panama to Peru."

Cuir,E,—Extract of a letter, dated Santiago de
Chile, August 27 We have this clay received
information from Valparaiso, where the Snipe
has arrived from Calcutta, she was hoarded, in
the latitude of Conception, 30 leagues from the
land, by the Asia, Spanish 64, and Achilles
brig of war ; from the length of their voyage,
we may suppose that they are not in the best
condition for fighting. Admiral Guise is cruising
with the Protector frigate, formerly the Prueva,
and some smaller vessels, before Callao ; and
as his ships are tolerably well manned, he is
anxious to encounter the long.expected Spanish
force. The contract for farming the revenues on
tobacco, foreign wines and spirits, playing cards,
and tea, has at last been finally concluded, and
published by a proclamation. The contractors
are a company of capitalists, under the firm of
Portales, Cea, and Co. The Government ad-
vances them half a million of dollars for 10 years,
this being the term of the contract, and during
which the company engages to remit half-yearly
the amount of the dividend to the sinking
fund on the Loan raised in London, in
April and September of each year, making
the first remittance in April next for cover-
ing the dividend due in September, 1825. This
will be very satisfactory to the holders of Chile
Bonds, who now may depend on the regular pay-
ment of the dividend ; at the same time the
farming of the duties on articles which are not
of absolute necessity will not be much felt by
the people, who have been used to pay exorbi-
tant prices on their chief article of luxury—to-
bacco. If the Government took these branches
into their own hands, they would be unproduc-
tive, because a system of smuggling would imme-
diately. be organized ; but a Company of Mer-
chants, supported by Government, can com-
pletely prevent frauds."

IRON TRADE.—Amongst the general improve-
ments in the commerce and manufactures of our
country, we have now to notice that of the iron
trade. For many years past it has not rep-
dered the miner a fair compensation for his
labour, but of late the increased demand both
for foreign and home consumption have great-
ly increased the price. Within the last two
years several gradual advances have succeed-
ed each other, but what we have chiefly to notice
is the great demand at present (in addition
to the usual consumption) for the supply of gas
pipes, rail-ways, &c. and it is understood that
contracts have been made and are making for
cast-iron, that will require at least seven
years to complete. This, of course, (as might
states o mrtehasatpttue fenatcialtbulkreei
kinds
it
so iurosoefn goods. A
be expected), has produced a great effect on
in
ro n
mWo on igveerry-
p speciest
o nf from
ti.
laetter
a i
articles have advanced on an average full 25 per
cent.; and more particularly the articles of locks
and nails, which have risen to nearly double the
price they were selling at 12 months since. A far-
ther cause, exclusive of the great advance on the'
raw material, will account for, the rise in general
ironmongery ; that is, the great number of houses
building in all parts of the United Kingdom,stimu-,
lated in part by the present low state of inte-
rest. It has been generally understood that the
English mechanic has for some years been partly
subsisting on the poor laws, the price of his la-
bour being so reduced as not to afford support
for himself and family; and manufactured iron-
mongery was selling at prices far below its real
value, but now the improved state of the country
has so increased the demand, drat a fair remune-
rating price is readily obtained, both for the,me-
chanic and his employer. This improved state
of the trade does not appear to lie the effect of
any capricious or momentary impulse, but arises
from the steady and gradually increasing pro-
sperity of the country.----( Edinburgh Courant,
Dec. 20.)

It is said, that a piece of lime, the size of a
walnut, put into the water in which potatoes are
boiling, will be found to have the effect of ren-
dering the heaviest Jight and farinaceous.

The sentence of death that was < passed On
Crawford -Dixon, late seaman of H. M. brig
SWinger, at a Court Martial on board H. M. S.
Victory, on the 30th of, last month, was yester-
day commuted to transportation for life to New
South Wales.

ABUSE (»the ELECTION of CONSTABLES.

An abuse has, for a lenth of time, prevailed is
most of the wards in the city of London. It is
the practice of the inhabitants to hold what are
called precinct meetings, before the day of elec-
tion, and to return a certain number of persons as
qualified to act as constables to the Alderman
who preside on St. Thomas's Day. This is the
cause of very unfair treatment to several inl:,-
bitants. For instance, a precinct which consists
of no more than 50 inhabitants, is compelled, by
the authority of custom, to return a certain uum
bar of persons to serve as constables. Another,
precinct, which contains 500 or 600 inhabitants,
returns also a limited number of individuals as
fit for the office. The number returned are so
disproportioned to the mass of the inhabitants of
each precinct, that those of the one are called
upon almost individually to serve several times,
while many in the other have never served atalir
and are never likely to be called upon to perform
the very neces=ary, but certainly very disagree-
able, duties of the office. The present Chief
Magistrate, upon being elected Alderman of the
Ward of Bridge, immediately inquired into the
authorities upon which those precinct meetings
acted ; and finding that the practice was illegal:
as well as unjust, refused to take cognizance of
their proceedings, and threw an equality of obli-
gation upon every inhabitant of the ward. The
only answer that could be given to this national
interference was, that the precinct regulations
had existed for a length of time, and as they
thus formed a privilege, ought not to be violated.
At first, this decisive measure raised an outcry
and alarm; but there is every reason to believe,
that the impartiality of the presiding Magistrate
is now the subject of much approbation in the
place where be ventured to introduce the reform.
On Tuesday his Lordship presided at the
Wardmote of Bishopsgate, in consequence of the
indisposition of Sir It, C. Glyn. After the elec-
tion of Common Councilmen, the meeting pro-
ceeded to the election of the different ward-
officers, and some precinct returns of persons to.
serve as constables were handed to the Lord
Mayor, who, as might be expected, tit once
questioned the legality of the returns, and upon
reference to the Ward-clerk, established their
invalidity. Some of the inhabitants, Who "°,
doubt expected a visitation upon themselves in
the event of the establishment of an equality of
burden in the ward, strongly remonstrated against
the refusal of his Lordship to act upon the pre-
cinct returns. The election, however, was pro-
ceeded in according to the letter and spirit of
the Act of Parliament. The constables were
elected from the whole of the inhabitants, as if
such a thing as a precinct meeting
was never
known to have existed. His Lordship, in thus
taking into due consideration the just claims of
many inhabitants who have been hitherto subject
to be called upon to perform the duties of others,
took particular care to make no comment upon
the long duration of the practice he has thuscondemned. There is every reason to supPeo
that the reformed election will lie adopted gene-
rally henceforward.
One of the inhabitants of the ward of Bishops-
gate, after the greater part of the business of the
day was performed, introduced the subject of the
distressed Spanish and Italian refugees, and
wished, after some observations which perhaps
had an unnecessary tinge of plitics in them, t°
raise a subscription in the ward for the benefit of
the foreigners.
The Loan MAYOn represented, that he could
not think of sanctioning a proposition uncon-
nected with the business of the day in a ward
over which he only accidentally presided. lie
also observed, that the subject, considered and
discussed without reference to politics, would be
sure to meet with more support than could be
expected in cases brought forward on party spe-
culations. Ile expressed his firm belief that every
ward in the city would contribute to the relief
of the poor foreigners, but they would choose
proper occasions for doing so.

The Ward agreed in this view of the matter,
After the meeting, the Common Councilmen of
the ward dined together, and ye,oerdav they sent
30 guineas to the Lord Mayor in support of the
charity of which his Lordship's name
is at the
head.

TiAnirvsdernyy beaut
t
peared to be nearly of the size of the full moon,
eveningifu
ems
te: eaobre
nwtaisi atrsieeeon,ci o
cßko;s tiotna op!
had no train, was of silver colour, and by the
direction of its motion, seemed to arise out of the
north-east, ascended to about 30 degrees in alti-
tude, and disappeared nearly north-west.

COAL MARKET, DEC. 22.
Ships at Market. Ships sold
65 Newcastle . 13
154 Sunderland - . 10

Price.
28s 3d to 39s r
29s 6,1 to 301
•

IRTH.
regOimnetnhte, 108ftah,daautgDhutebrl.in,B Airs. Captain Lindsay, of the 7861

to Miss Jessop, MARRIED. '
At Gibside, Durham, on Tuesday last, John Davidson, Esekv
of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Otterbttrn Northumberland
_wont
the late Earl'of Strathmore. After ,tICg of an '
par a in ~ „,.20,,
dejeune, provided on the occasion by the Countess of,
ota r
more, at Gibside-house, the happy pair set off in a chariot 101,
four for Scotland. They were greeted with a Inerri Pau
bells as they passed through Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
__...----
daughter of Lady Aim Jessop, and niece ti)

DIED.
Parkinson,surgeon, late of Ifoxton-square. in
On the 21st inst., at his residence in Kings's:id-road, Janie%
On Tuesday, the 21st insc , at the house of her brother,ein
Doughty-street, Mary, the inst.,
daughter of the lat ''''.
Thomas Meek, of Prunshaw Staiths, Durham.
't ir of Oa
late Mr. Robert Dinsdale, a Kingsland-road.
On the 21st inst., in her 75th year, Elizabeth, ivi"°-
Richard--
On the 17th inst., at his residence, -Waldiamstorv,_
'O
Bright, Esq, aged 66. r Frierteg,
n the 20th inst., John Mill Sturge, of the Society 0
son of T. W. Sturge, Esq., Yate, Olaucershirc. ,ter of
On Wednesday, the 2211 inst., Frances, fifth tiaul,b
Michael Samson, Esq., of Dorset-place, Claphicril in t leAu'
year of her age. ' e n short
At Friedrickshulde, in Holstein, on the 3d inst., .aer - oh(
illness, Mr. Ernest, Busch, in ,the 50th year Of ins age, °_,,,a
son of the late learned Professor Busch, of Hamburgh, *c'il
formerly partner in the commercial firm of Reituatio, 1/Pl/
and Co. in the same city.
_.......0

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1
2rinted and Published for the PROPRIETORS, at thew
OFFICE, No, 112, strand, by J, B. CARSTAIRS. ,

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