The Sun.
London, England, 1847-11-02 00:00:00

THAMES.-(THIS DAY.)

Thomas Crowney, a notorious young thief, was
charged on suspicion of having stolen a lamp, value
205., the property of Mr. Barber, Rose Quay,
Thames-street, City.
It appeared that Kelly, 119 11, one of the most
active officers of the detective force, received private
information from a marine store dealer in Rosemary-
lane that, on the 27th ult., the prisoner had brought
him a lamp, which he offered to let him have for ls.,
but seeing that that was but the twentieth part of its
value, he declined purchasing it. He, however, knew
that Jacob Vantroppen, No. 33, Rosemary-lane, had
bought it for the small sum of ls. Kelly went to
Vantroppen's shop, and, walking quickly through the
front shop, entered a back room, and there, on a side
table, was the identical lamp. Kelly concluded his
statement by saying, that if the magist ate would
remand the prisoner, he could secure the attendance
of the owner of the property, and also the marine
store dealer who had given him the information, so as
to complete the case.
Vantroppen entered the witness-box, and acknow-
ledged having purchased the lamp, but said that he had
given 2s. for it. He added that the prisoner had
brought it to his shop in broad daylight, without any
covering over it.
Mr. YARDLEY (to the witness)—l am not asking
you for your defence at present, sir, and I am by no
means satisfied with the way in which you became
possessed of it. I shall remand this man for a week,
in order to give Kelly an opportunity of thoroughly
searching into the matter.
A 3 Vantroppen was leaving the witness-box the
prisoner, who had previously denied all knowledge of
the matter, exclaimed, "Is that man to escape? He
bought it of me for ls."
Mr. YARDLEY—At present I am not justified in
detaining him, bat the officers will make all necessary
inquiries.

HOUSEBREAKING EXTRAORDI-

NARY IN GLASGOW.

I3etween Wednesday night and Thursday morn-
ing, the shop of Messrs. M'Leod and Pollock, IC4,
Argyle-street, was broken into, and a number of
articles carried off. Yesterday forenoon some well-
known thieves were apprehended by the police, with
part of the stolen property in their possession. '.I he
above is all the information that the chief superin-
tendent (Mr. Pearce) would allow the criminal officers
to give Ira when we called on Thursday, at the Cen •
tral Police-office.
The following additional particulars are gleaned
from other sources :—A little farther west than the
shop there is an entrance by a wide court to the back
premises. The thieves broke open the door of the
workshop of Mr. Younger, wright, situated at the
tack of the range of one-story shops, one of which is
occupied by Messrs. M'Leod and Pollock. From
41‘11.• Younger's premises they helped themselves
LO a few suitable tools, and having removed
the slates from the top of Messrs. M'Leod
and Pollock's shop, used a saw in cutting through
the roof. This being successfully accomplished, they
then broke through the plaster, and thus, without
communicating any alarm to the policeman on the
beat, were enabled, by means of lowering one of
their number into the shop, to carry away whatever
Could be laid hands on most readily. The robbery
was not discovered till yesterday morning, when
the premises were opened at the usual hour,
and an alarm immediately conveyed to the
central office. The articles stolen too nu-
merous to mention in detail consisted of all
chainsojts of jewellery, brooches, breast-pins, guard-
Sce., amounting to a considerable value. It
ig conjectured that the thieves had been scared, else
the robbery would have been far more extensive than
it really is. It is but justice to the police force to
admit that as soon as the information was communi-
cated,
no time was lost in endeavouring to secure the
delinquents and recover the property if possible, and
So successful were they in the pursuit that before mid-
day they had the thieves in custody, with the greater
Part, if not the whole, of the plunder in their posses-
mian- The seizure was effected in a horrible den,
Situated in the High- street, where no fewer than ten
,?.11-known thieves were congregated at the time.
hen apprehended they made a desperate resistance,
and up-
required a strong force to convey them to the
a'uce- NVe understand that one of the party is
notorious character, named Matheson, a re-
turned convict. He is a most daring fellow, and
supposed to be the leader of the gang. This
the Matheson was picked off the streets on
previous Saturday, being fbund under sus-
ious circumstances, and kept in durance till Tues-
day, when he was discharged, to give him another
opportunity of following i g his vocation. It is said that
thewatchman on the beatl was informed of this same
individual having been seen to enter the close; and
though it was his duty to see that all the property was
securee in the back as well as the front of the street,
yet no report was made of Mr. Younger's shop having
been. broken into, although the door was standing open
at
s t o'clock yesterday morning, when the men came
to their work.
Messrs. M'Leod and Pollock's shop was broken into
about nine months ago, by forcing
dmaoiobsrharp,
theydoor.
wereTo
prevent the recurrence of a
similar
at the expense of hanging an iron
wooden one, but with all their precautions of
the
Present regimse, any ihroand
yet to learn that, under the
roof was no less essential for the security of their
property than an iron door.
A contemporary of Wednesday, who good-hu-
mouredly remarked that " the thieves were all gone
to bed, or had left the city," must have been dream.
ing, for the rascals were never more wide awake than
at the present moment. It is the police, not the
thieves, who have gone to sleep !—Local paper.

THE MAGPIE AND THE RING.— OR Thursday last
a magpie flew into the open window of a dressing-room,
at Skene House, and ingeniously contrived to pick a
ring, belonging to Lady Agnes Duff, from the upright
stalk of a ring stand, and fly off with it in his bill. Lady
Agnes' maid, who was alone in the room at the time,
and witnessed the theft without being able to prevent it,
was filled with consternation. The ring, she knew, was
a valuable one—worth forty guineas—and she naturally
feared that the story of the magpie would hardly be ac-
cepted as a satisfactory account of its disappearance. A
workmar, to whom she communicated the alarm, had
seen the bird fly out, and observed that it first perched
on the top of a rack of wood. By grE at good fortune
they found, on going to the pace, that the ring had been
cropped and was lying:on the ground. This incident
Will remind our readers of the dramatic piece entitled
?'he Maid and the Magpie, but they must not, therefore,
imagine that our story is either fictitious or coloured.—
Aberdeen Herald.
INCONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES.—Creditor—" Sir,
You are drunk now ! You have wasted your substance
~ith tippling; and have turned everythin that be-
longed to you into liquor." Debtor—Pardon me, sir
----everything, except my debts, which, I regret for your
sake as well 's& my own, I see no prospect of being able
tolliquilate."—Leeds Intraigencer.

THE

CY

To persons afflicted with melancholy and hypo-
' chondriasis, which in this gloomy month of .Niven-t-
-:
would recommend a consultation visit to the Lyceum,
with Box and Cox. They are the drollest fellows in the
world are Box and Cox, and certes, in their features,
they bear a marvellous resemblance to Harley and
Buckstone. They are chums without knowing it ;
unconscious doubles of each other, sleeping in the
same bed, cooking on the same gridiron at the same
fire, engaged to be married to the same widow, and
neither of them conscious of the existence of the
other ! Box is a printer engaged on a morning
paper, and he consequently is in bed all day and at
work all night, Cox i 5 f,l hatter, who works all day
and goes to bed at night, according to the wont of
the majority of her Majesty's lieges. The, landlady
of a lodging-house, detearnined to make two
weeks lodgings in one, lets. the same room
to Box and Cox, each fancying he is
sole tenant, and for a while all goes on smoothly.
Like the old man and woman in a Dutch weather-
house, are Box and Cox ; whsn one comes in the oth r
goes out; but one unlucky day the master of Cox
gives him holiday? He returns to his domicile and
finds it occupied by Box. The confusion that ensues
may be imagined Each treats the other as an in-
truder, and threatens forcible ejectment. The con-
trast of the manners of the two in this scene is rich—
Cox is killingly genteel and bitingly sarcastic • Box
furious, slangy, and vulgar. At last each produces
his last week's receipt for rent, hostilities cease, and
the heretofore belligerents form an alliance offensive
and defensive against the landlady. Then they dis-
cover that each has been entrapped into an engage-
ment with the same widow, and each with the greatest
kindness presses the acceptance of the widow on the
other. Thus the fun goes' on until the announcement
of the marriage of the widow to a third party, sets
the hearts and minds of Box and Cox at rest, and
with a tag praising the comforts of the house, and
lauding the good qualities of the " missus," the cur-
tain falls on the best farce that has been produced for .
many a long day. The audience were in a roar from
the rising to the falling of the curtain. It is a hit—
a palpable hit—and will have a long run. The house
was crowded.

TO Tfiß PDIT;')T? TIIP suN.
) UL die ..;iii; tt)
lation of Government paper—observing, that it could
not be in'. excess, or defect, nor depreciated.
The objection is, that being lent by Government to
bankers, merchants, &c., it would become a political
engine—Ministers would lend to their supporters, not
their opponents—the lenders must have a discretion,
and would never lack an excuse for thinking it expe-
dient to keep A and leave B to shift fir himself—they,
would be "up to their limit "—or deeming it " pru-
dent to hold back for a possible pressure," Szc , &c.
In a word, they would do as private bankers do now,
wield the same influence, but to greater extent.
If it ~-;,as made compulsory that they should issue
notes on the deposit of a certain amount of stock (in
a certain ratio t;lC.'reto), it would be "first come first
served," and a race, assuming a limited issue.
" deficiency," and " depre-
ciation," the second can Ont.)," exist from legislative
meddling; the first and third never (LS:.
exist. Any intelligent banker's clerk will p:.:)ve that
it is impossible to keep out a five-pound note not
needed for the commercial wants of the community.
As to "depreciation," it is an absurd fancy, arising
from a comparison with French assignats and other
Governmental issues of foreign countries; in those
cases the paper was depreciated, because the holders
doubted the honesty or power of repayment of the
issuers; in our case there was no depreciation, be-
cause the holders of Bank of England paper doubted
neither the one nor the other.

The simple fact was, that gold rose in price, be-
cause vast armies were to be paid in specie ; it was
then said paper was fallen—as well might we say that
a man of 25, measuring 5 feet 8 in height, had
grown shorter, in three years, by as many inches,
because his younger brother had become so much
taller. Z.

[We think that the objection of our correspondent,
that the Government paper might be made a political
engine, and lent by Ministers to their supporters, and
not to their opponents, easily answered. On the
the 28th ultimo we suggested in The Sun" that the
notes should solely be issued from a public office,
under the control of an officer responsible to Parlia-
ment," and " that the recognised bankers should re-
ceive these notes on ample security, in proportion to
the amount they are now authorised to issue, or in
such other manner as the Legislature might approve
of." We would not permit the Government in any
manner to act as bankers, and the whole amount of
the issue should be distributed through the bankers
already engaged in business, and such others as from
time to time may enter into the business, according
to regulations approved of by Parliament. The ob-
jection would certainly be a grave one, and entitled
to much weight, if it could not be obviated; but we
are convinced that precautions might be taken which
would completely get rid of the difficulty.—ED. Sun.]

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTEIZSALL'S.-YESTERDAY.

A few bets were booked upon the Worcester Steeple•
chase and Derby, at the following prices:—

WORCESTER STEEPLECHASE.
to 1 agst Jerry 8 to 1 agst Chandler
to 1 ogst Cavendish 12 to 1 agst Torn Brown
to 1 agst Sabine 12 to 1 agst Hot Joint
to 1 agst St. Ruth 12 to 1 agst Forest Boy
to 1 agst Glaueusgelding I

The following notice was posted respecting Stanmore,
who was the second favourite for the above event:—

" Gentlemen,—Being the trainer of Stanmore, I beg
to inform you that while taking his gallop on Saturday
morning, he ruptured a blood-vessel, and died almost
instantly.—l am, gentlemen, your obedient servant,

" WILLIAM HOLMAN.

" To Messrs. Tattersall."
DERBY BETTI G.
11 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Surplice
20 to 1 agst Mr. B. Green's Assault
30 to I agst Mr. B. Green's Beverlac
40 to 1 apt Mr. Payne's Cervus
40 to 1 agst Mr. Merry's Whitstone
1,000 to 15 agst Mr. Jaques's Sir Absolute.
NEWMARKET NOVEMBER MEETING.
MONDAY.
Match, 100, h tt.

T.Y.C.

Lord Exeter's Cosachia Bst 71b (Mann), beat Mr.
Goddard's Vanessa, 7st 21b1
sto 4 on Vanessa. Won by a length and a half.
Run in 1 min. 14 SLC3.
Match, 200 h ft; 83t 71b each. T.Y.C.
Colonel Anson's Blaze (F. Butler), beat Mr. Moore's
Watchdog.
5 to 4 on Blaze, who won in a canter by five lengths.
Run in 1 min. 15 secs.

Sweepstakes of 5 sots. each; for two yrs old colts,
6,t 71b• three, Bst • four, 8.4 7lb ; five, &c., Bst 101 b.

List half of Ab.M. The winner to be sold for 501.

(8 Subs.).
Duke of Bedford's Villiers, 3 yrs
Mr. Wallace's c by Don John, 2 yrs ...
Mr. C. L. Thorpe's Outpost, 3 :,,T3
The following also started, but were not placed:—
Duke of Rutland's Beth Donna, 3 yrs—Mr. Drinkald's
Moodkee, 3 yrs—Mr. Stephenson's Whipper Snapper, 2
yrs—and Mr Shelley's b fby Erymus, out of Peeress,
2 yrs.
Betting—Even on Villiers, 7 to 2 each agst Whipper
Snapper and the Gamelass colt, and 5 to 1 agst Moodkee.
Bella Donna jumped off first, but was headed in a few
strides by Villiers, Outpost, the Don John colt, and
Moodkee, Villiers taking the lead, which he maintained
to the end, winning cleverly by a length; the Gamelass
colt beating Outpost by a head, the others well up, with
the exception of Bella Donna. Run in 50 secs.
Match, 100, h ft. D.M.

(Pettit) 1

Lord Caledon's Wanota, Bst 71h, received forfeit from
Mr. G. H. Moore's Watchdog, Bst 31b.

Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 sous each, 10 ft; for three
yrs old and upwards. T.Y.C. (7 Subs.)
Lord Stanley's Bowstring, 3 yrs, Bst 7lb (F. Butler) 1
Mr. Merton's Idas, 5 yrs, 7st 91b ... 4
The following, also ran :—Mr. Osbaldeston's Vice Con-
sul, 3 yrs, Bst 21b—Colonel Peel's Oregon, 3 yrs, 7st—
Mr. Boyce's Jollity, 3 yrs, 7st.
Betting-5 to 4 agst Bowstring, sto 2 agst Idas, 4to
1 agst Vice Consul, and 6to 1 agst Jollity. Jollity cut
out the work to the new ground, where Idas went in
front, and with Bowstring, Oregon, and Vice Consul in
close attendance, carried the running into the cords; the
four then closed, and ran a fine race home, Bowstring
winning by half a length; Vice Consul and Oregon
were beats❑ a neck by Idas. Run in 1 min. 12 secs.

The Swaffham House Stakes of 25 soya. each, and 10 ft,
Ccsarewitch Course. (22 Subs.)
Mr. Stephenson's Doctrine, 3 yrs, 7st ... (Pearl) 1
Mr. G. H. Moore's Watchdog, 3 yrs, Gat 71b
Lord Exeter's Hydrangea, 4 yrs, Bst 71b ... 3
Sir J. Hawley's Lady Cecilia, 4 yrs, ist 81b ... 4
Lady Cecilia made running at an indifferent pace to
the gap, where she was headed by Hydrangea, who held
the lead, at improved speed, to the bushes; Watchdog
and Doctrine then went in advance, and had the race to
themselves, the mare waiting until the last moment, and
winning on the post by a head. The mist prevented
our timing this race.

The Junior Nursery Stakes of 20 sovs. each; for two
yrs old. Cambridgeshire Course. (6 Subs.)
Lord Chesterfield's Distatfina, Bst 7113 ... (Nat) 1
Culonel Anson's Contessa, 7st 21b ... 2
Mr. W. S. Stanley's St. Ann, 7st 21b
Betting-6 to 5 agst Distaffina, and 6 to 4 agst St.
Ann. Contessa, made play to the cords, where Dis-
taffina, who had been following [St. Ann, went up, and
won in a canter by four lengths. Time 2 min. 10 secs.
Handicap Plate of 100 sovs.; for three yrs, &e. Cler-
mont Course.

Colonel Peel's Palma, 3 yrs, 6st ... (Dockeray) 1
Lord Chesterfield's Lady Wildair, 5 yrs, B.:t 121 b ... 2
Mr. Stephenson's Doctrine, 3 yrs, Gst 41b ... 3
Mr. Drewitt's Pimento, 3 yrs 6st 121 b ... 4
Mr. Stephenson's Sheraton, 4 yrs, ist 71b ... 5
2 to 1 each agst Lady Wildair and Doctrine, 5 to 4
agst Sheraton, and 15 to 1 agst Palma. Pimento, with
Palma and Doctrine in attendance, made play to the
turn of the cords, where he was beaten. His companions
ran almost abreast until within fifty yards of the chair,
and were then joined by Lady Wildair; a very fine race
home terminated in favour of Palma by a head, Lady
WilJair second, beating Doctrine by a head. Run in 3
min. 20 secs.

Match, 100. T.Y.C.
Lord Chesterfield's astaffina,2 yrs, 6st 11b, received
50 forfeit from Mr. Sandford's Kinablesworth, 3 yrs,
ist 131 b.
The assemblage on the heath, notwithstanding the
almost unprecedented mildness of the weather was very
select; however besides several notables of the turf, we
observed his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge,
who arrived at the Palace on Sunday evening, on a visit
to the Duke of Rutland. His Royal Highness shoots
over the Clevely estate on Tuesday, and will return to
town on Wednesday.
Saturday, instead
understand of
thatF rtihdea y
reportnigh t.
Tuu DERBY.—Tho betting quoted in yesterday's
paper, was erroneously sated to have taken place on
sold Woodcraft of Payne having
to go abroad, is without foundation.
In reference to
a rumour that Surplice bad been dis-
posed of, we are authorised to state that the report was

On Saturday evening last, Air. P. Cooper, lessee
and manager of the Strand Theatre, took his benefit, on
which occasion Mr. Watkins, on behalf of the company
and those engaged on the establishment, preserved that
gentleman with an elegant silver snuff-box, Mr. Cooper,
in acknowledging the compliment, returned thanks in
very 11-,ttering terms to the ladies and gentlemen of the
establishment for this mark of their esteem and friend

ship.
On Monday, the Ist inst., a General Assembly of
the Academicians was held at the Royal Academy of
Arts, in Trafalgar-square, whoa Mr. Frederick Richard
Pickersgill and Mr. Sidney Smirke, were duly elected
Associates of that Institution.
We understand that the Earl of Seafield, Lord
Lieutenant of Inverness shire, has received from the Se-
cretary of State for the Home Department, a warrant,
authorising his lordship, in any case of emergency
whereby the public peace maybe endangered, to call out
the whole, or such part of the pensioners enrolled within
the county, as he may consider necessary, for any term
not exceeding twelve days.—Edinburgh Witness.

LONDON, TU'EsDAY_ EVENING, NOVEMBER 2, 1847.

DESTRUCTIVE' FIRE.
A most alarming fire broke out last evening, shortly
before six o'cloch. in the extensive premises of Are,srs.
field. The premises, which are well known by the
name of the Lancefield Rope Works, consisted of a
counting-house, engine-house, hemp and tar store,
!and a range of wooden sheds extending about 150
yards behind the store. The fire originated, we
understand, in the hemp-store ; and from the infor-
mation we were enabled to get in the confusion at-
tending such an occurrence, we believe it was caused
by a boy, who, while looking for his jacket previous
to leasing work, lit a piece of paper, and afterwards
threw it on the floor, and it communicated with the
hemp, which was soon in a blaze. The alarm was
immediately given, and shortly afterwards the engines
arrived, and under the direction of Mr. Andrew
Macfarlane, the interim superintendent, were quickly
got to work ; but by that time the flames had spread
to an alarming extent, owing to the inflammable
nature of the materials. The fire spread both ways
with great rapidity, and in less than half an hour
the whole premises were in one continued blaze.
The scene at this moment was awfully grand, the
extent of the buildings on fire being nearly two
hundred yards. In order to prevent the firo seizing
the property at the end of the sheds, they were
sawn in two, thus cutting ofi the communication,
which, fortunately, had the desired effect. The
bonded warehouses of Messrs. Patrick Robertson and
Co., which run parallel with the Lancefield Works,
and were filled with corn, caught fire several times,
but by the active exertions of the fire brigade, the
fire was immediately extinguished. By half-past six
the whole of the premises were completely gutted,
the roofs and walls having fallen in, and the firemen
principally confined their exertions to the prevention
of the fire extending to the adjoining houses. In
this they were successful, and at eight o'clock, all
apprehension of the fire spreading farther was at an
end, though the tar-store was still burning most
furiously, but from its distance from the adjoining
buildings there was no fear of its extending. The
safety of Messrs. Robertson's warehouses was chiefly
owing to the direction of the wind, which carried
the flames from them ; had the wind ken blowing
from the east, nothing, we think, could have saved
them from destruction. The value of the stock de-
stroyed is estimated at 3,0001., and that of the build-
ings at between 3,0001. and 4,000/. but we are glad
to learn that both were insured. The engines pre-
sent were those of the Glasgow Brigade, Anderston,
,Clyde, the West of England, and alfo a private en-
gine belonging to Messrs. Barclay and Caddell, ship
carpenters; and much praise is due to the exertions
of those working them.—Glasgow paper of Saturday

FIRE BALLOONS, AND THE CON-
FLAGRATION AT ANDOVER.
7'O THE
.F,DITOR OF TIFF SUN.
611t,—Itle serious disaster which attended the
ascent of a fire balloon from Andover, on Friday
evening last, induces me to offer a few observations
that may tend to prevent the repetition of so singular
and unprecedented a casually.
The accidents caused by balloons that have occurred
recently, both in England and on theZcontinent, suffi-
ciently demonstrate that small balloons, on the Mon-
golfier principle, as well as large ones inflated with
carburetted hydrogen gas, become exceedingly dan-
gerous if they are set off or conducted in their transit
by persons ignorant of the science of aerostation. The
late conflagration, however, appears to owe its origin
to misfortune, rather than to reckless adventure on the
part of a would-be aeronaut. And, as the use of
small fire balloons forms an amusement which may
not inaptly be termed scientific, I will, with your
powerful aid, point out a simple means of preventing
the recurrence of so unfortunate a result. On the
occasion of my projecting and editing the Aerostatic
Magazine, I employed as an auxiliary method of
giving publicity to that publication, several monster
fire balloons, which discharged at a tolerable
altitude some thousands of advertisements.
But, fearful of the danger that might posssibly attend
the descent of such machines, I took particular care
to invent a contrivance calculated to extinguish the
fire during the progress of the balloons in the atmo-
sphere. The machinery, if it may be so styled, was
composed simply of three pieces of light tin. Firstly,
a concave piece or saucer was slung by thin wire
under the sponge that absorbs the spirit of wine.
Secondly, two concave pieces of tin adapted to cover
the whole surface of the sponge were adjusted, much
on the principle of the cheap candle extinguishers,
which itinerant sellers of that useful instrument have
lately sold with advantage. These little shutters were
forced back, and there retained against the action
of small spiral springs, by pieces of twine, which were
fastened to the hoop f the balloon by means of touch-
paper. After the touch-paper had burned for one,
five or ten minutes, as regulated by the length of it,
the shutters closed down upon the flame and effec-
tually put it out. Several of the balloons I let off in
this manner were returned to me in compliance
with a written request to that effect • and I
had, therefore, ample opportunity of being
satisfied that the plan fully answered my ex-
,pal
al tohoo us
ogohn tahfet
eignitionr
toefd
ahoe
dballoon
atpecAtantdioonv.er Ntoookw,
the descent, still the accident might have been
easily prevented by a proper regulation of the ascend-
ing power of the little vessel : and had it been skil-
fullyadjaoetnetstbeduitlldliengbsa.llolonn
owrdoeurldto hparvoedusowe'epat
soavf2erpetht-e
pendicular rise, all very diminutive fire balloons are
objectionable, because the rarefied air they contain
does little more than counterbalance the weight of
the paper, sponge, &c. ; but, supposing the balloon to
be four feet in diameter, it is well that it should lift
an ounce weight or more beside itself, and of course
greater or less weight should be applied in propor-
tion to the volume of rarefied air produced. If the
weight be then removed the balloon will rise pro-
perly, and clear surrounding obstacles. The want of
sufficient ascending power and the agency of a stiff
breeze caused the conflagration at Andover; but by
adopting the proposed remedial measures the like
may never occur again. I would, however, strongly
advise that fire balloons never be let off in very windy
weather; but since it would be difficult, and perhaps
unnecessarily severe, to prohibit the use of them, I
have deemed it expedient to throw out the above-
mentioned hints, realer than suggest a total dis-
countenance of an interesting and exciting amuse-
ment. And that my remarks may not be altogether
unattended with advantage, is the sincere wish of
your obedient servant,

HENRY COXIVELL, Aeronaut.
I'o, Noel-street, Islington.

NATIONAL DISTRESS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

- - - -
SIR,--I trust you will excuse the liberty that a
humble individual takes in addressing you on the
all-important topic of national distress, and that you
will give it insertion in your valuable journal.
I belong to a class of humble individuals who
have had for months past too much spare time
to spend in reading the different daily journals
on commercial affairs. That which induces me to
write at this time is, the reading in a leading journal
several (what I should call in my humble opinion)
injurious " anti-industry" articles.
The writer of those articles has said very truly, more
than once, that it is with nations as with individuals. If
the industry of individuals be beneficial to themselves,
surely then the industry of a nation must be bene-
ficial. If an industrious family execute all orders for
that which they produce, and they, by close applica-
tion or over time (which would be their surplus
labour), produce that which is beneficial in their
domestic circle, bow can that family be poorer for it?
So with a nation,.jf it execute all its foreign orders,
and the surplus labour (as with the family), be em-
ployed in improving the internal condition of the
country, how can that country be poorer for it ? In
my humble opinion, no country can become truly
poor if it takes care to produce plenty of food, and
clothing; or produce that which can be exchanged
for food, &c. If there be any stumbling block in the
way of a country executing its foreign orders it is
the duty of a Government to remove it, by all means,
and give its merchants every facility for executing
them.

As a cure for the present distress, a certain jour-
nal would have a stop put to railway calls. To me
that means that there are too many people living by
their own industry; therefore, as a cure for the
distress they are to be discharged, and become idlers
on the country.
I never expected to have lived to hear this country
called poverty-stricken because we have had a partial
food blight. We are charged with poverty. Now,
Sir, allow me to express our case in my humble way.
I will, as well as lam able, explain it. Suppose any
railway company had put under lock and key one-
third of their stock of carriages (conveyances), or
had exchanged them for coke : well, Sir, the directors
complain to their stockholders of poverty, owing to
the great falling off of receipts. A looker-on (per-
ceiving that there were not conveyances sufficient for
the applicants to be conveyed) would say or think--
why, you short-sighted directors, it is not the falling
off of passengers, but the short supply of convey-
ances.

Thus it is, in my humble opinion, with this coun-
try. We have mountains of wealth—heaps upon
heaps—but we have not the means of conveyance for
its distribution except (as a Liverpool correspondent
says) in ridiculously small quantities. Therefore
your humble correspondent thinks it is not poverty
that the country is suffering from; but if we take
the writer of these poverty articles for our guide, we
should soon find our country poor indeed.—l sub -
scribe myself a wealth producer,
Camden-town. W. A.
P.S.—Since writing the above, I have seen, in the
newspapers, that the Government has come forward
with some assistance : thanks to them for it.

AMIENS and B 0 UL 0 GNE RAILWAY
A general meeting of the shareholders of the Amiens
and leeeloeeee T? .1;1 p',: en qa ear
liee.'e ...Lee.. a. I::.etrt.; • ,leeea
presentatives of the English shareholders, and thouoi
the meeting was convened for half-past two, it WaS
near three o'clock when M. Charles Lafitte, the Pre-
sident, took the chair. He commenced by informing
the assembly that, according to the rules of the com-
pany, shareholders, in order to obtain admittance, are
obliged to inscribe their names on the registers, but
the Jewish shareholders refuse, from religious mo-
tives, to do so. The President begged the members
present to confirm the decision of the board by voting
the admittance of the Jewish members without exact- ,
ing the usual formality.
The members present immediately assented to the
proposition.
After a few observations concerning the order of
the day, the Secretary read a long report of the mea-
sures whieli the company had taken to finish the whole
line, and of the difficulties which had been surmounted,
from which it results that the mean expenditure for
the whole line amounts to 36,000 f. per kilometre.
The Secretary, in speaking of the meeting of English
shareholders at Liverpool, at which Mr. M`Gregor
presided, said that a committee had been appointed
by them, composed of Mesrs. M‘Gregor, Brogden,
and Pritchard, who had been requested to take certain
measures, which they did not think themselves called
upon to adopt. Mr. M‘Gregor had written to propose
alterations in the statutes of the company, which, if
adopted, would have thrown the company's affairs
into disorder. Mr. M`Gregor had said that the dinii •
nution of receipts of the Dover line had been caused
by the wilful delay in opening the Amiens line.
M. BUREAED-RIOFFREY complained, that, notwith-
standing the rapidity of the calls, the works were
delayed beyond measure. He also dwelt for some
time one a report which was io circulation, that the
Boulogne Company had lent a part of its capital to
the Havre Company—a rival enterprize.
The CHAIRMAN replied that the board, in making
calls, had acted altogether according to the prescripa
tion of the statutes. The board had shown in all
cases of retard as much indulgence as prudence would
permit, and with far more reserve than many other
companies. As to the delay in the works and in the
opening of the line, the causes were—first, the delays
caused by the Government. authorities; and next, by
the unforeseen difficulties of ground. These causes
were in part removed at present, and the approaching
opening of the whole line was at present announced.
As to the application of the funds, and particularly
in the loam to the Havre Company, he had to reply,
that the board has placed the funds always on most
advantageous conditions. They had not made any
loan to the Ilavre Company, having laid out the
funds in continuations at the Bourse, discounts, and
other monetal proceedings, all of the safest possible
character. He had to declare that not a sous had
ever been lest by the board.
M. I3UREAUD•RIOFFREY should ask permission to
speak in English, as several gentlemen from the
other side of the Channel wished to know what had
been said.
M. BOSSANGE must object to such a course, as, if
adopted, some one else might demand to speak in
German or another language, and thus generate the
greatest confusion. In the courts of justice of France,
whenever a foreigner had to speak in his own lan-
guage, a sworn interpreter was always required to act
as intermediare between the stranger and the court.
Without going so far here, it was certain that in a
French meeting French ought to be spoken. He
even was of opinion that otherwise any decision come
to on a proposition in English would be irregular.
Mr. MACGREGOR rose, and after saying, "Je de-
mande la parole," began to speak in English, amid
great uproar.
The CHAIRMAN replied that the custom of speaking
in different languages was not to be encouraged ;
still, in particular cases, the regulation might be de-
parted from. The meeting would see presently
whether this might not be a case to make an excep-
tion. lie would recommend Mr. Macgregor, how-
ever, to wait until the third part of the report was
before the meeting.
M. DEVAUX here read a long statement, similar to
that which he had made at a meeting in London, de-
claring that he had deemed it necessary to quit the
board from finding that the funds of the company
were held by the bankers without being properly
protected.
The CHAIRMAN observed, that in the statement
made by the honeurable gentleman he had omitted to
state that there was one point of his dissent from the
rest of the board—namely, that he wished to sell the
shares in arrear, when the other directors desired to
show indulgence.—(Marks of dissapprobation against
M. Devaux.)
Mr. GOLDSMIDT observed that if gentlemen were
allowed to go on making speeches, without any deft.
site (Abject, the meeting would never come to an end.
lie should, therefore, propose that no person should
be allowed to speak unless his observations were to he
followed by a distinct proposition—(Cries of " Yes,
3 es," " Hear, hear,")—and to commence, he should
more that the meeting be called on to forthwith pro-
ceed to a vote on the approbation of the accounts just
submitted to them.—(Renewed approbation, and cries
of " No, no," from the English party.) That course
had the advantage of at once showing in what light
the majority of the shareholders held the board of
directors, and their mode of conducting the affairs of
the company.—(llear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN having submitted this proposition
to the meeting, it was adopted by a large majority,
amidst cries from the English shareholders that this
was an attempt on the part of the board to escape from
the charges brought against them.
A scene of great confusion ensued, the French por-
tion of the meeting exclaiming that the English
shareholders were attempting to cast disorder into the
company, and the English section demanding to be
heard in English. This the majority of the meeting
objected to.

The CHAIRMAN addressed the meeting, and called
on them to allow the business to proceed. Then,
turning to the English shareholders, he observed that
the hoard were perfectly willing to hear them in
English, but the meeting evidently would not permit
it. After the vote had taken place, he should endea-
vour to prevail on the meeting to give them a heating
in English.
An English SHAREHOLDER then declared that the
vote on the accounts must be taken, not by a show of
hands, but by a division.
This being a matter of Course, if insisted on, a
basket to receive the votes was brought in, and the
mode of proceeding explained to the meeting—viz.,
that each shareholder should write on .his card of ad-
mission the words "oui" or "non," as he approved
of the accounts or not.
The meeting was then about to proceed to the
vote, when

Mr. MACGREGOR again rose and spoke a few words
in English, but the great majority of the meeting ex-
pressed their disapprobation so loudly that he was
unable to proceed.
Considerable tumult then ensued, in the midst of
which the shareholders were handing in their votes.
An English SHAREEIOLDBR exclaimed that he did
not understand the manner of giving the vote.
The CHAIRMAN explained in English the mode of
proceeding.
Mr. PRITCHARD here rose and attempted to obtain
the shareholdershearing.
in English, to tell them how to vote,
a Was the chairman, he. said, to address
and was no reciprocal permission to be granted to
the English gentlemen who came there to defend
their property ? Such conduct would be an eternal
disgrace to the French nation.—(Laughter and up-
roar.) He should not be put down, however, but
would proceed until he obtained a hearing. The
Honourable Gentleman went on for some time, but
met with no attention, the noise of the meeting
drowning his voice.
The giving in the cards for the vote was all this
time going on, during which some warm altercations
took place in English, between the gentlemen who
came over from England to attend the meeting and
those residing in Paris. Same of the language used
was of a very personal character.
A new incident then occurred to set the French
shareholders against the English party. The two
scrutineers of the votes were Mr. Wood, an English-
man, and M. Lehoq, a French shareholder. The
former, satisfying himself that the numbers were
taken down properly by his colleague, did not think
it necessary to do anything further. An English
shareholder observing this, remarked that the whole
proceeding was in consequence irregular, and that
the whole examination of the votes must be gone over
again. As it was now nearly six o'clock, and as the
operation of the vote had been virtually concluded,
the generality of the meeting were annoyed at the
further delay, and did not spare their observations on
verifying nt
hg theat
as votes-
acertain
th of time
len
the conduct of the English party. Whilst Mr. Wood
must be occupied by this new examination
was
The engagedenAiit NN -e rs
g he
hoped
the meeting would do the board the favour to give the
English shareholders a he • aring in their own lan-
guage. Every member of the board,
and himself in
particular, were most anxious to reply to every charge
that could be brought against them.—
Seeing that he • h t reckon
night (Hear, hetiir).
on the indulgence of the
meeting, be should call
he desired. on A Ir. Pritchard to say what
A burst of groans and disapprobation followed the
announcement of the above name, which is far from
being a favourite in France.
Mr
• p RITCHARD considered it as an insult to the
understanding of the
meeting to call upon him to
speak on a matter which was already decided. He
therefore declined.—(Loud approbation from the
English party).
A SHAREHOLDER—If this meeting took place in
London not one half—no, not one-quarter—of what
you are doing would be tolerated.
The CHAIRMAN said be must call on the meeting to

bear in mind that the-board had done'all in its power
to afford facilities to every one to speak. The board
rso-lel -,t 9i i .7.“1: it t',- TIP b.-Pair er -alleged that the
,
:_:2„;:,-1: ~. c...•,,, ;frt. iii . I d 11-I. „
:i 11CLa* ,
::!:
1 torch their supposed gdevi:,lices. lie again called on
those gentlemen to say what they thought necessary,
r promising them to give an answer to every charge
I brought forward.
Nu reply was made to this appeal.
The operations of the vote being concluded,
The CHAIRMAN announced that there appeared in
favour of the approbation of the accounts a majority
of 99, the numbers being GIG to 417. The report
would be printed and given to such shareholders as
chose to apply for it.
Nothing else being in the order of the day the
meeting then separated.
Some warm language took place after the meeting
between the adverse parties as the crowd was leaving
the room.

ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH

ARCHITECTS.

The first meeting of the present session of the
members of this body was held last night at the In-
stitute, Grosvenor-street, Grosvenor-square.
The meeting, which was altogether of a highly in-
teresting character, was presided over by Mr. Samuel
Angel, vice-president, and there were some seventy or
eighty gentlemen present.
The minutes of the last meeting having been read
and confirmed, the Secretary proceeded to read a list
of the donations which had been made to the ins:i-
tute during the vacation. They comprised a large
number of books and drawings, peculiarly interesting
to professional men, presented by the publisher; and
authors, and the transactions of many of the principal
scientific bodies not only in England, but throughout
the continent.
The CHAIRMAN then briefly addressed the members.
The contributions upon this occasion were very nu-
merous, and he was sure they would feel the greatest
pleasure in thanking the donors for their handsome
gifts. He was happy to see that, notwithstanding the
pressure on the money market, several very important
buildings were at the present moment rearing their
heads in London. Amongst the most successful, he
thought, perhaps, he might allude to the new churches,
which were not indeed confined to the metropolis
alone, but extended to the provinces also. Those he
thought were the most successful works, and he re-
joiced to see that the architects appeared not only to
be imbued with the spirit of the medimval ages, but
that recourse was also being had to the same mate-
rials, and that there was every chance of abandoning
brick as an article of building, and having recourse
once more to the Old Kentish Rag. —(Fear, hear.)
After some other general remarks, the chairman con-
cluded by calling on Mr. Wyatt to favour them with
the result of his researches into the subject of tease-
lated pavements.

Mr. WYATT at once proceeded to read a paper on
the subject, one of great interest to professional and
s.-Jlentitic men, but perhaps not of sufficient gene-
ral interest to warrant any lengthened reference
to it here. Taking for his basis the generally-
admitted axiom that the arts of architecture and
embellishment went hand in hand with the civil-
ization of a nation, he proceeded to trace the pro-
gress of the mosaic art, from the earliest ages
down to the close of the fourteenth century. He di-
vided the practice of the art into two styles—the pic-
torial and the conventional—the former illustrating
subjects in mosaic, and the latter consisting in the
disposition of the tesselte into geometrical forms alone.
The ancients observed a great congruity in the applica-
tion of the pictorial mosaics ; in the halls, for ex-
ample, would be an invitation to the visitor to enter,
in the rooms devoted to females, chaste and delicate
subjects would be chosen, whilst in the grottoes for
the preservation of the "Ares, grand and magnificent
designs were adopted. The most beautiful existing
specimen of Roman pictorial mosaic was to be found
in St. Peter's at Rome, and the most beautiful speci-
men of Florentine pictorial mosaic in the chapel of
the Medici, in the San Lorenzo, at Florence. The
former style was probably the one which Mr. Barry
would adopt in the new Houses of Parliament. After
touching upon many other interesting points, Mr.
Wyatt concluded a very able and elaborate lecture
by impressing the importance of the study upon the
architect, as affording him the most beautiful and
durable means of adding to his building the graces of
colour, applicable alike to the severe and classic style
as to the neat, simple furniture of a domestic dwelling.
To practical men, who might inquire whether mate-
rials could now be procured to enable them to compete
with the ancients in this style of graceful embellish..
merit, he would say that every advantage possessed by
the ancients existed now to a greater extent, and
every article necessary to the production of the most
elaborate mosaic might readily be obtained. He
might add, that he had every reason to believe there
were gentlemen now existing, for example, Mr.
Minton, of Stoke-upon-Trent, and Mr. Singer, of
the Vauxhall-road (who had supplied him with most
of his specimens), who could now produce as beautiful
works in mosaic as had been made in the palmiest
days of the art.

Air. Wyatt was warmly cheered on resuming his
seat, and a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to
him and to the gentlemen who had contributed the
specimens. With regard to these 'specimens we may
observe that they were extremely beautiful, and that
they appeared to us fully to merit the encomium
which the lecturer passed upon them in his concluding
sentence.

Some conversation ensued, in the course of which
a member observed that he believed that the most
beautiful specimen of mosaic in England— a specimen
equalling, indeed, anything be had seen in Italy—
vsas to be found in a tallow-chandler's shop in
Leicester.

The members subsequently partook of refreshment
in an adjoining apartment, and separated soon after.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
MACCL ESFIELD, Nov. 1.
The elections for this borough were attended with
more than an ordinary degree of excitement. The
Liberals have been extremely active, and it was their
intention to return Liberals for every ward. Seven
Conservatives retired and five Liberals. The follow-
ing is the result :

CLOSE OF THE POLL.
No. 1 Ward.—Gee (L), r63-D. Clarke (I.), IGO
—Adshead (C), 132—E. Clarke (C), 118.
No. 2.—Brodrick (C), 190—Shatwell (C), 184—
Wright (L), 140.
No. S.—Booth (C), 112—Stringer (C), 110--
Jackson (L), 89—Jesper (L), 76.
No. 4.—Smith (L), 101—Oldham (L), 87—War-
ren (C), 69.
No. s.—Smith (L), 101—Barker (C), 89—Royle
(L), 88—Parrott (C), 56.
NoB.6—.alr aryaA)(C), 106—Condron (C), 104—Joule
(L), 7
HARWICH, 79.
IVICIT, Nov. 1.

CLOSE OF THE POLL.

'7.);.2.E.sBo—wlMring.
(LT.)C,olt4t2ing_hmram.
fit F):2:40:2:-3(.111-1)ar,i.eR.15;4.6ENIciamiborough (L), 155—Mr. James
J.,D urran t (T), 135. The first four Liberals elected.
BOROUGH OF NOTTINGHAM.
The municipal elections for the borough of Not-
tingbam took place yesterday (Monday), and, rather
unexpectedly, there was a contest in every ward.
The council, from which the mayor is elected, con-
sists of 56 members; namely, 14 aldermen, and 42
councillors. The 14 aldermen and 30 of the council-
lors'are Whigs, and the remaining 12 Conservatives.
The result of the elections has been, as usual, in
favour of the Whigs, there being 10 Whigs and four
Conservatives returned; but an important victory has
been considered to be achieved by the Conservatives
in the return of Mr. John Bowley (the nominator of
Mr. Walter at the last general election), and Mr. T.
H. Smith, the chairman of his committee, who now
have seats in the council-chamber as representatives
for Castle ward, in the place of Mr. Thomas Wake.
field and Mr. Richard Biddle, the former councillors.
The numb: rs at the close of the poll were, fur Mr.
Bowley, 334; Mr. T. H. Smith, 333.
Biddle, 144 ; and Mr. Dickenson, 141. TheFocronAtelsrt.
citneh
eaSdt htei2lrecow.mo oat;
Nowr
oiattryhd
iinNnvgafsa
favour
ryt
hos
feyvtehree ,Navnhdi
git s isd i
dcalculated
.
of particular notice
occurred in any other of the wards.

ANOTIIER ALARMING FIRE AT GRAVESEND.—
Late last night Gravesend was again aroused by the
outbreak of a serious fire on the premises of Mr. Cutriss,
carpenter and builder, situate near the Rosherville Gar-
dens.. It originated in the workshops,
building thirty
feet wide and sixty feet long, which, unfortunately,
were filled with the fittings of several houses. The
flames spread furiously, and in less than two hours
the whole place was consumed. The property is not
insured.

WHITTINGTON atm. —The half-yearly general
meeting of the members and patrons of this institution
was held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street,
yesterday evening. Mr. D. Jones in the chair. The
secretary read the report of the council, detailing the
operations of the association, by which it appeared that.
since the general meeting. in May last, 756 members, had
been proposed and elected, making a total of 2,956; of
this number, there were 476 at 215., and 1,610 at 10s.
Gd.; 51 country members at ss. 6d,, 16 ditto at log, 6d.
The tire which occurred upon the premises in Gresh am-
street necessarily caused the suspension of the es tb
lishment, but the council were happy to state that the
loss was more than covered by the insurances effected
with the •Phcenix and Lfgal and Commercial Insumince
offices.
the
Exchequer.
iiin
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has received
flrBo4.
m 6.. CT.b"elaoml.
olu2nst.
vi6dil.lfobae
paidta x
intoomitted
the
rt oe
eebie:t?
Exchequer.
SATISFACTORY.—On Wednesday mwteiodtr;_ithng, haL the
wife of Mr. Samuel Negus, of Melbourne we::::l:4o6antrihredelry,
adrel.iirdebriendgof"tharseewefilnl e
as chailadnrebne,
expected.",—,Gar
0 c,
98
Chronicle.