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

rHE @T IN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 2, 1847.

LYCEUM THEATRE

To persons afflicted with melancholy and hypo-
chondriasis, which in this gloomy month of Novem-
ber not ;infrequently induce suicidal monomania, we
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 is a 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, determined 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 ; when one comes in the oth r
goes out ; but one unlucky day the master of Cox
gives him a 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.

FIRE BALLOONS, AND THE CON-
FLAGRATION AT ANDOVER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sizt,—The 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 the:continent, 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 of 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-
pectation. Now, although the ignition of the balloon
at Andover took place soon after it started, and not at
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-
fully tested the balloon would have swept over the
adjacent buildings. In order to produce a safe per-
pendicular
ianrue tfii
ev
de
airfire
theyballoons
contain
are
objectionable, rise,
does little more than counterbalance the weight of
baeclla vueserythdeimr
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, rather 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 COXWELL, Aeronaut.
10, 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, how can that family be poorer for it?
So with a nation,lif 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 ULO-NE RAILWAY
A general meeting of the shareholders of the Amiens
and Boulogne Railway took place on Saturday, at
Herr's Rooms. There was a large attendance of the
representatives of the English shareholders, and though
the meeting was convened for half-past two, it was
near three o'cioclew,hen 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 which 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. INl`Gregor
presided, said that a committee had been appointed
by them, composed of Messrs. 113 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 dimi •
nution of receipts of the Dover line had been caused
by the wilful delay in opening the Amiens line.
M. BUREAUD-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 in 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 prescrip-
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 loan 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 Havre 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 lost by the board.
M. BTJREAUD•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. He 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 honourable 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 defi-
nite object, the meeting would never come to an end.
He should, therefore, propose that no person should
be allowed to speak unless his observations were to be
followed by a distinct proposition—(Cries of " Yes,
yes," " Hear, hear,")—and to commence, he should
move 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.—(Hear, hear.)
The CH4IRMAN 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 board 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 hearing
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 SHAREHOLDER exclaimed that he did
not understand the manner of giving the vote.
The CHAIRMAN explained in English the mode of
proceeding.
Mr. PRITCHARD bete rose and attempted to obtain
a hearing. Was the chairman, he said, to address
the shareholders in English, to tell them how to vote
to
and was no reciprocal permission to be granted
their pro gentlemen
conduct who
wen tdh ebree
atn
o
defend
eternal
disgrace to the wrench 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. Some 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
the conduct of the English party. Whilst Mr. Wood
was engaged in verifying the votes—
The CHAIRMAN said that as a certain length of time
must be occupied by this new examination, he hoped
the meeting would do the board the favour to give the
English shareholders a hearing 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.— (Hear, hear).
Seeing that he might reckon on the indulgence of the
meeting, he should call on Mr. Pritchard to say what
he desired.
A burst of groans and disapprobation followed the
announcement of the above name, which is far from
being a favourite in France.
Mr. PRITCHARD considered
meeting
it as an insult to the
understanding of the
speak on a matter which was
atloreacdayll
duepeiodnedh.im lie
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 CamamArt said he must call on the meeting to