The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-01 00:00:00

S N 9 FEBRUARY 1, 1847:

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.
(From thi) Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.)
• • • FRIDAY, JAN. 29.
The following Railway Bills were presented, read a first
time, and ordered to be read a second time:—

Glasgow,Airdrie, and Monklands Junction (Cowlairs,
Carmyle, entral Junction, And Coplawhill Branches, and
Montrose-street Terminus)—" to enable the Glasgow, Air-
drie, and Monklands Junction Railway Company to make
certain Branch Linea, to extend their Terminus to Montrose-
street, Glasgow, and to amend . the Act relating to such
Rail way."
"Glasgow, Airdrie, and Monklands Junction (Cowlairs
Branch)—" to enable the Glasgow, Airdrie, and Monklands
Junction Railway Company to make a Branch from, at, or
near Whitevalestreet, Glasgow, to or near Cowlairs, and to
amend the Act relating to such Railway."
Liskeard and Launceston Branch—" for making a Railway
from Launceston to join the Cornwall Railway, near the
town of -Liskeard,.all in the the
of Cornwall.''..
Wear Valley, Bishop Auckland and Weardale, .Weardale
Extension, and Wear and Derwent, and. Shildon Tunnel
Amalgamation*" for enabling the Weal' Valley Railway
Company to purchase or lease the Bishop Auckland and
Weardale Railway, the Wear and Derwent Railway, the
Weardale Extension Railway, and the Shildon Tunnel, and
to raise an additional gum of money, and for other purposes."
North -Western (Diversions- at Skipton, Casterton; and
Sedbeig)—" for enabling the North-Western Railway Com-
pany to make certain alterations and diversions in the Main
Line of their, Railway at Skipton, Castertou, and Sedbergh.".
Aberdeen and Great North of Scotland (Amalgamation -or
Leasing--" to consolidate the Aberdgensand Great North of
Scotland Railway Company." - •
Aberdeen (Brechin.Branch,Deviation)—" to enable the
Aberdeeti Railway
.COiniiatiy in_ part to alter their Branch
Railway-to Brechin."
Arbroath an'd foliar and Scottish gidland Junction Con-.
necting—" tO enable 'the Aberdeen Railway Company to
make a RailWayfiom. the Arbroath and Forfar Railway, in
the parish of Forfar, to the Scottish Midland Junctiontail-
way, in the parish of Glammis,"
• Direct London and Portsmouth, and London, Brighton,
And South Coast Amalgamation—" to unite and consolidate
the Direct London and Portsmouth Railway Company with
the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company."
Huddersfield and Manchester (Deviations and Alterations
in Oldham Branch, be.)—" for enabling the Huddersfield
and Manchester Railway and Canal Company to alter a por-
tion of the Line of their Oldham Branch, and for other pur-
poses."
London and North-Western (Lease and Purchase of the
Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal, and the
Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester Railway)—" to incorpo-
rate the Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and, Canal
Company, and the Leeds, Dewsbary, and Manchester Rail-
way Company, with the London and North-Western Rail-
way Company."
Manchester and Leeds (Alteration of Levels of .Brighouse
Branch of the West Riding Union, and new Line into Leeds)
—" to enable the Manchester and Leeds Railway Company
to alter the Line and Levels of the Brighouse Branch of the
West Riding Union Railways, and to make a new Line into
Leeds." •

Reading, Guildford, and Reigate—" to authorise certain
alterations of the Line of the Reading. Guildford, and Reigate
Railway, and to amend the .pct relating thereto."
Norfolk (from Thetford to the. Lowestoft Railiray near
Reedham, with a Branch to lialesworth)—" to empower the
Norfolk Railway Company to make a Railway from the
Norfolk Railway at Thetford, to the Lowestoft Railway near
Reedham, with a Branch therefrom to Halesworth."
The following Railway Bills were read a second time, com-
mitted, and referred to the Committee of Selection :

Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, and Glasgow, Paisley, Kil-
marnock, and Ayr (No. 4).
Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr (No. 2).
North Staffordshire (Alterations and Branches).
North Staffordshire (Churnet Valley and Trent Valley
Junction).
Llynvi Valley Extension.
Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's (No. I—Yarmouth Ex-
tension)
•

Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (Station at Shef-
field and Branch to the Sheffield Canal).
South-Eastern ( Mid Kent and Direct Tunbridge).
South-Eastern (Croydon and Bromley Branches).
South-Eastern (Maidstone to Chart).
South-Eastern (Strood to Maidstone).
South-Eastern (North Kent and Bricklayers' Arms Junction.)
South-Eastern (North Kent Line).

Bristol and Exeter (Taunton and Castle Carey Branch),
Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction (ueviation of

•
Main Line, &c.).
Birkenhead, Lancashire,* and Cheshire Junction, and Chester
and Birkenhead Amalgamation.'
Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton Acts Amendment (Diver-
sions of Line in the parishes of Blackburn and Bolton-in-
the-Moors).
Direct London and Portsmouth.
Dundalk and Enniskillen Act Amendment

Great Western (Branches to join the West London, Hammer-
smith, h c.).
Great Western (Berks and Hants Amendmentand Branches).
Great Western (Branches to Egham, Staines, ice.)
Lowestoft Railway and Harbour (A►teration at Reedham).

Paws JSD
TA

7

THE 'WEST HIGHTA,NDS.
We ate glad to find that ititclp.ngsrry, pi id Ward has been
attentive-to the wants of the people--ml2-his—liighland estate
ever,since dearth or scarcity of prbstigibnes-vas feared. By a
•letter from his Lordship's factor, Mr. Scott, to a pentleman in
town, we learn teat not only has his Lordship prOvided
ample work for all the labourers, women, and boys, on his
estate, who-are capable of working, and that at very ample
rates of wages, but that he also supplied from fifteen to
twenty bolls of meal weekly to the very poor and infirm,
gratis ; to the less poor at half or two-thirds of the prime
cost ; and to the able-bodied labourers at the prime cost of
meal in October last. Besi les this, his Lordship has an
nually expended. in improvements in Glengarry the whole
rents of the estate, less only public burdens and expense of
management; and farther, his Lordship'pays all his tenants'
shares of poor-rates and income-tax.
From Arisaig, January 19 :—" As the potatoes have
always been the staple food of the people of this country,
their ,state of destitution for the last half-year may easily be
imagined, and but for the aid afforded them, their condition
would have been deplorable. The noble proprietor, besides
-the supply regularly given to the poor who receive parochial
aid, ordered meal to be given to the old and infirm who
cannot work ; and in December last gave two bolls of oat-
nieal each to. thirty-three families, tenants. This month his
Lordship-hai given them work at draining, trenching, and im-
pf6vine; land, for which they receive meal in payment. The
Free Church have a store here,
i and a weekly supply is
'fven from it to - such as are not n either of these classes.
he ensuing half-year will press more heavily on the poor,
as the little that some of them had has been exhausted.
Many also who have land wilt' not have seed: -This- is an
important matter; and we hope it will be a subject of serious
considerattori."

A Skyecorrespondent writes as follows, under the date of
the 14th inst.:—"The
been remarkably fine for this time of the year. It is mild
and dry, 'Without frost ; and, were it not for the low eleva-
tion attained by the sun, even at mid-day, and the shortness
of his circuit, one would suppose we bad April or October in
place of dreary winter. By the aid affore,,d by proprietors
and poor's boards in the western part of Skye, the people are
upon the whole as well supplied as the circumstances of the
case can well admit of. We are in daily expectation of hear-
ing as to what is doing in reference to our condition in the
south, and that we shall have assistance soon from that
quarter, which is certainly required. There was a meeting of
the poor board of Durinish at Dunvegan yesterday when the
supplies so timeously andhumanely given out by direction of
the chairman, Macleod, of Macleod, were sustained by the
other heritors. A discretionary power was still continued to
the inspector, to supply occasional aid. Petty thefts of tur-:
nips, fowls, parcels of corn, &c., sometimes take place among
us, but the wonder is that they are not of morafrequent oc-
currence, and of greater extent."
Another correspondent mentions that Macleod of Macleod
is making preparations for commencing a brick and tile work
on the farm of Bay. A person has been lately on the spot
(engaged from Northamptonshire) to conduct the preparatory
operations, and the locality is said to be highly favourable for
a brick manufactory.
We understand that there is now a Government steamer in
South List, from which barley-meal is sold at prime cost.
The people are gladly availing themselvesof this opportunity
to purchase food, and will spend all their little supplies 'in
laying in provisions. The consideration now is to provide
for the future, as in a short time both money and meal will
be exhausted.—lnverness Courier.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PorrrsmouTsr, Jnv. 29.—Her Majesty's brig Mutine has
been directed to 'land her packages, and send her super-
numeraries for South America and the Brazils to the
Vincent. She is ordered to Lisbon with dispatches for Vice-
Admiral Sir William Parker, and then proceeds to the Medi-
terranean. The Medea steamer, after depositing the-remains
of the late Commander Hamond at Yarmouth, in the Isle of
Wight, is to be paid wages, and also proceed to the Tagus.
She will take all the supernumeraries collected here for the
squadron, and then go on to the East Indies, calling at the
Cake of Good Hope to'coal and water.
• HER MAJESTY'S STEADIER SPHYNX—The reports this
morning from the officers state that the gala of the 27th
inst. had been felt in Brook Bay, that the rollers had come
in with great force, causing the sea to reach the Sphynx,
and after high water it was found that she had been dis-
lodged from her former position, and lifted higher on the
beach, nearly
.her own breadth. This is a ierious hindrance
to the operations. centemplated. The camels, &c.,' are all
prepared, and it the Echo's engines are repaired in time, they
start in the morning;
The Crocodile has been prevented from going to Cork by
bad weather and foul 'winds.' ;She is now ordered to take a
party of stokers 'for Admiral Sir Hugh Pigot, to distribute
among the steam-vessels now employed on the coast of
Ireland.

The Belleisle, troop-ship, is reported ready by to-morrow
for any service the Admiralty may require.
A detachment of Royal Marine Artillery are fitting
Lieutenant Robert's mortar in the Curlew brig, under his
directions, and in' the course of next week she will be towed
to St. Helen's for the experimental firing of the shells.
The Porcupine steamer went to Yarmouth this afternoon
with a party of seamen and riggers, and a great supply of
stores of every description requisite to assist in moving the
Sphynx.
The Pelican brig has been lent by the Admiralty to the
Customa department for the use of the coast guard.
ENROLMENT OF THE DOCKYARD ARTIFICERS.—In
furtherance of the arrangements ordered by the Admiralty
circular for this purpose, Commander Ravrt .Jenaer, recently'
promoted, is appointed to superintend the drilling of the
battalion in the ship-gun exercise. The number of volun-
teers from this dockyard amounts to 2,000. The enrolment
into different companies and battalions will take place imme-
diately. The drill is to commence on the Ist of April.
WOOLWICH, JAN. 29.—The Medea staam-vessel, Com-
mander Mason, son of fear-Admiral Sir Francis Mason,
K.C.8., left Woolwich yesterday for Portsmouth, and was
to convey the remains of her late Commander, Graham E. W.
Hamond, to Yarmouth. in the Isle of Wight.
The Centaur steam-fri;ate went down the river yesterday,
and had upwards of 400 tons of meal and rice on board for
conveyance to the Hebrides.
The Odin steam-frigate, designed by Mr. Fincham, and
similar in tonnage to the Sidon steam-frigate, proceeded on
Tuesday on her experimental trip as far as the Mouse Light,
and attained a speed of nearly eleven knots per hour, al-
though not sufficiently immersed to test her full speed. The
engines were made -and fitted by Fairbairn and Co., and
worked very well, and from the result of the trial she is ex-
pected to be one of the fastest large steam-vessels in the
royal navy. Mr. Atherton, assistant to the chief engineer,
attended on board to report her capabilities.
The Rosamond steam-vessel was taken out of the basin
to-day.
The Tartarus steam-vessel has her steam up, and will leave
to-day for Portsmouth and Ireland.
CHATHAM, JAN. 29.—The Birkenhead steam-frigate, Com-
mander A. H. Ingram, arrived here on Saturday afternoon,
the 23d inst., and dropped alongside the Fortitude coal depot,
and she completed shipping her coals on Tuesday last,
amounting to nearly 400 tons. A case or two of small-pox
broke out on board, and the individuals were immediately
removed to Melville ,Hospital; and those on board who had
not had that eruptive distemper, or been hitherto vaccinated,
had to undergo the operation. A few small repairs to the
ship having been completed, she will to-morrow be removed
to Gillingham-reach, and the reserve battalion of the 56th
Regiment will embark on board next Monday to proceed to
Gibraltar. The strength' of the battalion consists of 28 ser-
geants, 10 drummers, and 536 rank and file, with the regular
complement of women and children, under the command of
Lieutenant-Colonel P. S. Norman, with the following officers :
—Brevet-Major C. O'Connor Higgins, Captain W. A. Con-
ran, Captain A. W. Byles, Captain G. W. Patey, Captain
R. W. Lacy, Captain R. Anderson, Lieutenant A. Mac-
donald, Lieutenant H. C. Lauauze, Ensign H. J. Tolcher,
Ensign F. W. Fellows. Ensign W. Clutterbuek, Ensign G.
Thorne, Ensign J. H. Humphrey, Ensign S.W. F. Cheetham,
Lieutenant and Adjutant F. Ramsay, Quarter-master J.
Swains, Assistant-Surgson S. W. Deeble, and Assistant-Sur-
geon May. The reserve battalion leaves at this garrison a
depot of about 60 men, in charge of Brevet-Major J. Wigg.
with Lieutenant J. S. Saunders, and Lieutenant G. S. Hanson.
A detachment of this regiment, consisting of two sergeants,
two corporals, and 26 privates, in command of Lieutenant J.
S. H. Farrar, proceeds on Saturday
_morning for Sheerness,
there to embark on board the vessel Carus to proceed to Gib-
raltar with convicts.

The Daphne, 18 guns, Captain Onslow, was paid off into
ordinary on the 26th instant. The marines, consisting of
two sergeants, one drummer, and 23 privates in charge
of Lieutenant R. Farmar, join their head-quarters at this
division.

Colonel J. Irving, late of the Royal Artillery, and recently
appointed director of engineering and architectural works, in
room of Captain 13randretb, and Mr. Owen; chairman of the
committee on metals, paid an official visit to this yard on the
26th, and on the following day proceeded to Sheerness yard,
and returned to this yard the time day. Captain Mould,
Royal Engineers, director of works, attended the above two
gentleman in their inspection.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN A COURT OF JUSTICE.—
At the Chester sessions, last. week, three prisoners, Philip
Dixon, H. Conley, and Eliza Dixon, were indicted for bur-
glary. Dixon pleaded guilty; the other two prisoners not
guilty. The Recorder—You are charged, Dixon, with hav-
ing committed this offence after having been previously con-
victed of felony. I caution you that pleading guilty will not
make any difference in the sentence that may be awarded to
you. Dixon—lt's no use. sir, telling a lie about it; I am
guilty. While this conversation took place between the Re-
corder and the prisoner, Dixon stood up, resting on his elbow
on the front of the dock, and apparently adjusting his necker-
chief. He then laid his head on the partition, and in the
course of a moment or two fell backwards into the dock. It
was at first supposed that he had fainted, but his wife and
other females who were is the dock uttering a frightful
scream, it was immediately ascertained that the prisoner had
drawn a razor across his throat, and attempted to commit
suicide. An alarm was given, and the court, which was
crowded with spectators, was in a great state of excitement.
A surgeon was called for, and the Mayor (Dr. P. Jones), who
happened to be in the adjoining court, immediately came
forward to render assistance. After binding up the wound,
the Mayor intimated to the Recorder that it was not of a
serious nature, or such as was at all likely to endanger life.
It was a flesh wound, just over the larynx, which fortu•
nately it had not penetrated, or fatal consequences would
most probably have ensued. The prisoner was then removed
from the dock. He expressed his sorrow that he had not
succeeded in destroying himself, but intimated his determi-
nation to take the -first opportunity of putting a period to
his existence. The prisoners were placed at the bar ou the
following day, when the case being clearly proved, the female
prisoner was acquitted, Dixon and Conley being found guilty.
The former was sentenced to fifteen and the latter to ten.
years' transportation.
VENTILATION or GAS.—There is an amendment
in the use of gas, by the way, of very general requirement,
of
which may here be noted down while we think it. In-
deed, we have already done so in more instances than one,
but the importance and general want of such an amendment
induces us here to repeat the very obvioust suggestion that
h
means for the proper ventilation ofinjurious products
generated in the burning of gas witheien doors ought to be
th
insisted on, and provided, either by force of public en-
lightenment on the subject, or of legislative enactment itself
in course of the proposed amendments. Gas burners con-
sume the vital air no less than human lungs. and we are at
this moment in as lamentably defective and aboriginal a
state of progress with respect to the ventilation of the dele-
terious products of gas burning as our aboriginal progeni-
tors were with respect to the ventilation of their domestic
hearths while chimneys were unknown.—The Builder.