The Sun.
London, England, 1840-08-21 00:00:00

TILE SUN; LONDON, FiIIDA Y, AUGUST 21, 1840

public credit, attacked manufactures and commerce, oc-
eitsloned numerous failures, weakened public confidence,
and have introduced general confUsion and perturba-
tion, for the dread of an evil freluently flt6ducrs fliore
effect than the evil it2elf. We accommodate ourselves
to a cAl'...tnit'y that is certain, but wo cannot do this
where there is a chaos of ideas, We can easily con-
ceive that 'f biers, left to,himself, helth';',r ban nor
will explain himself ; but as he is a Par•
liamentta4;- ,mister, his duty is to convene the Parlia-
Malt, and to demand that light may be thrown upun
the question by discussion.

IMMENIE PLOOD-BROCKHO LES
I3RIDGE WASHED DOWN.

(From the Blackburn Standard.)
The fine weather on which we took occasion to con-
gratulate our readers last week, disappeared about the
time our publication issued from the press, and for se-
veral days we had a continuance of cold showers, which
increased in intensity until Monday last. This was a
thoroughly wet day, and in the afternoon and evening
torrents of rain fell, and a perfect deluge of waters, ac-
companied by a strong westerly wind, kept pouring down
till long past midnight. The consequence was that the
waters in the neighbourhood rose to an extraordinary
height. In many parts of this town the streets were
flooded, and the lower parts of the houses filled with
the overflowings of the brooks.
In the Ribble the body of water which rolled down
was perfectly immense ; indeed, so large a flood is not
within the memory of man, and the damage which has
been done is proportionately great. We have heard of
cattle and large trees in considerable numbers being
washed down the stream, and of the destruction of
crops on the river's banks, but as we have not been
able to ascertain the details of such mishaps we decline
alluding to them more fully.
The greatest injury, however, which has been done,
is the partial carrying away of Brockholes-bridge, on
the Blackburn and Preston new turnpike-road. The
reader is aware that this is a wooden structure, and
that fears have often been felt that the calamity which
we now have to record would occur. It seems that the
event took place about three o'clock yesterday morn-
ing, at which time the river was at its highest point ;
it rose upwards of a foot above the path over the
bridge, and the long level on this side was covered for
nearly half a mile. Three of the arches on the side
next to this town are quite carried away, and it is un-
derstood that the immediate cause of the accident was
the lodgment of three large trees against the bridge,
which were at length forced underneath one of the
arches by the immense body of water pressing upon
them. A man who was fishing with nets was on the
bridge just before the accident, and it is said he
had a very narrow escape : he describes the catas-
trophe as presenting a very singular appearance,
the upper part of the structure having been forced
upwards into the segment of a circle before the
actual crash took place. The whole of the woodwork
was of course carried off by the current ; some of it
has made a voyage to the sea, but there are several
large pieces of timber scattered about in the ditches,
which had been entangled in the fences on the retiring
of the flood. Three of the bays have made their way
to Cuerdale Hall, and we understand have been floated
in the farm-yard there, having passed through several
gateways in their course. Such of our readers as
know the situation of the building, may form a pretty
correct notion, from this fact, of the extraordinary height
of the flood.

Of course, travelling between this town and Preston
by the new road is suspended for a time, but we under-
stand that arrangements are in progress for the tempo-
rary reparation of the accident.

LITERATURE.

A YEAR IN CIRCASSIA. 2 VOLE.
iburn, Lonch;:, Ise).

The frequent and—fortunately as yet—fruitless
efforts of Russia to bring the hardy mountaineers of
the Circassian proVinees under her iron yoke, have
of late attracted public attention in no ordinary de-
gree ; and numerous are the English travellers
who now find their way to Circassia, the chief ob-
ject of Russian hostility, which a dozen years ago
was, comparatively speaking, untrodden ground by
foreigners. Not long since we noticed at some length
in The Sun, Mr. Spencer's interesting account of
the habits and customs of the inhabitants of thie
mountain region
; and here ate two volumes by Mr.
Longworth on the same subject, who having re-
sided a year among the Circassians, at a time when
they were engaged in active warfare with the Rus•
sians ; and having mingled in familiar council with
the chiefs, and dwelt for weeks together in the
huts of the peasantry, is well qualified tel give a
sound opinion respecting them. And this opinion is,
on the whole, favourable to these primitive
Mr. Longworth represents them as
mountaineers.
mle
hardy, courageous, frank, and devotedly at-
tached to their country, trust-worthy in an emi-
nent degree, and so hospitable, that to almost
every private dwelling, a " guest-house" is at-
tached, which is exclusively set apart for the ac-
commodation of the passing stranger. Moreover,
the Circassians are—and have been from time im-
memorial—so proud and jealous of their independ-
ence, that they will endure the severest privations,
and submit patiently to the most cruel sacrifices,
rather than forego it. This is a feature in their
character which Russia has not now to learn for
the first time, inasmuch as she has been defeated
in most of the attempts she has made to break down
the national spirit ; and notwithstanding all the
hordes of brutal, ignorant soldiery, which she has
from time to time poured in upon the country, she
has been able hitherto to do little more than gar-
rison a few mud forts scattered along the borders of
the Black Sea. When Mr. Longworth spoke to
one of the chiefs on this subject, at a Council at
which several of the leaders of tribes were present,
and expressed apprehensions respecting the issue
of the struggle with Russia, the high-minded
patriot made answer—" Be under no alarm on our
account ; we have warred with the Muscovite ten
years at least, and if England in the end befriend
us, will war ten years longer. We have lost indeed,
many of our bravest warriors, but as you may
see," he continued, casting a glance round the
assembly, "we have men and lads to replace
them yet. The worst of it is, our rifles
are become nearly useless to us for want of
powder and lead ; yet while we have swords to
wield against them, never will we surrender to the
Giaours. If deserted by the whole world, if driven
to the last extremity, we will slaughter, with our
own hands, our wives and children, that they may
not fall into those of the infidel ; we will then pe-
rish, to a man, in avenging them." A people hold-
ing sentiments like these are, and must ever be, in-
vincible, no matter how vast be the resources that
tyranny may bring to bear against them. In a simi-
lar spirit the Circassian chiefs replied to the inso-
lent Manifesto which General Willemineff, on the
part of Nicholas, addressed to them. This Russian
Bombastes Furioso having said, " if you will be-
come faithful subjects of the Emperor, you may
obtain peace. What is it you look for ? Are
you not aware that if the heavens should fall,
Russia could prop them with her bayonets ?
No country ever waged successful war against
her. Russia is the most powerful of nations.
If you desire peace, you must be convinced that
there are but two powers in existence—God in
heaven, and the Emperor on earth. If you desire
peace, you must restore all you have plundered, and
acknowledge no other authority than that of the
Emperor." General Willeminiff having addressed
the Circassians in the above swaggering style,
their Gallant Chief made him this reply—" You
speak too loftily when you talk of destroying this
country. You seem proudly to imagine you can
do all you please ; but though we be but a small
nation, with God's blessing and the succour of
England, we will resist you still. Think not we
write to you through fear of your cannons and your
powder ; we would not do so, but
.for the orders of
England ; and if men should fail us, we would
rather than submit to you, seek for them in the
mother's womb to arm against you the infant not
born." It is impossible not to sympathise with a
nation thus nobly resolved to struggle to the last
gasp in defence of their liberties ; and as impossible
to refrain from laughing at the ridiculously arro-
gant pretensions of their would-be oppressor. We
close our notice of Mr. Longworth 's entertainimg
volumes with a sketch of a Circassian conveyancer,
who seems to have been a striking exception to the
generality of his countrymen :
In person he was tall, dark, and grave as a Castilian,
a man of few words, but whose sad and serious counte-
nance interested me greatly. On the first day of my
arrival, as I have already said, he kept himself most re-
spectfully aloof, and it was only by dint of much persua-
sion he could be prevailed upon to sit down. But on
the next day, having established himself in the suburbs
of my good graces, he ventured on a nearer rcconnais-
ance, and gradually edging himself towards me, squatted
at length close to my couch. Here, though he continued
to say nothing, he looked a great deal, and I sympa-
thised with what I tcok to be his patriotic sufferings.
But when, on the third day, he grasped my hand, and
sighed repeatedly, I could almost have wept for one
whose heart I thought was inwardly bleeding over the
wrongs of his country ; in short, I telt I could do any-
thing, or make any sacrifice, for so good a man. The
reader may judge, therefore, I felt rather surprised and
disconcerted when, through the intervention of the
Hadji, he all at once begged as a particular favour that
I would give him my telescope, the possession of which,
he said, would make his hamlet the happiest in Circas-
sia. The telescope was a large and valuable one ; yet,
though I began to have my misgivings of the man, I
desired the Hadji to tell him that he should have it
when I left the country, but that in the meantime I bad
occasion for it myself in my travels. In answer to this,
he suggested, that as he intended to accompany me in
all my peregrinations, he would carry it for me. I con-
sented to this arrangement, and he accordingly attended
me on my route for three days, at the end of which
time he begged I would give him a pistol, which being
flatly refused to him, he immediately disappeared with
the telescope. It is needless to add, that though I now
saw clearly through the one, I was never destined to
see through the other again.

The following notice has been issued by the
Post-office authorities :
" NoTICE TO THE PUBLIC.

Tahnedprwacetaitceloafdiseesa,linagndletotethrserpas:,ainrgintoelaimndatfersomvrtihthe
" General Post-office, August, 1840.
E:t
wax, is attended with much inconvenience, and frequ, with
with serious injury to the letters, in consequence of the
melting of the wax, and adhesion of letters to each other,
" In the case of a mail, recently arrived from
India,
ndi a
,
considerable delay was occasioned at this office,
and,
letters,not-
withstanding
which t heg
owingr cs. ttcos caretthe
causewas takenalralready
n separatig the
Y mentioned ad-
hered closely together, many were much damaged and
torn ; the public are, therefore, recommended, in all pos-
sible cases, to use wafers in preference in sealing their let-
tei s sent to India, or other warm climates i and also to
advise their correspondents in those countries to pursue
the same course.
damage sustained by him in conse-
quence the theatre, and for which a
(By command) "W.L. MA BERL y, Sec."
CORK THEATRE.—The application of Mr.
1114 Donnell, proprietor of the Theatre Royal, for compen-
sation
Sergeant Jackson stated the case
sciparateei:nencneftomerfenlottshsewaanbsdurfenfiunsged by the cess-payers at special
sessions, was tried at Cork. The amount of loss was est i-
i will
with
11maucecho
m ability,p a n accompany
Ai
Princer. Francis Se}-
lost 1,000/. by the burning of the Glasgow
mour stated he
fmorateNdlr.
Theatre, and 900/• by the burning of *the Waterford
Theatre. Several other witnesses were examined, and the
at
A41,,0D000a/n.nenewn
It was not a malicious burning."
Jury returned that— I
Albert on his
It is still reported, we know r.ot with how much
truth, that the Queen
approaching visit to Bright on ; and also that the King and
Queen of the Belgians will embark at Brighton, on their
departure from this country.—Brighton Gazette.
It is said that Prince Albert will review his regi-
ment at Brighton on the 4th or sth of September. The
ground chosen for the review is situated near the race-
course ; and Tuesday last the whole of the troops pro-
ceeded to the spot, where they went through their field
movements. Previously to the review, the troops will be
drawn up in Harveys cricket-ground in their new
clothing, and inspected by their commanding officer, the
Earl of Cardigan. . ,
Paris
quitted
Lady Bulwer, on Monday, for
Geneva, on her way to Italy. Her Ladyship travels with
a large party of English and French fashionables, includ-
ing the celebrated_Chateaubriand ; and Venice is the ulti-
mate destination, where Mrs. Trollope will join them.
SIDNEY wisE,A private letter from Syd-
ney mentions the culture of the vine as an object of great
attention. From thirteen acres of vines, of which only
one-fourth part were in full bearing, it
is said that 3,600
gallons of wine were produced. If some of the vines at
first planted had not been changed for better varieties, it
is supposed that the quantity would have been still greater.
Four years are requisite, it appears, to mature these
wines, of the quality of which (a most material point) we
at present know nothing.

MR. ALDERMAN HARMER AND

THE TIMES.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUN.

SIR,—I inclose you the copy of a letter which I yes-
terday bent to the Times' office ; but instead of insert-
ing it, as in candour and fairness the Editor of that
Journal ought to have done, he, in the " Notices to
Correspondents," says, " We have received a letter,
signed James Harmer,' but the style is so incorrect,
that we cannot suppose it to be the production of the
Alderman." I rely, therefore, on your liberality, to
insert my letter, and thus afford the public an opportu-
nity of forming their opinion on the excuse offered by
the Times' Editor for refusing to give it publity.
August 21, 1840. JAMES HAicRMER.
Sir,—ln one of those Leading Articles with which you
have lately so continually favoured me, I see you are
pleased to state that " The Corporation of Gravesend re-
member with gratitude the geese and turkeys of Ingress
Hall," and that " hundreds of the Livery have recently
been drawl!, and are still daily being carried down, to In-
gress Hall, there to hear the praises of the host descanted
upon by hired advocates, and to be entrapped into pledges
of their own and their relatives' support." The whole of
this Is false. The Corporation of Gravesend have never
dined at Ingress Abbey, nor have I ever had the honour of
entertaining that body, or any member of it, at home, or
elsewhere. During the last six months my dinner parties
have been two in number—one upon my birthday, to the
Common Council of my Ward, as I have been accus-
tomed to do annually, and to which I invited four gentle-
rilcn i4ho had been their colleagues, the whole party not
exceeding 20 j arid one of less than 20, which I was
pledged to give my eo-Directors of the City of London
Commercial Club, the Directors of that Club having en-
gaged to give their brethren d dinner in rotation. This,
Sir, has been the amount of tht; hospitalities
.of Ingress.
I give you this explanation, because y...?ur article is an in_
suit to my private friends rather than myself.; and because
I can have no objection that evety thing I do, Situ._
public or private, should be proclaimed at Cflarifig-efoK
How far it is right that a humble individual, like myklf,
should be dogged in private life by any part of the Press;
is a point upon which I shall make no observation.
I am, Sir, yours,
JAMES HARMER.

Aug. 20, 1840.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

"' in

SlR—Your paper of yesterday mentions the growing
progress in Ireland of the agitation for a repeal of
the existing legislative union with Great Britain. I
know nat what may be the precise views of Mr. O'Con-
nell in seeking that repeal ; but this, Sir, know full
well, that if Englishmen would turn their attention to
the evils and the inconveniences necessarily consequent
to the having but one single legislature for three to-
tally different kingdoms, they probably would call for
even more than does Mr. O'Connell ; who is looked
upon as a revolutionist, because he demands the repeal
of only one of the two treaties of union ; whereas, for
the general good of the entire kingdom, the repeal of
both treaties is required.
By the consolidation of three separate legislatures in
a single one, we have got a House of Commons far too
numerous for the transaction of public business in a
sober and orderly manner. Hence, instead of a ma-
jority of the entire House being required as a quo-
rum for business, even less than a sixteenth is suffi-
cient. Accordingly, the Members present in the
House are changing constantly, whereby those who
vote upon a Bill in one of its stages may not be the
same as those who have heard the debates upon it ;
nor even caring a straw about the merits of the mea-
sure. For what can an Englishman know about the
local wants of Ireland ? or an inhabitant of Caithness
about Sussex and Cornwall ? As regards Ireland,
Englishmen are no better than aliens, as we learn
from that great authority, the late Lord Chancellor
Lyndhurst. Hence, the most important questions are
carried or rejected by majorities totally ignorant of the
real drift of the measures upon which they pretend to
decide. .

The above, and many other evils in legislation
are the inevitable consequences of our national vanity ;
for that has led England to suppose that she can ac-
complish what has never yet been attempted else-
where; namely, "to legislate in one assembly for
sundry different countries, having each of them
widely different interests and wants." Everywhere
else (not excepting even the small region of Swit-
zerland) each separate State or Canton has its local
Legislature for its own local wants, and then a general
(or collective) Legislature for the consideration of such
matters only as may regard the entire Confederation.
Acting, then, on that sage principle, we require for
the good government of the British Islands as many as
four separate Legislatures, viz.—three local ones ; and
a fourth for the aggregate whole, denominated " The
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland."
Perhaps, Mr. Editor, both you and your readers will
stare with surprise at my suggestions ; but before long
we shall be compelled to adopt them. Catholic Ireland
will soon liberate herself from the nursery leading-strings
of Protestant England, while Presbyterian Scotland
will spurn the continuance of her present submission to
Episcopal England and Ireland, whose Bishops now
legislate for the Scotch Church, without allowing to
that Church any authority in return. That arrogant
supremacy assumed by the English Hierarchy is, how-
ever, on the decline ; and our Church dignitaries feel
it as sorely as do the Romish clergy the gradual sub-
version of their former influence by the progress of edu-
"cation: You arid 1, Sir, may, not live to witness the
legislative tihanges'whieb have been recommended ; but
those persons, who are alive fifty years hence will most
assuredly see changes which will outrun the Reform
Bill, even -more than has that Bill outrun the borough-
mongering system, so fondly cherished by Pitt, Can-
ning, and their disciples.
I have the honour to subscribe myself, Mr. Editor,
your most obedient servant,
London, Aug. 19, 1840.

BRITANNICUS.

MEETING OF MIDDLESEX

MAGISTRATES.

A meeting of the Magistrates of the county of Mid-
dlesex was held yesterday at the Sessions House'
Clerkenwell, for the despatch of county business ; Mr'
B. Hall in the chair.

A letter was read from Mr. Sergeant Adams, the
chairman of the Court, regretting his inability to attend
the meeting, being engaged as counsel in an important
trial at Warwick. The minutes of the last Court were
read and confirmed.

CORONERS' INQUESTS.

The report of the committee of accounts was read

It stated that Mr. Baker had sent in a bill of 2531. 17s.
10d. for holding 86 inquests, and Mr. Wakley a bill
of 3781. 13s. Bd. for holding 178 inquests, and recom-
mended that both accounts be discharged. After some
discussion the report was received.