The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-31 00:00:00

BRUSSELS PAPERS.

HAMBURG, DEC. 25.—The setting in of the frost
and freezing of the Elbe has, we fear, almost put a
stop to our export trade for the winter, or at any rate
till we have a thaw. At our market yesterday no
wheat was sold, except in loco for home censumption
at reduced prices, from 6 to 8 rix dollars.
The following engagements were made for Scot-
land, and 112 rix dollars were offered for 182 lbs.
Very little was done in rye, except that some pur-
chases were made in speculation.
BREMEN, DEC. 25.—The frost has produced a fa-
vourable effect on our corn trade, and the price of
nearly every
*kind of grain has fallen. Wheat was
sold only for home consumption, and rye, which was
more in demand, was sold at the market price.
WITTENBURG, DEC. 20.—A most terrible fire at
Schwienitz has deprived fifty families, consisting of
201 persons, of shelter and maintenance. In a few
hours thirteen houses and eleven small ones, the senate-
house, the tower, the newly-built warehouses, and
forty-four cottages, were burnt to the ground. Very
little household furniture was saved: the winter stores
were all consumed, and it was with the utmost exer-
tions that the newly-decorated church, with its hand-
some tower, as well as the clergyman's house and the
school-house, were saved. It is not yet known how
the fire originated. Great distress prevails among the
people, who have thus been rendered houseless at this
inclement season, and subscriptions have been set on
foot for their relief, and are earnestly requested, both
from home and abroad.

Letters from Darmstadt state that his Serene
Highness the Hereditary Prince of Hesse Homburg
is at the point of death. By the death of this Prince
the Landgravate of Hesse Homburg will be incorpo-
rated in the Grand Duchy of Hesse Darmstadt.—
Brussels Papers, Dec. 29.

There are five Sabbaths in each of the following
months in 1848, viz. :—January, April, July, October,
and December.

THE OYSTER.—Why is an oyster the greatest
paradox in nature ?—D'ye give it up ?
Because it has a beard without any chin,
And gets out of bed to be tucked in.

SAGACITY OF A SHEEP.-A decent carter, em-
ployed by a large carrying company in this town, keeps
several horses in his stable, and amongst them a stallion.
Between his dwelling-house and stables is a court, the
free run of which is enjoyed by a pet sheep, which finds
sleeping quarters with the horses in the stables. Well,
a few days ago, about two o'clock in the morning, whilst
the honest carter was in bed, ho was awakened by a
" tap-tap" at the back door. The sound, which was
repeated, being of an unusual character, John got up,
repaired to the door, and cautiously challenged the
applicant for admission. No answer, save the tap, being
vouchsafed to his reiterated " whae's there?" he slowly
opened the door, peeped out, and lo! there stood Mr.
Sheep, quietly looking up in his face! fie instantly
ci-ased the poor animal into the court, closed the door,
and returned to bed. Scarcely five minutes elapsed,
however, till the dunt-dunt at the door was again heard.
John, who was just dropping over into the nicest, coziest
snoozeimaginable, bounced from bed, quite indignant at the
impertinence of his untimely visitor, and snatching up a
cart-tram, opened the door with the intention of "doing"
for poor Mr. Sheep. Luckily for both, however, as the
door opened, he heard a strange noise proceeding from
the stable. The thought immediately struck him that
something had gone wrong; and proceeding across he
found the stallion broken loose, in a paroxysm of fury,
and biting and kicking at the other beasts, and every-
thing in his way. Thus, it would appear, the sat,,acious
sheep had gone over to report the state of matters, and
though driven back, wady persisted in summon-
ing the gudeman to stay the fury of the riotous brute.—
Ayr Advertiser.
MANSLAUGHTER IN THE WESTAIINSTER-ROAD.--
Yesterday an inquest was held by Mr. W. Carter, at
the Two Sawyers, Palace-road, Lambeth, on the body
of Mary Morton, aged 72. Police-constable Mole, of the
L division, said that on Monday evening week he was
on duty in the lobby of Astley's Theatre, when his
attention was dincted to a horse and cart proceeding
along the Westminster-road, at a very furious and
improper rate. Whilst he was watching the vehicle, he
saw the deceased, who was in the act of crossing the
road, knocked down by the cart. The driver, who was
standing up, upon seeing what he had done, whipped his
horse, and drove on even faster than before. Witness
pursued him down the road until out of breath, when he
lost sight of him. lie had endeavoured, but in vain, to
find out who the driver was, or to whom the cart be-
longed. Other evidence was put in, showing deceased
had died on the Monday following from the effects of the
injury she had received. The jury, having consulted,
returned a verdict of " Manslaughter against some
person or persons unknown."

SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 30.—The Peninsular and
Oriental Steam Navigation Company's ship Iberia,
Captain Bowen, arrived at Southampton at ono P.N.
yesterday, bringing the Spanish and Portuguese mails
in charge of Lieutenant Raynor, Admiralty agent,
20 passengers, and a small cargo of fruit, &C. The
Iberia left Lisbon on the 23d, and has experienced very
tempestuous weather during her pa”p,ge neross the Bay
of Biscay. At the date of the Iberia's siti!ing the Seuth-
ampton packet -of tho 17th (Jupiter, Captain Meehan)
had not wade liter appvaranee at Lisbon. Me commer-
cial advice by the Iberia are not of importance.

FAILURE IN THE IRON TRADE
BIRMINGHAM, WEDNESDAY.—To-day a meeting of
the creditors of Messrs. Sharpe, Brown, Burgess, and
Morriss, who have been extensively engaged as manu-
facturers in the above trade, in Halifax, and in this
town, took place at the Union Inn, It appeared that
the debts of the house amount to about 31,000/, and
the assets to about 15,0001. One of the bankers at
Halifax claimed for 5,0001., exclusive of 3,0001. for
which they hold security. Messrs. Foster and
Bradley, iron masters, claim for 7,500/. ; nearly 100
creditors shssre the loss of the residue. It was pro-
posed to pay 9s. in the pound, at four instalments of
three, six, nine, and twelve months ; the two last
payments to be guaranteed. After a full investiga-
tion of the affairs it was agreed to accept the pro-
posal, but a further adjournment became necessary.
The proposed securities, wi:9 reside in Scotland,
had only agreed to guarantee one instalment, and the
adjournment took place to obtain further con-
sent. Messrs. Brown and Co. have bets.n only three
years engaged in business in this town. '1.7."%e
princi-
pal creditors reside in the neighbourhood of bt.our-
bridge and Brierly Hill, and few in this town a'
losers by their failure. In noticing this failure it may
be observed that the iron trade throughout the whole
district is in a most depressed state; and other cases
of pecuniary embarrassment have recently been
settled. The men at some of the works have turned
out, and refused to submit to a reduction of their
wages, of which they have received notice. How far
they will succeed in prevailing upon the masters to
rescind their resolution is very doubtful, in the face
of the fact that a declaration of a reduction in the
price of iron to the amount of at least 30s. or 21. will
be made at the forthcoming quarter-day. We.clo not
know that there has ever been so sudden and violent
a reaction in any branch of trade as that which bas
taken place in the iron trade.