The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-13 00:00:00

E SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1811.

means of relief, however, it must be obvious tbat nothing
short of liberal contributions on the part of the public at
large can suffice, which the Governors most earnestly
solicit, and are fully convinced they shell not solicit in vain.

DESIGN FOR A NE:•W ROOF TO
THE GUILDHALL OF THE CITY OF
LONDON.

This noble and e'egantly proportioned Hall has evi-
dence in its present state, by the very large buttresses
exhibited in the exterior, of having possessed in former
days a splendid Gothic roof. The present 11 it ceiling
was erected after the destruction of the old wooden roof
et t c great fire of London in 1666. It is well known
that it was budt as a temporary expedient ; and it has
been kept up by repeated repairs from time to time, and
is not, at all in character with the other parts of the
structure. A perspective drawing, which details the
effect of what is supposed to be the character of the
old roof', has been for some days exhibited in the read-
ing room of the Corporation, and attracted great ad-
miration. It shows how it may be easily restored with-
out injury to any part of the present walls or openings.
It is proposed to alter the present circular headed win-
dows running along the sides of the Hill into pointed
windows built in the interior of the present windows,
and ornamented with stained glass, the effect of the
present tracing to continue, for the purpose of carrying
up the character of the present wall, and from thence
the new roof will spring of a similar construction to
those at Westminster, Eltham, and Hampton Court,
enriched with pendants and ornamented open arches.
The soffet or ceiling will be panneled and enriched with
bosses at the intersection of the mouldings. The draw-
ing has been made with a view to illustrate the inten-
tion of Alderman Thomas Wood by his motion in the
Court of Common Council, referring the subject to the
consideration of the City Lands Committee, which mo-
tion was seconded by Mr. D. W. Wire, and also for
the purpose of being sent to'the Royal Academy for the
ensuring exhibition. The design has been drawn by
Mr. Edmund Woodthorpe, son of the Town-clerk.

ODE ON THE BURIAL. OF SIR.
JOHN MOORE.,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir,—A new claimant for the authorship of the

" Ode on the Burial of Sir J. Moore" having just
appeared, and being noticed in your widely-circulated
Journal, I trust it will not be deemed intrusive in one
of the friends of the late Charles Wolfe, who was for-
tunate enough to enjoy his intimate acquaintance, to
state that he read out for me, from a manuscript in his
handwriting, the poem in question, as his own compo-
sition, a few evenings aft?r it was completed, in the pre-
sence of my ever-esteemed college chum, J. A. Rus-
sell, now Archdeacon of Clogher, a circumstance of
which I have long retained the most lively recollec-
tion, as the impression produced was of a nature not
easily to be effaced. I shall only add, that there never
existed the slightest doubt on the subject among his
contemporaries, and cannotibut express my firm convic-
tion, that this gifted individual, distinguished no less for
genius than for sincerity and truth, was incapable of im-
position, or of appropriating to himself that fame to
which any other person was justly entitled.
MICHAEL J. KEATING,
Limerick, April 6th, 1341. Archdeacon of Ardfert.

THE PRESIDENT STEAM-SHIP.

Another week has elapsed, and still we are without any
tidings of this unfortunate vessel. It is now thirty-two
days since she left New York, and, were it not certain
that she must have encountered the severe storm of the 12th
and the 130 tat., the time she has been missing would, of
i•self, naturally give rise to the worst foreboding as to her
fat..,. We need scarcely say, that now, as was the case last
sear, her non-arrival, as well as the want of all nears of
her " whereabouts," has given rise, during the week, to
all kinds of reports and all kinds of conjectures. While,
in the opinion, or, rather, according the fears of
some, she must have broached to in the storm and foun-
dered, others express themEe;ves confident, that, though
she must have sustained some serious disaster, no fatal
catastr )plac has befallen her. In the opinion of the latter
we are strongly inclined to coincide. It is extremely pro-
bable that she sustained, in the storm between the 12th
and. the 14th, damage either tc her machinery or to her
stem ing apparatus ; and that, thus rendered comparatively
unmanageable, she was maki:.g for the nearest port by the
aA of her sails, which were not, it is said (though the
statement may be as untrue as any of the sinister state-
meats resyeeing her which are in eixalcion), either nu-
merous or good.--Liverpool

CHANNEL ISLANDS MAILS.

:XTRACTS from the REPORT of the CONIMITTER appointed
by the Lords of the Admiralty to inquire as to the com-
parative Advantages afforded by different Ports in the
Channel as Ports for the Arrival and Departure of the
CHANNEL ISLANDS MAILS.

From the position of the Channel Islands, the selection
of a port for the most efficient performance of this service
is comprised within such narrow limits as to confine the
choice between Weymouth and Southampton ; and the
comparative merits of these arc not of a nature to call for
many remarks.

There can be no doubt but that the port of Southampton
is eligible for the reception of these packets, and will Le
more so at a future period.
At Weymouth the depth of water at low spring tides
was, at the period of our visit, insufficient; but arrange-
ments had been made for deepening and improving the
harbour; and the authorities then pledged themselves to
obtain, within the period of eight months, an uniform
depth of twelve feet at low water spring-tides, through-
out all parts navigated and occupied by her Majesty's
packets. It is not our province to express an opinion upon
the mode in which these alterations may be best effected ;
but as thew are to be conducted under the direction of Air.
Cubit, an eminent civil engineer, we conclude they will
be properly executed.
It may be urged, that the approach to each port is
equally defined and easy of access ; and though we may
not be disposed to dispute this point, navigators generally
will do so, and in this respect decide in favour of Wey-
mouth.

The comparison is thus, in a degree, rAuced, and will
appear as follows : Southampton may be reached from
London in three hours and a half ; whilst Weymouth can-
not be attained it, less than ten hours, showing a difference
of time of six hours and a half, land-carriage, favourable to
Southampton. But Southampton, in the most direct
lin-, is about 32 miles further from Guernsey than Wey-
mouth is, which, at the average rate of steam packet speed,
eight miles per hour, exhibits a difference of four hours,
sea passage, in favour of Weymouth, thereby giving
S nithampton a balance, in general time, of only two hours
and h

Having thus detailed the principal arguments that bear
upon this portion of our inquiry, it only remains for us to
report, after deliberate consideration, our belief that Wey-
mouth will be found the best port for her Majesty's packets
conveying the mails between England and the Chancel
Islands.

From an official return of the time occupied by the
packets in their various passages, we learn that during a
period of twelve consecutive months, their averaged run
from Weymouth to Jersey, landing the mail at Guernsey,
was 13 hours 12 minutes, and from Jersey to Weymouth,
receiving the mails at Guernsey, was 12 hours 55 minutes.
The failures in the performance of this service have been
but few ; and when we recAleet the small size and power
of the packets, the occasional turbulent seas, the rapid
tides and races to which they are subjected, it must be ad-
mitted that the passages thus exhibited, arc strong testi-
monials of the zeal and abilities of the commanders of these
vessels.

A further offi&al return was made to us of the number
of passengers who embarked in these packets in 1539, the
total wan 5.'212; of these, 2,347 were cabin, and 2,865
deck-passengers, including amongst the latter 193 paupers.
The pas,age-money received annually must therefore be
considerable, and would seem to watt ant the conclusion
that a larger class of steamers, and an acceleration of the
land conveyance would be productive of a commensurate
pscuuiary return, as probably to defray the expenses a!tend-
ing a larger establishment.
The passages made by us in the Dasher, to and from the
Islands, confirmed the opinion we had previously formed at
Weymouth, that the vessels now employed arc deficient io
size and power to contend with the strong winds and heavy
seas they so frequently encounter. We therefore pro-
pose, that vessels of larger tonnage and superior steam
power be substituted for them ; and recommend that
there be three steam-vessels built foi this service, each of
400 tons burthen, old register measuremen•, and each
fitted with engines of 180 collective horse power.
In closing this report, we beg to introduce some re-
marks and recommendations relative to the transmission
of the mails by land. At present the London and western
mail-coaches reech Weymouth respectively at 8 h. 15 m.
A. M. and 7 h. 48 m. P. M , and they leave in like order at
6h. 50 in. and 6h.15M. A. M. A day-coach from London
also arrives at We) mouth between the hours of eight and
nine P. M., whose island passengers are in time to embark
with the we)ter❑ ma Is.

We have already noticed that the packets leave Wey-
mouth at 9 P.M., from which it appears that the London
correspondence is detained upwards of 12 hours ; and this
defect, we conceive, might be remedied by the despatch of
a day or an alternate daily mail, conveyed by the south.
western railroad to Southampton, and from thence for-
warded 64- miles by coach to Weymouth. The distance
by railroad could he performed in 3 hours, and that by
coach in 6 hAirv, making, as before stated, 10 hours for
the entire journey.
This mail might leave London at 2 P.M., or somewhat
earlier ii required, as no propose that the packets sbculd
start from Weymouth at midnight; and the superior qua-
lities of these vessels would always insure their return from
the islands in time to forward their respective mails at 8
P. M. thus enabling them to reach the metropolis at six
o'cicek on the following morning. On referring to the
Southampton Railway Bill, we perceive that the de-
partures of the mail and " fast trains" do not exactly
accord with our propeni ion, but we are of opinion that
the Directors of the railroad would, in this respect,
accede to any change, if officially represented to them as
beneficial to the public ; and we imagine that a contract
for a mal-coach to run between Southampton and We;-
mouth would be readily undertaken, from the persuasion
that such a conveyance, in conjunction with a line of effi-
cient packets, would be preferred by the majority cf par-
scugers going to and from the islands.
by the establiibramt of a day, or an alternate daily
mail, the Government, and those parties residing in
London connected with trade, would be enabled to reply
to communications made to them by return of post, as
we apps ehend the time would be snfficient for such pur-
poses between the hours of the early delivery and the
closing of th.s mail-bags.
Moreover, by this arrangement, letters posted in London
on the packet-days, would, under ordinary circumstances,
reach Jersey, the most remote island, in 24 hours, having
ben conveyed about 230 miles by land and sea, at the
rate of nearly the best mail-coach travelling in the king_
dom ; and, with respect to the receipt of correspondence
these times a week, the Channel Islands would be then
placed on an equality with our distant towns, into whose
neighbourhood the advantages of railroad communication
have hitherto not extended.
We have, &c.
(Signed) JAMES A. GORDON, Rear-Admiral,
Chairman.

RICHARD DREW,
Elder Brother of Trinity House,
M. DIXON, Commander, R. N., Secretary,

WEAVERS WAGES.—In the North of Engianc
the lowest paid class of weavers—that is, those engaged on
work requiring little strength or skill, seldom earn more
than ss. or 6s. a-week. A family of six persons, two of
them employed, average about 7s. 6d. weekly. Where
three of a family are employed their united weekly wages
is only about 125., the father, perhaps, earning ore-half,
and his wife and son or daughter the remainder. But
instances arc given of families of four or five depending
on the labours of one person, and where the whole in-
come is not more than 3s. or 4s. a-week ! At Ashton-
under-Lyne 483 families were visited, whose average
weekly earnings amounted only to 4s 11:1-d. 1 This is
sufficiently deplorable. In Scotland families are repre-
sented as earning, according to their number, 75.,
165., or, where there are four or five at work, 20s.
a-week. The linen weavers in Yorkshire earn
about 7s. 6d. a-week each. Weavers employed
on fabrics requiring moderate skill are paid at a
somewhat higher rate. Their wages in some instances
amount to 124., 133., or even 165., a. week, while women
earn about a third less ; but, from this sum, the expense
of candles, dressing, and perhaps 100m-rent, have to be
deducted. Where strength is required, some further im-
provement in the rate of remuneration is observable. At
a bolting-cloth factory at Wandsworth the men earn 255.
a-week, but out of this they have to pay for candles &e,,
and also for the assistance of a boy in some parts of the
work. At Diss and North Lopham, in Norfolk, the net
average wege, after deducting expenses, amounts only to
10s. At a sacking and tarpauling factory at Bris-
tol, the average wage of sixteen weavers fir two
years was 12r. 7d. per man. The average wage of
sail-cloth weavers at Dundee, Arbroath, Aber-
deen, Montrose, and Kirkcaldy, is Bs. 6d., or, with
steadiness and skill, 103. The Spitalfields wea-
vers employed on waistcoat velvets average 20s. a week ;
weavers of broad and rich-flowered shawls at Norwich
earn about 255. a week; those employed on the fittest
cloths at Leeds make from 245. to 285., and in all similar
cases, where superior skill as well as strength is required,
the rate of remuneration is equally high. But this class
of weavers are liable to be thrown frequently out of em-
ployment, so that their annual income is sometimes less
than that of the inferior operatives. Almost all descrip-
tions of weavers, however, complain of the irregularity
of work. Their wages are at once low and uncertain.
Mr. Austin, the Assistant Commissioner for the south-
western parts of England, states that the inference from
all his evidence is, " that the weavers, taken as a body,
are out 5f work one•third of their time !"—Abstract of
the Report ofthe Hand-loom Weavers' Commissioners.
GLAss.—A Return of the amount of duty
charged upon Glass, distinguishing the amount on each
sort, together with the drawback, has been laid before
Parliament. It appears from this that the total amount of
duty charged on glass in the year 1840 was, in England,
890,911/ , in Scotland 65,8851., and in Ireland 9,8767. ;
total, 965,9721. The amount of drawback paid on expor-
tation was, in England, 208,6001., in Scotland, 30,4727.,
and in Leland 628/. ; total, 239,7007., leaving a net re-
venue of 729,2727., being au inereaie of 74,047/. since 1837.
NonTir DURHAM.—A report has gained cre-
dence in some quarters that Mr. Hedworth Lambton does
not mean to otter himself again for the county. There is
not the slightest foundation for the statement. There are
some curious rumours in circulation with respect to the
other Member for the division. It would be wel if these
received an equally flat denial.—Durham Chronicle.
STOCKIIoLM, APRIL 2,—The Chamber of
the Citizens has agreed (after a long debate), by a ma-
jority of 34 to 17, to grant the King 900,000 rix dollars
for repairing or rebuilding prisons, The Chamber of Pea-
sants has liaewise agreed to it.
The General Steam Navigation Company's ves-
sel the Giraffe, R. S. Stranack, from Rotterdam, arrived
off the Custom House on Sunday, with the Dutch Mail.
VIENNA, APRIL 2.—Mr. Maurojeni, the
Turkish Charge d'Affaires, who has long been ill, is dead.
lie wag highly esteemed for his probity and goodness of
heart, which gained him numerous friends in the higher
circles. He certainly proved himself a faithful servant of
the Porte, and a steady friend to order and peace.
Upwards of 51,000 signatures have been ob-
tained to the Manchester petition for the repeal of the
' Corn and Provision Laws.