The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-25 00:00:00

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

NEW YORK, Nov. 30.—At the date of my last
letter we had just received a very brief sketch of Mr.
Clay's Lexington speech, delivered on the 30th inst.,
Since that we have received in detail a report of it,
revised and corrected by himself. It is, certainly,
one of the most judicious speeches he has ever de-
livered. But the great and important questions which
agitate his friends are what will be its effect upon
public opinion ? Will it promote or lessen his chance
of an election to the Presidency ? I speak of Mr.
Clay's " friends," because I do not believe that he
wishes to be considered a candidate at the approaching
election.

The answer to these questions, in almost every
case, will be according to the feeling and wishes of the
respondent. For example, a violent opposing partizan
will declare that this speech annihilates all prospect of
Mr. Clay's success ; while an ardent, devoted friend,
will assert that, in his opinion, it renders certainty
doubly sure. Such is the character of street conver-
sations on this subject.
There is, however, another class of citizens, who,
in point of fact, possess a controlling power in the
community. These are your quiet, calm, thinking
men. They exercise a aural influence which is ir-
resistible, because the opinions which they entertain
are known to be based on, and the result of, much
reflection and inquiry. They make what may be
considered public opinion. In every society there are
more or less of these men, and to them we must look
for council and guidance in emergencies like the
present. I have sought and conversed with such
men, and the conclusion to which they have brought
my mind is, that this speech will gratify Mr. Clay's
devoted friends, will allay the hostility of many of
his opponents, and will ultimately, if he consents to
become a candidate, promote his election.
During the past week the speech has been the ex-
citing topic of conversation. The public press has
also spoken on the subject. The interior Whig papers,
so far as we have yet heard, almost without excep-
tion, have applauded this speech for the frank,
manly, and independent manner in which the speaker
has expressed his views and opinions. The same may
be said of the recognized Whig papers in this city,
with one or two exceptions; and even these excep-
tions, if Mr. Clay should be nominated by a Whig
convention, will, there is no doubt, support the nomi-
nation.

Believing Mr. Clay to be the most practical and
sagacious statesman in the United States, and, at the
same time, one of the most pure and disinterested
patriots, I avow myself his supporter, in the hope
and belief, however, that I can form and ex-
press an opinion in relation to him without per-
mitting partiality or prejudice to controul my judg-
ment. Under existing circumstances, I consider
Mr. Clay's chance of a nomination by a Whig con-
vention greater than that of any other individual ;
and I entertain full confidence, indeed I have no
doubt, that, if nominated, he will be elected President.
Arrangements are making in different districts of
the United States to convene meetings of the ‘Vhig
party for the purpose of expressing their sentiments
on the several propositions submitted by Mr. Clay
for consideration, and, if they approve of them, for
their adoption. A public meeting will be held in
this city on the subject in ten or twelve days. It will
be numerously attended by Whigs from different
quarters of the state, and probably from other
states. Among those who will be present at this
meeting will be many of our oldest and most respect-
able citizens.

Next week Congress will convene. In the House
of Representatives the Whigs have elected a decided
majority of at least four Members, and four or five
rather doubtful or vacillating characters. 'Whether
Executive courtesy or the blandishments of antici-
pated office will or will not have an influence on
any Member is, as yet, matter of uncertainty. It is,
however, due to candour to state, that great and
serious apprehensions are entertained by intelligent
Whigs on this point. It is beyond all doubt that a
quorum will be present on the first day of the session.
Indeed, the opinion is general that every Member of
the House will be in his place at roll-call.
The first step, after the call, will be the election of
a Speaker, unless some preliminary measure connected
therewith should be deemed necessary, or some un-
expected business should, informally and out of order,
be thrust upon the House.

The election of a Speaker will be the great and
trying question. His power and position place the
House almost entirely under his control. He appoints
all committees, and decides all questions of order. In
the usual routine of business, and under ordinary cir-
cumstances, there would be no doubt as to the
election of a Whig Speaker. But the affairs of
the country, foreign and domestic, are extraor-
dinary and unusual. A powerful party, charged with
not being fastidious, hold the reins of government
with the gripe of death. The election of a Speaker
may be the first step to effect an overthrow of that
power. After having triumphed before the people in
the election of a Whig House of Representatives, it
would be a mortifying circumstance if, by corrup-
tion, the Locofoco party should succeed with their
presiding officer. I do not believe that they will ;
but there are many doubters, which is an unfavour-
able symptom.
After the election of a Speaker the most exciting
movement will be the election of a clerk of the house.
Great interest has been made and is making for this
station. It is a political office, as well as one of
emolument. The same degree of uncertainty exists
in relation to the result of this election as to that of
Speaker. The choice of these officers may be de-
cided in two or three hours; or they may be con-
tested for as many days.
A great and interesting meeting was held in this
city last evening. The object was a complimentary
address to the Pope for the sympathy he has evinced
in favour of the efforts making for civil liberty. The
meeting was numerously attended, and its officers
were among the most enlightened and respectable men
in this community. The proceedings are published in
the city journals of this morning.
The President, who is an adept at keeping his own
secrets, permits very little in reference to his forth-
coming message to escape from the Execctive
chamber. There is no doubt, however, that he will
adhere substantially to the policy which he has pur-
sued since the commencement of the war. After the
Oregon affair, no confidence can be placed in his
menaces. He is now, as his conscience-keepers say,
for the whole of Mexico.

It is, and has been for the last 48 hours, very cold.
We have a rumour this morning from Buffalo that
the canal is closed. If this weather continues three
or four days, there is no doubt the navigation by canal
must cease.— Times.

A GENEVESE TRAVELLER.

THE MOORS—CLOSE OF THE
SEASON.
(From the Inverness Courier.)
With the 10th of December ended the legal time
for shooting grouse, black game, and ptarmigan.
The sporting parties who, during the autumn months,
made blithe the mountain solitudes, having nearly all,
previous to this, retired to their homes—some to hunt
foxes and deer in merry England, some to bear the
burden of State affairs, and others the weighty mat-
ters of the law—but, whatever their occupations, they
will often glance thoughts of pleasure back to the
land of blue hills and clear streams—back to the glen
where, after the utmost skill, patience, and perse-
verance, the great stag, whose head adorns the hall,
fell to the only shot that rewarded the day's toil; or
to the boggy mountain flat, broken with peat ruts and
peaked with numberless tufts of moss, where, on a
sultry day in August, the grouse lay till the dogs
stool over them ; nor till the gillies found they had
enough to carry did the eager sportsman feel that,
for one night, he could gladly rest on a bed of
heath. Often will the clear cool spring pass in re-
view, where the party made their repast at luncheon
time —or the highland burns, of all dimen-
sions, from the torrent of cascades to the thread-like
streamlet, winding its way along its grassy course.
We usually are enabled at the end of each shooting
season to give the returns of many sporting parties.
This year, neither in quantity nor quality has the
grouse been equal to last season. Disease thinned
the coveys, and their food appears to have suffered
injury from the blighting frosts of last spring; in
consequence, the birds resorted in great flocks to corn
fields, as a substitute for their natural food, the ten-
der green shoats and flowers of the heather. Towards
the latter end there was evident improvement, the
disease having almost disappeared, and the birds at-
tained their usual weight and plumpness. Should
the winter continue openand mild, from the judicious
saving of the stock this season, sportsmen anticipate
abundance for the next. Roe. deer appear to be in-
creasing in numbers; we never remember to have
ssen so many beautiful large heads. Red-deer,
on the contrary, although as numerous as
usual, did not generally carry such size of
antlers as we have noticed in former years,
nor did the velvet strip from their antlers till late,
the finest head we saw having its horns covered
so late as the first week of September. John Hay
Mackenzie, Esq.; T. M. Goodlake, Esq. • Mr.
Oliver ; Mr. Bateson ; T. Garde, Esq.; S. M.'Boul-
derson, Esq.; Mr. Had win ; W. Boyd, Esq.; and
C. M. Campbell, Esq., are of the number who have
had the luck to secure the finest antlered heads. Of
general shooting, we have heard the following :—At
B. alnagawn, Sir hyde Parker, Mr. Wigram, and
friends, shot 800 brace of grouse, and 2 red-deer.
The Messrs. Buxton, Lochalsh, 600 brace, and 4
red-deer. At Langwell, in Ross-shire, J. Robert-
son, Esq., and R. Christie, Esq., bagged 1,110 of the
usual varieties, besides a good take of salmon. On
the Dallas Moors, the Messrs. Gubbins, Mr. Wilmot,
and Mr. Ellis, shot 420 brace of grouse, 150 brace
partridges, 35 hares, 30 brace wild-fowl, 2 roe-deer,
and 25 head of black-game. From the Phoiness
Moors, C. C. Martyn, Esq., and friends, had 750

brace of grouse. The Kinrara party, 700 brace. A
Invereshie, the sport at grouse and red-deer excel-
lent ; of the latter, a score of good stags fell to the
stalkers' rifles. From Ledgowan, J. Cridland, Esq.,
and Mr. Gardiner, bagged 1,300 head of game, in-
cluding 1,000 head of grouse. On the Ord Moors, the
Messrs. Pryor and Mr. Freeman shot 1,640 head, prin-
cipally grouse and black-game, with two roe. From Carr
Bridge, the list of game killed is as follows-1,639
head of grouse, 130 black game, 86 snipe, 47 wild-
duck, 6 woodcock,ll7 partridges, 135 hares, 8 rabbits,
6 roe, and 4 red-deer. From Guisachan Hills. S.
Steers, Esq., and Mr. Peel, shot 500 brace of grouse,
5 stags, and 1 hind. Mr. St. John and friends, at
Ardgour, had 500 brace of grouse, and 7 stags. The
Loch Eilt shootings yielded 900 brace. At Duchallie,
Mr. Wainman and Mr. Bill counted 350 brace of
grouse and black game, 15 roe, and 6 red-deer. Mr.
Jackson and Mr. Garde had good sport at Glendoe,
having bagged 500 brace of grouse, 2 roe-deer, and 6
red-deer. On Glenfinaig, A. Smith, Esq., and Captain
Shawe, shot 250 brace of grouse, 27 brace black
game, 6 brace ptarmigan, 6 brace partridges, 45
hares, 45 couple of snipe, and 7 brace woodcock. At
Upper Killin and Foyers, D. C. Marjoribanks, Esq.,
Lord Pomfret, Mr. Broadhurst, and Mr. Clowes,
had excellent shooting, their returns being 1,565
brace of grouse, 575 head of other game, and 6 red-
deer.

FATAL PUGILISTIC ENCOUNTER

ON LINDRICK COMMON.
Lindrick Common has added another and fatal case
to the great number of those brutal pugilistic en-
counters which have rendered it so notorious through-
out this and the neighbouring county of Nottingham.
The common is situate near Anston, through which
place the Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, now in
course of formation, passes. It was the meeting of
some navvies which led to the fatal occurrence in
question. It appears that, between eleven and twelve
o'clock on Sunday morning, a quarryman, named
William Watson, along with two or three others,
were with some navvies during the whole of the day.
About four o'clock in the afternoon a navvie, named
Thomas Kay, joined the party, and remained with
them. There were then ten or twelve men of the
party. Watson and Kay had each a dog. A quarrel
arose between him and Watson as to which of their
dogs was best able to worry the other, and Watson
proposed that they should fight them. The dogs were
" set" at each other, and appeared nothing loth
to indulge their masters' brutal taste. After
some angry words, however, Kay refused to
let his dog fight. Watson was determined not to be
baulked of his object, and threw his dog upon Kay's,
but, by the intervention of the latter, they were pre-
vented fighting together. Kay became enraged, and
threatened, if Watson's dog bit his, he would punch
him on the head. After a tumult of some few minutes
they stripped to fight. William Johnson, of Bran-
cliffe, farmer, interfered to prevent them, but it was
proposed that they should fight in the field. Kay
went out, and was followed by Watson into one of
the fields. The whole of their companions followed
them, and remained watching them fight in the dark
for near an hour. During the whole of the time Kay
appeared to receive the greatest degree of punishment,
his body and head being dreadfully bruised, and a
large gash cut over the left eye, from which the
blood flowed rapidly. The night was too dark for
those looking on to see whether each party had what
is usually termed " fair play ;" but it would appear,
that towards the latter part of the fight Kay was mast
shockingly and inhumanly treated, injuries of
most dreadful character, and such as would at once
disable him, being inflicted by kicks or violence of
some kind upon the lower part of his person. These
appear to have been inflicted by Watson at the con-
clusion of the last " round," when they both fell to
the ground together. Watson was uppermost, and,
after struggling for a short time, it was observed that
Kay loosened his hold. and became apparently sense-
less. Watson then got up, and walked into the house
of one Johnson. Those who had stood by and wit-
nessed the affray did not appear to think Kay's help-
less state worthy of any attention from them, but
having had their brutal taste gratified, contented
themselves with leaving him bleeding and insensible
on the ground, and followed Watson into the house.
Here the fight became the subject of conversation,
and one of Kay's companions, more humane than the
rest, named William M'Mellan, who, it appeared,
sickened at the fight, left the field before it was over,
on learning that Kay had been left alone in the field,
and induced Samuel Swift, formerly of Norton Wood"
setts, but now a labourer on the line, to go with him
to Kay's assistance. They found him insensible, and
breathing very heavily. He was raised upon his feet,
and finding he could not stand, they carried him
into the house. He was at this time bleeding much
from a severe wound over the left eye. He was laid
upon the sink, and his face washed by some of his
companions. They then placed him in a chair by the
side of the fire, and allowed him to sit there for about
an hour, without showing any symptoms of con-
sciousness, and no steps were taken towards procuring
surgical assistance. But finding he showed no symp-
toms of recovery, he was removed to bed about half-
past eight o'clock, and there allowed to remain in a
state of insensibility the whole of the night. Two
of his companions, named John Hewitt and William
M‘Mellan, slept in the same room with him, and
when they awoke during the night they heard the
man breathing, as before, very heavily. When they
spoke to him, however, he made no answer. These
men got up next morning about eight o'clock, and
Hewitt shook Kay, but failed in waking him. About
ten minutes after this, on some other parties going to
the man's bed, they found him dead.
An inquest on view of the body was held on Tues-
day, before T. Bader, Esq. The result of the in-
quiry was, that the jury returned a verdict of Man-
slaughter against William Watson, and the Coroner
issued his warrant for his apprehension. He bad,
however, then made his escape.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS-
LIVERPOOL, Disc. 24.
STOCK ExcHANGn.-The sales are-Birkenhead, Lanca-
shire, and Cheshire Junction, 311. Shares, 61/,
late C, and B.), 1534 -Lancashire and Yorkshire,
4-London and North-Western, 146-Ditto, Quarters, 0.14
-Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, (late Great
Grimsby and Sheffield), 121,6 dis.-Midland Stock, 1071 c.
-Ditto, Halves, 21/2 dis.-North Staffordshire, C.
North Union (A), 2061-Shrewsbury and Chester (late ,
W. M.), New, 1/2 p.-Shropshire Union Railway and Cana,
dis.-South-Eastern and Dover, New, No. 4, Thirds, 171
dis.-York, Newcastle, and Berwick (G. N. E. PUreilaSe).o I
p.-York and North Midland (East and Wtst 14X-
tension) 8 p.
MANCHESTER, DEC. 24.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Birkenhead, Lanca-
shire, and Cheshire Junction, 6% dis.-Huddersfield and Man-
chester Railway and Canal, Thirds, dis.-London and
North-Western, Quarters (B), 3 9-16. p -North Stafford
shire, % dis.-South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4, I 13-16 dis.
LEEDS, DEC. 23.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-But a very small amount of business
has been done in shares to-day. The following are the
prices :-East Lancashire. New, 4 dis.-Glasgow and Dum-
fries, 30s. 6d. dis.-Lancashire and Yorkshire (West Riding
Union ), 61s. dis.-Leicester and Bedford, 4s. dis. -Malton
and Driffield Junction, 41. Bs. 9d. dis.-North British, 241/2--
Ditto, Thirds, ss. dis.-Ditto, Quarters, 10s. dis.-North
Staffordshire, 9s. dis.-North-Western, dis.-York, Nevr'
castle, and Berwick,:No. 2 (New Berwick), 134 n. p.
BIRMINGHAM, DEC. 24.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-London and North-
Western, 147-South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4, 2 die.--
North Staffordshire, dis.-Shrewsbury and Birmingham
(B), dis.- Leicester and Bedford, 12s. per share. The
Exchange and brokers' offices will close this evening until
Tuesday morning.
BRISTOL, Dac. 24.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Great Western, Quar-
ters, p.-Ditto, 17/. Shares, 11/8 pm.-Midland,
haul, and Gloucester, 1191/2.
YORK, DEC. 23.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The salesare- Great Northern, 41. 45'
-Leicester and Bedford, Ifs. 6d.-North
1/. 14s. 6d.-York, Newcastle, and Berwick, G. N. E. pur-
chase, 81. 18s. 9d.
EDINBURGH, DEC 23.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Dundee and Perth,
Quarters 1/. 19s. 6d.-Edinburgh and Northern Newport,4/. 145.-Great Northern, 41 2s. 6d.-North 241. Ws'
-Ditto, Quarters, 4/, 25.-Ditto, Thirds, 335. Th i

The Rev. Dr. Hampden had an interview with Sir
George Grey yesterday, at the Home-office.
EADVERTISEMENT.]—A CURE OF A LIVER COMPLAINT
OF LONG STANDING EY HOLLOWAY'S PlLL9.—James Holmes, of
Temple-street, Bristol, had the liver complaint more than three
years ; he was in Bath Hospital several months, but came out in a
weaker state than when he went in. Afterwards at Swansea he re-
ceived the best attention of the medical nien at two institutions, but
derived no benefit. Being unable to do safticient work to keep Lout
he returned to his friends at Bristol, and commenced the use 0..
Holloway's Pills, which In three months restored him to perfect
health. He is now working constantly at his trade as a mason.--
Sold by all Druggists, and at Professor Holloway's Establishment,
244, Strand, London.

BIRTS.
On the 23d inst., at Burton-creH
scent, the lady of D. A. Des
Jardins, Esq., of a son.
On the 22d inst., the wife of David Rey, Esq., surgeon,
Brixton-oval, Brixton, of a son.
On the 22d inst., at Greenwich, the wife of the Rev. John
Smolinan Masters, of a son.
On the 22d inst., in Fleet-street, Mrs. Joseph Barker,
of a son.
On the 22d inst., the lady of the Rev. Edward James, of
Hildringham, Norfolk, of a daughter.
On the 23d inst., at Camberwell-grove, the wife of Mr. C.
A. Townley, of a son.

MA REIED.
On the 21st inst., at Weston-park, Staffordshire, Lord
Albert Cony-ngham, to Amelia, eldest daughter of the lion.
Captain Bridgeman, R.N.

DIED.
On the 20th inst., at his residence, Cold Harbour, Gosport,
at 11 A. 31., after a lengthened illness, borne with exemplary
Christian patience, Vice-Admiral Carter, son-in-law of the
late Admiral Sir Richard Rodney Bligh, K.G.C. lle had for
many years been a much esteemed friend and inhabitant of
the town, and has left a sorrowing family to deplore a beloved
parent's loss.
On the 15th inst., at his hotel, in London, Count de Lusi,
late Prussian Minister at the Court of Athens.

London : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, at
No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112,
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county
.of
Bliddieam, Saturday, December 35, 1847.