The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-09 00:00:00

THE WEATHER AND CROPS.

We have had another week of almost tropical heat
and splendour. On Sunday, the thermometer, in the
interior of the county, stood at 100 and at 84
. degrees
in shade. The consequence is that crops of all kinds
are rapidly progressing ; and the liveliest hopes are
entertained of an early and abundant crop. Notwith-
standing the reiterated prf dictions of one or two
would-be " black prophets," that there would be no
alter ation in the provision markets till the present
crop was off the ground, the prices of the staff
of life are everywhere receding. Vegetables are
plentiful ; and very shortly there will be an abun-
dant supply of new potatoes to assist in keeping the
grain and cattle markets in check. Wheat and oats
throughout the country are generally in ear, and give
promise of good crops. Potatoes, which are so narrowly
watched, and regarding which so many rumours are
abroad—said. for instance, one day to be entirely !alien
away, and the next to be reinvigorated with new life—
have as green and healthy an appearance as we remem-
ber to have seen them. They are coming very generally
into bloom, and are not the least uninteresting of the
flowering tribe in field or garden. We have assurances
from every quarter of Ayrshire that the crop is still free
from disease. The hay harvest has begun in many
quarters ; and better weather could not be got for
taskingit " while the sun shines." The pastures are
still green and luxuriant, though we have had little
rain for three weeks ; the evening dews are heavy and
invigorating. We have thus every cause for rejoicing.
—Ayr Observer.

IMPROVEMENTS AT FOLKESTONE.—Extensive irtiprovements are now carrying on at Folkestone
har-
bour, under the auspices of the South-Eastern Railwaybeive visited
Company. Those of our readers
'1 a mile from
Folkestone disembark on the top of the
Folkestone will know that at presewnth:p
small branch line
the harbour, although there is ala,ssengers for
end of the harbour. This.
running down to the northdf
caaoniot:h hithertoone
fvoerr
very
important
pc oonr
tvaenyta
branch has only been used
paratively little use to the
of merchandise, it being
e r moi
af uas swivelof
t he
,r. g-hilst it stopped at the north side
passenger branch'' is now to be made avail
able
e x
theeexecution
tlo n
present consistst
of the harbour, for the purpose
ocofnthtionehnstranlour.
able for passenger traffic,_
.. . ,im-
provement
bridge across a portion
of conveying
branch railway to the south quay. From this quay the
French boats start, and passengers will be thus enabled
in oaumrssefroo
to step out of the trains on to the quay and into the
steamer. Here it is intended to ' erect an extensive sta-
tion and Custom-hou-
se. The principal feature of the
works now in progress, however,is the construction of
ai
pier or breakwater at the ten ranee to the present har-
bour. This pier is to be carried cut to the extent of
about 400 yards beyond the present harbour, and whilst
it will protect the harbour from being obstructed by
shingle, it will form the western boundary of an exten-
sive harbour, covering more than 100 acres, in which at
low water of spring tide, there will be a depth of water
averaging from 10 to 25 feet.—Maidstone Journal.
THE VASSITEI TIDJARET.—TiIE MEANS Or Cog
MERCE.—This splendid steamer took a distinguished
her
departure down the River on Wednesday, previoust to
departure for Constantinople. This
vessel Sultan is
built for a commercial company, of whom thee has been
C.
the chief, and is intended for trading b etw( e_ ndeck) leng onstan
th,
tinople and Trebisond. She is of 200 feet
eep. The engines
31 feet 6 inches beam, and 19 feet d
are by Messrs. Maudslay
Sons and Field, on their patent
a nominal collective powet
double cylinder principle, of
of 300 horses, but au actual power of nearly double
that amount. twenty-one
They made revolutions per
minute, and the speed of
the vessel was ascertain( d to
be upwards of fifteen
statute miles an hour through the
water—an extra
- ordinary steed considering the size of
the vessel (nearly 1,000 tons), and I tqet she bed on board
100 tons of coal, all her stores, boats, 8,:c.., ten tons of
water, was fully rigged, and drew thirteen feet water.
She left Blackwall about twelve, proceeded to within
two miles of the Nure, an,., A
returned at twenty minutes
past five. The following were amongst the company:—
The Prince and Princess Callimaki, Sir Stratford and
Lady Canning, the Baron and Baroness Moncorvo, Sir
Jasper Atkinson, Count Rosen, Mademoisele de Sar-
mento, Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, Mr. and Mrs.
Zubrab, Mrs. Lawrence, Admiral Ratsey, Colenel Tul-
lecla, Mr. Macfarlane, &c. The Coldstream band was
In atte ndauce, ard the party partook of a superb
dejaner, after which dancing commenced with great
1
spirit, and continued until th arrival of the Teasel at
her mooriugi.

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.
By her Majesty's ship Conway, 26 Captain Kelly,
whish arrived at Spithead this afternoon, we have intel-
ligence and papers to the 9th of May; from St. Helena,
to the 27th; and from Ascension, to the 2d of June.
The intelligence is still by no means conclusive. There
were constant affrays between the settlers and the
Caffres, without any decisive success on either side, and
daily thefts and recaptures of cattle. One of these
adventures is thus described in the Graham's Town
Journal:—
"On the morning of the 22d inst., 30 head of cattle
belonging to the Commissariat Department, were taken
off by a party of Caffres in the immediate vicinity of the
camp. A patrol, consisting of one officer, one sergeant,
and 11 rank and file of the 7th Dragoon Guards, was dis-
patched in pursuit about half-past 9 o'clock, under the
command of Lieutenant Butler, 7th Dragoons. The
party, taking an inland route, proceeded at a very rapid
pace as far the Gualana stream, where they came on the
spoor of the cattle, which led them towards the sea
shore. Here the spoor became very visible. Increasing
their pace, they followed the beach to the mouth of the
Beka river. Here the spoor turned to the left, and the
party proceeded to a height on the right of the river,
where they came upon the cattle in charge of four
Caffres. Three of these were forthwith shot by the
patrol. The fourth being slightly grazed by a ball on
the side, was cut down by Lieutenant Butler (whose
sword was snapped asunder by the force of the blow).
He then threw down his arms and begged for quarter,
which was granted, and he was brought prisoner into the
camp along with the captured cattle. The patrol cap-
tured two guns, two pouches with ammunition, and a
number of assegais. Mr. Webb, who accompanied the
party, had a hair-breadth escape, one of the Caffres hav-
ing discharged a shot at him, which 1-a ry nearly took
effect, and while in the very act of throwing another as-
segai, was shot by one of the patrol. The alacrity and
determination which characterised this affair throughout,
reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Butler, the
non-commissioned officer, and privates engaged in it. A
few such smart affairs as this, and one we lately recorded
of the Rifle Brigade, from Newtondale, would do much
towards checking the reckless daring of the Caffres."
Sir IL Pottinger was still at Fort Peddie, where he
had had an interview with the Lieutenant-Governor,
whose extreme activity excited general admiration. Sir
H. Pottinger had determined to reinstate Sir A. Stocken-
strom in the command of the Burgher forces; and the
appointment had given much satisfaction, as the Burghers
were by no moans pleased with their military com-
manders. The Burghers were, however, heartily tired
of the Commando service, and some difficulty in raising
a fresh levy was anticipated. The following correspon-
dence is taken from the South African Commercial Adver-
tiser of May 5 :
" Neighbourhood of Doonap River, April 22.
"I beg leave to send you the following circular for
insertion in your next number. You, as well as many
of your readers, will, no doubt, be delighted to hear
that Sir Andreas has responded to his Ecellency's desire
that he should reassume the command of the Burgher
Forces. I understand that the proposition was as hand-
somely made by his Excellency, as it was handsomely
accepted by Sir Andreas. This gentleman is said to be
severely indisposed by a rheumatic attack, but his
patriotism and desire to serve his country and Govern•
ment have made him, as usual, sink self in the general
interests of the country.
" I believe that his Excellency has not specified
whether Sir Andreas is to be Commandant-General as
before, but he is ready to serve the country and Govern-
ment either as Field-Cornet, Field-Commandant, or
Field-Marshal, if you please—he does not care which.
There is a nobleness of mind in this gentleman which
the vulgar and malignant cannot see.
"I trust that the Burgher Forces of all grades and
colours will, with alacrity, respond to the circular."

" Maastrom, April, 1847

"Sir,—His Excellency the Right Hon. the Governor
and High Commissioner having expressed a wish that
I should assist in bringing a fresh burgher force into
the field, and take the command thereof, I beg
leave to request our co•operation, on which I know
I may rely. I need not repeat all my arguments '
on our duty to give the Government our must cor
dial support under existing circumstances. It is
very desirable to have the men well equipped at King
William's Town by the 25th instant, at any rate to have
them there as soon as possible. I see by the newspaper,.
that we can congratulate ourselves on the appointment
of a most efficient Lieutenant-Governor. As, therefore,
the British Government shows itself disposed to serve
us, let us not withhold our best services.—l am, Sir,
your obedient servant, "A. STOCKENSTROM."
The Graham's Town Journal has the following ob-
servations upon the state of affairs in Kafir land:—
" Some surprise has been occasioned that affairs should
remain so quiet in Catl'reland ever since the assumption of
the command of the troops by Sir George Berkeley. Little
is heard of Caffres; and, with the exception of a few strag-
glers who show themselves here and there, the whole
country to the Buffalo appears entirely abandoned by the
enemy, our troops and burgher levies appearing to have
no harder duty to perform than an occasional patrol and
the disposal of their daily rations. This is an inglorious
and irksome state of affairs ; and yet, perhaps, it has a
stronger tendency to subdue the Caffres than more active
operations would have. To accomplish effectually the
subjugation of these people, Caffreland must be taken
possession of and firmly held by the British authorities,
for were it to be quitted by our forces it would be im-
mediately reoccupied by the same people who have
hitherto proved themselves so intractable ; the hills, now
so solitary, would be covered by their herds of cattle,
and in the end a similar process to that which has en-
tailed upon the Government such an enormous expenditure
would have to be repeated. If we are not to have any more
Caffre wars, we must take this country into our own
bands and lay down such a social system as shall afford
ample security against any outbreak in time to come.
This is, however, a work of time, a 3 well as expense,
and hence no wonder that impatience is manifested,
both hero and at home, at delay which appears to be so
unnecessary, and at forbearance, the object of which
none but those familiar with local circumstances are
able fully to understand. From time immemorial it
has been the custom, in all our hostile collisions with
the Caffres, to march into Caffreland, force back the
Caffres, secure a certain portion of their cattle, and then
return, satisfied with having attained the object for
which the campaign was undertaken. We have then
talked very largely of having humbled the foe, of his
deep contrition for past offences, and a great deal of
moonshine of the same character. Six months, have,
however, sufficed to show the flimsy nature of all these
specious promises; the cattle cap.ured from the enemy
have been speedily replaced by plunder from the herds
of the colonists, and these thefts have gone on until con-
tinual aggressions have produced a repetition of the
same course of procedure to check and punish the offen-
ders, and with the same hopeful results. To avert this
in future Caffreland must be colonised either by whites
or blacks, and such strong government exercised over it
as shall render it morally impossible that such scenes
as those in question can be reacted. The British Go-
vernment has the power, and, we trust, the will to ac•
complish this ; and it may be depended on that ulti-
mately it will be found the best and cheapest policy in
the future efficient government of this country. While
it will secure peace, it will at the same time conduce to
the civilization of the natives, to the extension of trade
and to the general improvement of South Africa."
A committee of gentlemen had been formed in
Graham's Town, whose efforts will be directed to raise
subscriptions for the relief of the hungry poor of Ireland
and Scotland. The meeting, we are told, was distin-
guished by expressions of the most generous sympathy
for their suffering countrymen, and the most anxious
desire to mitigate, according to their means, the horrid
calamity into which they have fallen.

MILITARY FLOGGING.—We understand that
on
I
Saturday last, private Delaney, of the depot of the 46th
Regiment, received fitty lashes at Fort George, in virtue
of the sentence of a court martial. We have not heard
e
for what offence this punishment was inflicted. We
cannot conceive that it was for the robbery he com-
mitted at Mr. Le Alessurier's, which has been
reported in this paper, as that would have been
a case for the cognisance of the civil power;
nor, we imagine, can it have been for desertion, as it
was admitted in court, when Hall was tried for having
concealed Delaney, that the latter had not deserted,
although he bad avowed his intention of doing so. We
'rite this from public rumour, and shall be glad to be
corrected if we are in error. We must add that so much
secrecy is observed in all that relates to military matters
iythis island, that the public have seldom that informa-
tnnstreting them to whiph they have a right. We
mu
. further add that we should greatly regret to find
that, when the flogging
system is so universally repro-
bated, it Should be - practised in this island, and in a regi-
ment so admirable f
alybeStar.
has
Always been.—Guernsey its
good conduct as the 46th
NEw COINAGE:
issued from the Mint.
wnnla
probably
It is Crown
die.abtly be worth
Piece has been
elaborate a work of art,
that the ss.
issued from any other 10s. were it
portrait of Queen Majesty's. On the obverse is apmPer's shop than her
roses,
hair plaited and
Vic-
toria, with a crown on her heaad
, shamrocks, and
banded ; her robe worked with
thistles, and other ornaments. The legendes
re e reverse, the
represented, not
Del gratis Britanniar+reg:f: d." On t), 13 " Victoria
arms of the Three kingdoms are
quarterly, but on separate escocheons, ra4ercie
in the form of a cross, an arrangement not obsetv"ase'
cur coin, we believe, since the Union or the time on
William 111. In the intervals is an elaborate fretwork,
with with rose, thistle, and shamrock. The legend is—"Tueat
ur
unita Deus+anno dom. mdcccxlvii." On the edge
we read—"decus ettutamen+anno regni undecimo; a rose
between each two words, a crown between the sentences.
All these legends are in the old black letter, and the
style of the ornaments medixval. From the separation
of the coats of arms, this piece might be called the
"repeal dollar." The execution is very beautiful, but
too fine and minute for a coin. It is better suited to a
medal, which is always kept in a drawer, in a leather
case, or under glass. The embroidery of the robe, the
legend at the edge, and the ornamental parts generally,
will
soon be rubbed down under the friction of general
circulation. The requisites of a coin are these:-1.
Beauty of execution; for that is the best of all checks.
against imitative forgery; and in this respect nothing
can be said against anygeryOf the coins that now emanate
from the English Mint. Simplicity and distinctness
of design; so that the coin retain its main charac-
teristics through all its rubist.llain37
the
design as is con-
ducive to the utmost rapidity
the coin; so that no hindrance arise at times of
process of striking
sudden pressure. 4. Perfect plainnessmay of value; in order
„r its name or
to which it is best that the coin should
Value legibly inscribed as " One Shilling," or
kingdomthe like.
In aH these respects Napoleon's coins of gt'he
Italy were models, model; which the present designer °tot.
our Mint has followed in a congenial and originalspirit.
But, considered as a coin, the Crown piece before us is a
falling off..— Spectator.