The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-28 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, MONDAY. - The Queen and Prince
Albert walked this morning on the slopes.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales,
Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the Princess
Alice, took walking and pony exercise in the Little
Park. Her Royal Highness the Princess Helena was
taken for an airing.
Prince Albert enjoyed the sport of shooting this
morning. His Royal Highness was accompanied by
Viscount Canning, and was attended by Lord Water-
park, Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. N. Hood, Colonel
the Hon. C. B. Phipps, General Bowles, and Colonel
Bouverie.

His Excellency the Duke de Broglie, the Marquis
and Marchioness of Abercorn, and Viscount Palmers-
ton, are expected to arrive at the Castle this evening
on a visit to the Queen. _ _

The royal dinner party this evening will at the Castle
include her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, his
Excellency the Duke de Broglie, the Lady in Waiting
of the Duchess of Kent, Baroness de Speth, the Mar-
quis and Marchioness of Abercorn, Lady Mary
Howard, Mrs. Everard Bouverie, Viscount Canning,
and Viscount Palmerston.

The band of the Grenadier Guards will attend
during dinner. Her Majesty's private band will
afterwards attend in the Castle.

His Royal Highness Prince George has arrived in
town, from Dublin. His Royal Highness went yes-
terday to the residence of the Duke of Cambridge, at
Kew.

The Bishop of Llandaff had an interview with Sir
George Grey yesterday. The Marquis of Queens-
berry had also an interview yesterday with the Right
Hon. Baronet, at the Home-office.

Lord Campbell and Lady Stratheden left town
yesterday, on a visit to Lord and Lady Abinger, at
Abinger Hall, Surrey.

DEATH OF THE EARL OF
HARROWBY.

We regret to learn of the sudden death of the
Earl of Harrowby. The melancholy event took place
on Sunday, about four A.M., at Sandon-hall, Staf-
fordshire.

From a private communication received in town

yesterday from Sandon-hall, we gather that the
venerable nobleman had, up to Friday last, appeared
in his usual health, and had passed over his birth-day
on Wednesday, the 22d instant, in cheerful spirits.
On Friday morning he was assailed by alarming
symptoms, and by noon that day his illness assumed
the most dangerous aspect, so much so, that letters
were dispatched to the different members of the
family apprising them of the precarious condition of
his Lordship. He continued to decline rapidly up to
to hour of his dissolution, without any favourable
change.
Viscount and Lady Frances Sandon, the Hon. G.
Dudley and Lady Georgiana Ryder, and several
other members of his family, were at the time sta) ing
at Sandon-hall, and were consequently present at his
death.

The late Dudley Ryder, Earl of Harrowby, county
Lincoln, Viscount Sandon, of Sandon, county Staf
ford, and Baron Harrowby, of county Lincoln, in the
Peerage of the United Kingdom, was eldest son of
Nathaniel first Lord Harrowby, and Elizabeth, co-
heir of the Right Rev. Richard Terrick, Lord Bishop
of London. He was born 22d Dec., 1762, and had
therefore completed his 85th year on Wednesday last.
In July, 1795, he married Lady Susan Leveson
Gower, sixth daughter of Granville, first Marquis of
Stafford, and aunt of the Duke of Sutherland. By
that estimable lady, who died in 1838, be had a large
family, four sons and five daughters, namely, the late
Viscountess Ebrington, Viscount Sandon (now Earl
of Harrowby), the Honourable Granville Dudley
Ryder ; Lady Mary Saurin, Lady Wharncliffe, the
Hon. Frederick Dudley Ryder, the Hon. Edward
(died in infancy), Lady Harriet Hervey, and Lady
Louisa Fortescue.

The deceased Earl entered public life soon after he
attained his majority. He represented for several
years, prior to his elevation to the Peerage, by the
death of his father, Tiverton, in the House of Com-
mons. In 1800 he was appointed Treasurer to the Navy,
by Pitt. He held that appointment up to Viscount
Sidmouth's advent to power, and after Pitt's return
to take the helm of the Government,' in 1804, he was
appointed Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, but
only presided over that department for little more
than twelve months. On the Earl of Liverpool's
accession to office, in 1812, the Noble Lord (who
had been created Viscount and Earl in 1809), was
appointed Lord President of the Council, which
place he held up to the formation of the Right Hon.
George Canning's Administration in 1827, a case
unparalleled on record. It was during the time he
occupied that position in the King's Council that his
Lordship's name became mixed up with the notorious
Cato-street conspiracy,

SEIZURE OF AN ILLICIT DISTILLERY.—Yesterday
morning, about eleven o'clock, Messrs. J. Lewins and
John lientnall, officers of Excise, from information they
received, proceeded to No. 6, Lion-street, New Kent-
road, where they discovered a private still in fall opera-
tion, running off strong spirits, about tw'enty gallons of
spirits ready for sale, and 400 gallons of molasses wash
in a state of fermentation, ready to continue the working
of the still. The place was fitted up with the usual
apparatus and utensils used in distillation. A man and
woman were in the house attending to the still, who were
arrested by the officers. The trade of distillation,
illicitly carried on, has been on the increase for some
months. A van having been procured by the officers,
they conveyed their prize to the Excise warehouses in
Broad-street.
BIRDCAGE-WALE.—Among the many improve-
ments lately effected in various parts of the metropolis,
with regard to the paving of footpaths and other
additions of a like description, few are more worthy of
commendation and likely to meet with more general
approbation than the paving with flag-stone of the foot-
path the entire distance from Storey's..l4ate, at the west
end of George-street, Westminster, to Buckingham-
gate, in immediate proximity to the Palace, and long
known by the name of the Birdcage-walk. Until now it
of the year, from
n
softness
the
eee at this so
soil and stehaea
accumulation of mud,
which was suffered to collect and remain on the path,
the was
almost Impassable
which was the more surprising considering that it is the
highway from the Palace, and the improved neighbour-
hood of Pimlico, to the Houses of Parliament, and the
law courts at Westminster. This walk is perhaps nearly
half a mile in length, and the expense incurred in thus
laying
.it with pavement along the entire distance must
have been very considerable. Although on the outside
of the St. James's Park, it is strictly speaking a portion
of that enclosure, and therefore the sole cost must have
been borne, we presume, by the department of Woods
and Forests, to which branch of the Executive the public
are lately indebted for many improvements and additions
lately in the parks of the metropolis.
FIRE IN THE LONDON DocKs.---Yesterday, be-
tween the hours of twelve and one, considerable alarm
was occasioned by the discovery of a fire on board the
barque Tamar, 556 tons, lying at the Jetty, London
Docks, about to sail for Hobart Town, with a miscella-
neous cargo. The dock engines were speedily in attend
ance, and with great exertions the flames were subdued,
but not before the rigging had suffered considerable
damage, the wizen • and gaff topsail being much burnt.
' The entire escape of other ships, key which she was sur-
rounded, is matter of astonishment. The fire is sup-
posed to have been caused by sparks from the funnel
of the cabin stove.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.—This important do-
cument, which is expected to be brought by the packet
ship Ashburton, is now anxiously looked for every tide.
Should the ship have left New York on the Bth instant,
she is now fully 19 days on the passage. She is, proba-
bly, very near this port, as a number of vessels, inward
bound, have been passed, between Tuskar and Holyhead,
during the last few days, which are kept back by the
'prevailing light easterly winds.—Liverpool 4Thion.

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS
ORPHAN SCHOOLS.

F The first anniversary dinner of this truly excellent
society, the object of which is to clothe, maintain,
and educate the orphans of deceased, and the children
of necessitous commercial travellers, was celebrated
last evening, at the London Tavern, under the
auspices of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor. Con-
siderably more than 400 sat down to dinner, which,
notwithstanding the unusual number who congre-
gated to do honour to the institution, was served in
Messrs. Bathe and Breach's best style; in fact, the
large room—large enough one would imagine to ac-
commodate any number of persons who might feel
disposed to congregate on one occasion within its
walls—was insufficient for the entertainment of so
vast a number, and an adjoining room was called
into requisition, and afforded accommodation to up-
wards of 60 gentlemen, who, we may add, subse-
quently found seats in the large room.
Amongst those present we observed Mr. Sherill
Cubitt, John Masterman, M.P. ; Moffatt, M.P.;
Thomas Sidney, Alderman, M.P.; David Wad-
dington, M.P.; Alderman Challis ; George Mo,:,re
(Treasurer) ; R. Clarke; R. Groucock, Esq. ; R.
Clarke, Esq.; J. Mercer, jun., Esq.; William Ni-
cholson, R. M. Phillips, James Wnlsh, Esq.; M.
Wicking, Robert Wilcoxon, J. R. Cufll-y, J. D.
Carter, Thomas Roberts, S. B )othe. and the Rev.
Pelham Dale.

Non Nobis Domine having been chanted, and the
usual loyal toasts responded to with the customary
enthusiasm,
The LORD MAYOR rose to propose the toast of the
evening. In doing so he said—Gentlemen, you are
requested to charge your glasses, in order that you
may drink a bumper toast; for the toast I am about
to give you is deservedly the toast of the evening. It
is one, I am sure, that cannot fail to afford the greatest
gratification to all who have assembled here to-night.
—(Hear.) I shall not, gentlemen, detain you for one
moment—l shall not take up your time in entering
at length into my own opinion of the institution
which we have met to do honour to. - (Hear.) Such
a task would be useless, because I see assembled
around me so numerous, so respectable a company—
a company who have come here prepared, I am satis-
fied, to do honour to the purpose for which we have
met, and who, from the zeal ' which they have
manifested in support of the institution, must be well
acquainted with its history and its wants.—(Hear.)
So well are you acquainted with these matters, that
however eloquently I might enlarge upon them, my
influence, I feel, would not weigh one iota in the scale,
because as it is poised it inclines towards the institu-
tion.—(Hear.) I have been within the last few
hours looking at a little treatise which heralds the
rise and progress of the institution; and I confess I
have been greatly surprised in my own mind at the
efforts which have been made by its supporters—
efforts of so great, so good, so Christian a character—
so well directed, and appeals so enthusiastically
responded to, that their result has perfectly surprised
the ; for let it be borne in mind that they were
begun, continued, and carried out to the extent you
now behold, within the short space of two years.—
(Cheers.). I confess that my surprise was great that
so much had been done; but, gentlemen, when I look
round this room and behold the vast numbers as-
sembled—and further, when I know that there is a
very large company outside this room unable to get
admittance, merely because it is not sufficiently large
—(Cheers)—l repeat, that I am not surprised.—
(Continued cheering.) My surprise no longer exists,
and, though its progress has been great and steady
in the past, I am convinced that nothing can stop the
progress of any institution—more especially an insti-
tution like this—when I know it has so many warm and
enthusiastic supporters.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, allow
me to say that you could not, by any possibility,
have assembled to promote a more praiseworthy
cause—(Renewed cheering)—as it embraces in every
point of view charity of the highest and holiest kind.
If you look, gentlemen, at the necessity of such an
institution, and consider for a moment the condition
of those whom it nurtures, if it had not extended
them a helping hand—if you look at the comforts
which it bestows, you cannot fail, I am persuaded, to
feel the utmost consolation at being instrumental
in promoting so good a work.—(Loud cheers.)
I am quite satisfied, therefore, that it needs
no eloquence—it needs no rhetoric—it needs no
power of language to advocate with success the
benefits of this institution, the anniversary of whose
establishment we have congregated to celebrate.—
(Hear, hear.) It needs, I may say further, nothing
on my part to recommend it to your warmest sym-
pathies and your cordial support.—(Hear.) The
institution, gentlemen, is but in its second year, and
already thirty children are clothed, educated,
and maintained, and before sunset tomorrow the
society will have earned the proud boast—and a proud
one it is—of having provided in the) same way for
35 children. Thirty. five children, you may say, have
already been fostered by the institution !—(Loud
cheers.) What a stimulus this is fur you to continue
your exertions in its behalf, and let me trust that that
feeling of charity which is truly said to expand the
more it is indulged in—that that charity which
begets charity, and leads us, the more we do,
to feel disposed to do still more, may be, ex-
emplified to the letter in this institution.—(Applause.)
Some extensive donations have already been given
and it is my duty to tell you that these subscriptions'
will be devoted to a particular purpose, and I wish
especially to impress this fact upon your minds,
because I feel that it cannot fail to be a great induce-
ment to you to promote this great cause among your
friends. It is very desirable, gentlemen, that the
building which has been engaged for the reception of
the children should be purchased—(Loud cheers)—
and therefore it is very necessary to raise a fund to effect
that object. It is also most desirable to still further
augment the means of the institution, in order that
it may afford an asylum for ell the orphans of
commercial travellers who may be driven to need
its aid. Your enthusiasm in the cause amply demon-
strate that your zeal in such good service will not
cool, and that you will lose no opportunity of induc-
ing your friends and others to aid your labours, so that
the school may be placed on a secure and broad foot•
ing.—(Hear.) The support which you have given
it, and the zeal which you have evinced, convinces
me that in promoting the objects Of the institution
you feel as you do after obtaining a good customer
who has given you a large order.—(Laughter and
cheers). Gentlemen, I want you to consider this
institution an order of the right sort—an order that
shall be registered in that ledger in which we are
all solicitous to have a good place.—(Loud cheers.) I
think I have said enough to win your sympathies
towards this institution.—(Cries of " No, no.") I am
persuaded that I have done so. Let us, in conclu-
sion, gentlemen, put our shoulders to the wheel, and
by our united efforts this evening and elsewhere
accomplish a great work, the effects of which will
be felt in ages yet to come.—(Cheers.) I call upon
you to drink " Prosperity and long life to the
Commercial Travellers' School." Long may it pros-
per; may it increase in power year after year, and
thereby be enabled to afford the children of the
necessitous commercial traveller succour in the hour
of their distress.

The toast was drank with the utmost enthusiasm,
and the children who had been introduced into the
gallery, and who looked extremely well, sang some
pretty lines, written for the occasion by Mr. J. B.
IValker.

Mr. MASTERMAN, M.P., proposed the health of the
Lord Mayor. His Lordship had received at the hands
of his fellow-citizens the highest honours which it
was in their power to give. That fact alone was
sufficient to commend him to them ; but the way in
which he had proposed the toast of the evening, and
the charitable sentiments he had enunciated must
have endeared him still more to them. It gave him
the greatest gratification to see the chair so well filled,
and he felt, therefore, the most unfeigned pleasure in
proposing his Lordship's health.
The toast was warmly responded to, like the last.
The LORD MAYOR returned thanks. He trusted that
the proceedings of the evening would stimulate those
who had taken a part in them to increased exertions.
He should, in that case, feel the utmost happiness at
having presided at the first anniversary, and contri-
buted, in however small a degree, to that prosperity
which he confidently looked forward to.—(Cheers.)
Glee—" The chough and crow."
The LORD MAYOR proposed the health of the
president, John Masterinan, Esq., M.P. If he were
disposed to envy any man, he should envy the repu-
tation of his Hon. Friend. Few, whether resident in
or out of the City had not heard of his good name ; and
it was a source of much gratification to be enabled
there to state that his fellow citizens esteemed him
as the best of men.—(Cheers.) He might differ
with him in political matters, but he could not with-
hold from him his meed of praise.—(hear.)
The toast was well received.
Mr. MASTERMAN, M.P., returned thanks. He had

not accepted the onerous office of president without
reluctance, as he considered there were many
men in the City more eligible for the post than he
was, but he yielded to the solicitations of the friends
of the institution, and did not regret now that ha
had done so, when he looked at the almost unexam-
pled success of the institution. He should leave
nothing undone to:promote the prosperity of the in•
stitution.

A GENTLEMAN at the end of the room here rose
and said he had been intrusted with the sum of 2001.
for presentation to the institution. The late Mrs. Beau-
foy had intended to present that amount, but she did not
live to accomplish her benevolent intentions. Her
husband felt bound to carry out her intention, and
had instructed him to present the sum he had
named.—(Loud cheers, and cries of " Long life to
him.")

Mr. DAYID WA.ADltiCtiolii W.) proposed " The

r corporation and the sheriffs." The sight he had be-
held—the sight of orphan children whom they be-
friended returning their heartfelt thanks—was most
gratifying, and had awakened in him, as he was
sure it had in all present, the most delightful sym-
pathy towards them. It was a source of great gra-
tification to him that the Lord Mayor, the President,
the greatest banker of the day, and the sheriffs had
that day identified themselves with the commercial
travellers. The institution owed them a deep debt
of gratitude. Those present would return to their
homes and say, "We have attended the
anniversary under • the presidency of the
Lord Mayor and sheriffs—we have enlisted their
sympathies in favour of the Commercial Travellers'
School, and it will rise under their auspices greater
than any other institution in the land before it.
Mr. Sheriff CUBITT returned thanks.
Mr. GROUCOCK proposed "The Vice Presidents."
Mr. R. CLARKE returned thanks.

Mr. MOITATT, M.P., next spoke. He said it
was delightful to witness such a scene, when the
recent disasters in trade were borne in mind—it
showed that such disasters ought to be looked upon
as nothing more than passing storms.—(Cheers.) He
concluded by proposing the health of Mr. George
Moore ,the treasurer.

Mr. MOORE returned thanks. In doing so, he
said the commercial travellers must not depend upon
the Lord Mayor, upon the Vice Presidents, or upon
their distinguished visitors. He wished to im-
press upon them the necessity of depending
upon themselves.—(Loud cheers.) From the best
data he had ken able to collect it appeared that there
were no less than 30,000 commercial travellers, whose
expenses could not be less than 11,000,0001. a year.
—(hear, hear.) Now, what he wished to impress
upon them was this—supposing they were engaged
forty-two weeks out of the fifty-two weeks, and saved
sixpence a week, they might raise a fund of 30,0001.
a year.—(Loud cheers.) He confidently looked
forward to a great increase in the means of the
institution ; but if they even had a tithe part of this
sum—say 25 per cent.—it would be sufficient to dis-
charge the expenses of the largest institution in the
United Kingdom.—(Hear, hear.) His great am-
bition was to add six children every six months to
the asylum.—(Cheers.)
Mr. LAWRENCE announced a subscription of 100/.
from the National Mercantile Life Assurance Com-
pany, which institution, he said, offered eligible ad-
vantage to commercial travellers, who assured early
in life. He proposed "The National Mercantile
Society."
_ _

Mr. WlLcoxos (the Chairman), returned thanks,
and said he felt great pleasure in being present, and
of presenting the donation just announced by the
Secretary.

Mr. WALKER then proposed the health of Mr.
Lawrence, the Hon. Secretary.
Mr. G. LAWRENCE returned thanks.
Several other toasts followed, and the company
did not separate until a late hour.

The dinner and wines Were-Well served and good.
The musical arrangements were under the direction
of Mr. Sporle, assisted by Mr. Kenney, Mr. Edney
Mr. J. Kench, Mr. Bruton, and. Mr. G. Genge. Mr.
Harker was the toastmaster.
The donations and subscriptions announced in the
course of the evening amounted to nearly 2,0001.

FLOODS IN THE TAY, &c.—SHIP-

WRECKS IN THE NORTH.

We regret to say that Perth was again inundated
by a rise in the Tay, on Saturday last, nearly to an
equal extent as by the flood in ,October, and exceed-
ing that of the preceeding week by several feet. The
weather was very rainy and boisterous on Thurs-
day and Friday last, accompanied by violent gales
from the westward ; and in the course of forty-
eight hours nearly for inches of rain fell. In the
Highlands the fall was still greater, and as a strong
westerly wind always increases the flood in rivers
whose sources are in lochs lying east and west, which
is the case with all those in the Perthshire Highlands,
the Tay on Friday evening began to rise rapidly, and
towards morning it overflowed both Inches, and made
considerable inroads into the lower streets of the
town. The North Port, as usual, was the first to be
laid under water, and by nine o'clock it reached to
the window soles of the shops. The inmates had
previously removed most of their goods and furniture,
but :'great confusion nevertheless prevailed. At
Whitehouse, Athole-place, and Rose-terrace, and
Barossa-place, the sunk areas were in most cases two
or three feet under water. The Muirton farms were
nearly all inundated, the Tay being about a mile
broad opposite Scone Palace. Along the banks of
the Tuy and the Earn, large quantities of farm pro-
duce were observed ding down both streams all
Friday and Saturday, and many stack-yards were
under water both days.
The Ericht and Isla were again fooled to an equal
extent as at the great inundation in October. At
lilairgowrie, the bridge, which was in the course of
rebuilding, having been carried off on the last occa-
sion, was considerably injured; the wooden centre
upon which the main arch was to rest was entirely
swept away, although composed of the heaviest
material. The temporary wooden bridges over the
Isla, Ardle, and Keith, were also demolished in most
cases; and various bleaching fields covered with the
debris from the river. The flax spinning mills have
sustained little damage, the injury being chiefly
confined to watercourses.

Along Strathtay, Strathtummell, and Strathgarry,
the respective haughs are much flooded, an d at Ba!-
lechin a scare or two of sheep were drowned. A
good many sheep were drawn out of the Tay at
Dunkeld, and it is feared there will be few restored
to the owners. The bridges in the Highlands, along
the principal roads, have fortunately all stood. In
Strathtay the river rose higher than in the memory of
the oldest inhabitant, and at the confluence of the
Lyon and Tay the valley extending from Weem
Rock to Aberfeldy had the appearance of an immense
lake.—Perth Courier.

ABERDEEN, DEC. 22.—Our coast has again been
visited by a violent and, protracted hurricane,
which, we regret to say, has been attended with ship-
wreck and lamentable loss of life. Towards the
afternoon of Friday last, rain began to fall, and the
wind to blow rather heavily from south by
east. By midnight, the wind had increased to a
perfect hurricane, with torrents of rain, and a raging
surf. In this state the weather continued throughout
the whole of Saturday, the fury of the elements
not subsiding until the afternoon of Sunday.
In the evening of that day there was again some
rain, but towards midnight the atmosphere again
cleared up, with bright monlight. The rivers Dee
and Don were very much flooded, the " speat" in the
former being reported to have risen to between two
and three feet of its greatest height in the memorable
flood of 1829. A great deal of timber was swept
down the Dee, but did no material damage about
the harbour. The piers of the intended railway
bridge at Polmuir, we are glad to observe, were
left unseated by the torrent, though in an unfinished
state. We regret deeply to learn, that several
vessels have been wrecked along this coast, and that
e-Rontho brig, Captain Main, belonging to this
port, was totally wrecked in the South Bay of Peter-
head, early in the morning of Saturday, when all on
board perished, to the number, we believe. of fifteen
souls. Reports were current on Sunday of the
wreck of the Agenoria, also belonging to this port,
with the loss of part of her crew, about Collieston,
but we are happy in being able to state that there are
accounts of this vessel not having left her. port. It
was supposed she had sailed in company with the fil-
leted Rontho. There are rumours of the wreck of
another vessel, off Rattray Head, but the particulars
are not given, and we trust the rumour is also in-
correct.—Aberdeen Journal.

PETERHEAD, Dar. 20.—During the night of Fri-
day last, the gale, which had previously lulled a little,
sprung up with redoubled fury, and on the morning
of Saturday those who were first abroad found the
shore of the Kirktoun strewed with wreck. Anxiety
and dismay became generally prevalent. Parties
were engaged to collect the materials, and look
after those that were floating about as they came
ashore, but for a considerable time nothing was
cast up whereby the name of the ill-fated vessel,
or to what port she belonged, could be known. During
the forenoon, however, doubt was set at rest—the
stern-board drifted ashore, and the vessel was found
to be the schooner Rontho, of Aberdeen. It turned
out, besides, that there were passengers belonging to
Peterhead upon this 'vessel, and yesterday three
bodies were washed ashore. Two of them were of in-
dividuals belonging to Peterhead, who were at once
identified ; the other was that of a stranger. Nothing
can be known as to how the fatal catastrophe took
place ; but it is too certain that all hands have pe-
rished, almost, it might be said, " In sight of home
and friends that throng'd to save."

Wicu, DEC. 24.—We continue to be visited with
strong gales of wind from the south, and with occa-
sional showers of rain. On Sabbath morning, about,
four o'clock, there commenced one of the most vio-
lent gales which have swept across these coasts for
many years. The wind blue with terrific fury from
the south• east, raising a most fearful sea, which drove
everything before it. Over the parapet wall of
Pulteneytown south quay the billows made a clean
breach, although the building was more than suf.
ficient to resist their attacks, and suffered no
injury. Upwards of twenty barrels of herrings
were swept from off the quays, and lost; and three
herring boats were taken off the beach, and much
injured; and great difficulty
was experienced in
saving others, as it was highly dangerous to approachthem. At Duncansbay, the Pomona, of Thurso,
previously stranded there, and till then expected to
'be got off, was made a total wreck. All the places
of worship were but thinly attended, not more from
the attacks of influenza than the danger of venturing
out of doors on such a day. Since then tile weather
[
has moderated, although it continues to be exceedingly

blustering. The barometer, however, seems to indi-
cate a favourable change.—John o' Groat Journal:
GARMOUTEI, DEC. 21.—The speat came on in 'the
Spey on Saturday night, and has continued ever
since, accompanied with- a very heavy sea. A great
deal of harm has been done in Kingston, and a good
many families have been rendered houseless. Sab-
bath presented a scene such as pen cannot describe.
Recent encroachments of the river had swept away
thirty or forty houses, and several others have fol-
lowed on this occasion. Men and horses were w6rk-
ing the whole day, and women, with children in their
arms, exposed to the wrath of the elements, sought a
shelter where they could find one. To-day, however,
the storm has somewhat abated ; but it will be many
a day before this event will be forgotten, as it will also
be ere its effects are recovered.
DESTRUCTIVE FLOOD AT SUNDERLAND.—FOr
several days prior to Sunday last there were heavy
rains. About five o'clock on Sunday morning the
ebb tide became so strong that great apprehension
was entertained for the safety of vessels moored in
the river. Every effort that time permitted to be
made was called into requisition to ensure the safety
of the moorings ; but two or three ships at 'the
end of the ferry- baot tier, next the bridge,
snapped their mooring chains, and went adrift amid
the tier, crushing and carrying away all that lay in
their way. The fresh was so great, and the impetus
given the unmoored ships consequently so strong, that
tier after tier of the shipping gave way, and drifting upon
others, carried them away also, and thus much serious
damage was done. When daylight arrived, the har-
bour, from the ferry-boat landing to the pier end,
presented a most disastrous appearance. In various
places whole groups of ships ware entangled toge-
ther, and were only prevented being driven out to
sea either by the obstruction of a sunken vessel, or
laden ships aground. Almost every vessel had re-
ceived more or less damage, some having suffered
very seriously. We regret to say that loss of life has
ensued. The smack Brothers, of Shorehem, went down,
and the mate has been drowned. His body was found
yesterday morning in his bed. He is said to have
left a wife and five children. In endeavouring to get
one vessel into a place of safely, an accident occurred
which was attended with fatal consequences, one man
having lost his life, and other three or four being
seriously injured. The vessel was the brig Virgil,
which had arrived that morning, and which bad been
driven down the harbour nearly to the pier end. For
some time she remained bound to the south pier,
after which a rope was placed round the high cap-
stan on the pier, and she was ultimately got round
on to the sand, within the new part of the pier, which
is of a semicircular form. During the process of
heaving, the vessel pitched very much with the vio-
lence of the waves. By this means she was occa-
sionally much higher than the capstan, and the
purchase of the rope drew up the capstan, so that the
palls lost their power of check. The rope being
at that moment violent jerked •by the heaving of
the ship, the capstan ran round .on the spindle
with great violence, and the bars being shipped,
struck the persons who were near. Several were
driven over the edge of the pier into the river, but
all were got out again with great exertion. One
man named John Bolton, ship carpenter, aged 55,
was struck so violently over the forehead that he
was killed by the blow. A sawyer, named Robert
Lajburn, had his leg broken, and was otherwise
seriously injured. Joseph Arkle, a mason, and two
or three others, are also seriously injured. The de-
struction of property has been immense—some say
15,0001„ others less. There is no doubt, however,
that the damage will very nearly include that sum.—
Sunderland Herald.

DISASTER AT SEA.
We have this week to place on record one of those
melancholy disasters at sea, which unfortunately are
but of too frequent occurrence during the full voy-
ages of the timber-laden vessels trading to our
northern colonies. The following are the particulars :
—The barque Lord Canterbury, of Bridgewater,
from Quebec, bound to Bristol, on the night of,Sun-
day, the sth inst., encountered a tremendous gale
from N.W.W., which caused her to make sufficient
water to keep one pump constantly going. At 9 a.m.
the following morning it was discovered that the
after part of the rudder had separated from the main
piece. As one pump was found insufficient to keep
the leak under, at 4 p.m. both pumps were set going.
Things went on in this manner till midnight, when a
heavy sea broke on board, carrying away stanchions,
bulwarks, boat, and everything moveable on ihe deck.
The leak gradually increased until 8 a.m., when the
barque became full of water. The topmasts, yards,
and. all the light spars were now cut away, and the
crew, twenty in number, took to the tops, where they
remained, subsisting on half a pint of water per day,
and little bread, until 13 of them were rescued by the
barque John, of Bideford. This vessel fell in with the
wreck on the 16th instant, when it was blowing a
double-reefed-topsail breeze, and the wind W.S.W.,
Cape Clear bearing N.E., distant about thirty. five
miles. It was at 6 30 when they were first discovered,
during an interval of moonlight. Never was there a
more melancholy sight. From the stern, when the
vessel would rise to the sea, was issuing a perfect
cascade, some of the planks in the side and stern
gone, the vessel breaking up, and the sea making a
fair breach over her. On hailing, those on board the
John were informed that the ship was water-logged,
that they were short of prov isions and water, and that
one of their number (the cook) had died from ex-
haustion, and they asked if the John would lay by
them for the night, it never entered their minds, from
the sea which was running, that an attempt would be
made at least that night. They were answered that
their request should be complied with if possible.
The master of the John fearing, however, that unless
immediate measures were adopted to get them off
the wreck the weather might come on again squally
and prevent him from carrying out his humane in-
tention, called for volunteers. - The appeal was
responded to instanter, and Mr. W. M. Hallman, the
chief officer (a most skilful and intrepid young man)
accompanied by three brave tars, jumped into a little
boat only 14 feet long and pulled for the wreck.
Here a formidable obstacle presented itself. In
addition to the ordinary difficulty of bringing a boat
alongside under such circumstances, there was escap-
ing from the stern a stream of water sufficient to
overwhelm the boat. How true it is that we cannot
tell what we can accomplish until we try! The tiny
boat approaches the wreck, six jump in, and are
safely brought to the bark. Another trip is made—
seven are now taken, but, unfortunately, one of

the apprentices falls short in his leap, is sucked
under the counter of the wreck and disappeared.
These trips occupied an hour and a half. The
apprehensions of the master were now ful-
filled. The weather became worse, and the sea
began to " top," consequently any further attempts
would to all human appearance, have only involved
the loss of life ; the rescuers were therefore reluc-

tantly compelled to forego their generous exertions.
At 9.15 the weather became so bad, that the barque
was obliged to be, placed close•reefed foretopsail and
treble-reefed main, and to leave the wreck for safety.
She arrived at Milford on Sunday afternoon last. A
few days previous to their being taken off, a barque,
apparently British or American, outward-bound,
shortened sail and remained for a short time, but
went away without making any attempt to save their
lives. She was under- topgallant sails, and the at-
tempt would have been practicable. A brigantine passed
by them in the daytime, also outward-bound, only
four or five miles from them ; but did not even alter
her course, although she was so close to them that the
poor fellows could perceive a small flag at her mast
head. She tad the cut of a Mediterranean trader.
We should have added, that those left on the wreck
were the master, two seamen, and two apprentices.
Relief has been afforded from the Shipwrecked Mari.
ners and Fishermen's Society, and the Merchant
Seamen's Fund.—Cambrian, of Saturday.

DISCOVIEY or A NEWLY BORN Irma
fortte
Oat
RAILWAY CARRlAol..—Yesterday Mr. W. Payne, the
Coroner, opened an inquiry at the Vestry Hall,rr
street, Borough, on the body of a newly-born
child, discovered under the following extraordinary
mysterious circumstances :—Charles Bannister, and
Dean-street, Southwark, deposed that he of
20,
quarter before one o'clock on afternoon Chris
at the Joint Railway Station,
thLeondon- b a.
London-bridge. a a tot::
eve, the Dover train came in, and hedwenrit gtoe.
cfoaurrnidagnesbreawftnerpathpeer
ppaarsnseeln
ugnerdaerhtahe saelalt seaArchmtht:
alighted, and
of are
second-class carriages, which he delivered to the head
porter, who,
izhnon,d udpieoenevtearkedingitsit into the property-room,
By the Coroner—There contentsvieretwo
piecesto beef thebre
wd
ne ceased.
paper,
but the deceased was quite naked. Witness, as well as
every one
throw else at the station, was wholly unable to
any light upon the subject. The train came from
Dover and Folkstone, and stopped at Croydon, but it
...was impossible to say how the parcel had been put there.
John Hudgell, head porter at the station, corroborated
the evidence of the last witness, and added, that his
suspicions were aroused' the moment he took the parcel
in hand. Mr. W. Pettigrew, surgeon, of 200, Tooley-
street, stated that he had seen and examined the child.
The navel string had been divided by a sharp instru-
ment, which process had not, in his opinion, been
performed by a medical man. There was a mark of
violence passing very firmly across the mouth, as if the
jaw had been broken. It wits found on a post mortem
examination that death was the result of asphysia or
suffocation, there being congestion under the scalp, and
other appearances which showed that respiration had
been slightly performed. After some further evidence,
the Coroner remarked on the extraordinary nature of
the case, and suggested the propriety of an adjourninent,
and the jury agreeing with him, the inquiry was ad-
journed for a week, in the hope that in the interim
something might transpire that would lead to the appre-
hension of the inhuman parent.
RYE ELECTION. -- The election of a Member to
serve in the place of the late Mr. H. B. Curteis took
place in the Town-hall on Thursday last, when the de-
ceased's son, Mr. H. M. Curteis, was elected without
opposition.

THE HAMPDEN PERSECUTION.
A troublesome disputant of Doctor Johnson's day
waintained that a conge d'elire had not the force of a
command, but was to be considered only as a strong
econimendation. " Sir," observed Johnson, "it is
such a recommendation as if I should throw you out
of a two-pair-of-stairs' window, and recommend you
to fall soft." To this it nevertheless may be replied,
that where those who are thrown out of window have
'it in their power to fall soft, they are fools for their
pains if they prefer to fall otherwise. The High
Church party have committed many blunders, but the
greatest of all is their movement against the rights of
the Crown in the appointment of Dr. Hampden.
That these rights are plain and indisputable, we
are not aware that any one has been found hardy
enough to deny. The Dean of Hereford's memorial
talks of " the strong hand of power," as the Bishop
of Exeter's letter brawled against " the Magna
Charts of tyranny ;" but both thele learned persons
are thoroughly aware that the right by which the
one holds his deanery and the other his bishopric is
in fact and truth no other than that of the power and
tyranny they thus clamour against. Remove it,
abolish the practical supremacy of the Crown, and
conceive the consequence. The league of the
High-
Church faction would not survive their victory for a
day—well if the Church itself survived it. Its
practical power and efficacy are, in reality, much more
in issue than the secular predominance of the Crown.
A. clash of abstract claims or co-ordinate authorities
would be the ruin of the Church. We should like
to have Henry of Exeter's private opinion on the
pretensions which lurk beneath the Dean of Here-
ford's memorial. If the functions of a Cathedral
Chapter are to be held for other than merely subor-
dinate and ministerial, and we are to begin afresh
with our whole Ecclesiastical system, we more than
suspect that the privilege of "falling soft" will be
left to very few..
And for what are these dangers incurred ? Why
are the peaceful and well-disposed friends of the Es-
tablishment, the immense majority of moderate and
reflecting men, to be disturbed in their enjoyment of
what we should probably not err in describing
as the most practically tolerant Church system that
hal yet been invented ? Where is the necesssity—
the excuse ? In the continual and distracting clamour
kept up, the real facts of Doctor Hampden's case have
as much as possible been kept out of sight. A band
of right reverend assailants have resuscitated charges
of heresy, but in what circumstances ? Waiving for
the present the alleged ground on which the charges
rest—the state of things in which they originated, and
the facts which accompany their revival are surely
matters most materiel to be considered. We shall
state them chronologically.
In 1832 Doctor Hampden preached and then pub-
lished his Bampton Lectures, containing
the alleged heretical doctrines—without
remonstrance.
In 1833 he was appointed Principal of St. Mary's
Hall, by Lord Grenville, the then Chan-