The Sun.
London, England, 1841-10-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, IVIONDAY. OCTOBER lB, /841.

HOE LAND.

TIIIS, i-_ GUE 13.----011Su7lay evening, about
nine o'clock, 'his Majesty King Frederick,
Count of Nassau, •.vith a suite of four earriages, corning
froin Deventee, arrived at the Lou. We have hitherto
had reason to doubt whether the aged Prince, who has
governed our con try for 27
.years, would think it expe-
dient now to undertake a journey to his own country,
and it is still rather uncertain whether he will make a
long stay.
His Highness the Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe
Wiener arrived here the day before yester.;ay, on a visit
to his Majesty-the King. Towards the end of this week
the present session of the States-General is to be closed
•by his Excellency the Minister of the Interior, and on
the 18th instant, the new session of the- Chamber will
be opened by his Majesty in the usual manner.
AMSTERDAM, OCT. 12.—We hear from good authority '
that his Majesty King William Frederick, Count of
Nassau, is to be affianced at the Hague, to the Countess
of Aultrenient ; the marriage will take pace at the Leo
soon afterwards.

APPELDOOFN, OCT. 10.—We were all in a bustle yes-
terday, in consequence of the arrival of his Majesty the
Count of Nas?..au (%eho is Lord of the Man:x here), ac
companied by the Countess. Flao.s were set up all along
the road, and the inhabitants of Alpeldoorn and the Loo
appear to have exerted themselves to give him a festive
reception. A guard of honour of fifteen horsemen, com-
manded by the Burgomaster, was ready at the barrier.—
Dutch Pap:rs, Oct. 13.

THE ALLEGED MUIk.DIR, OF A

SEAMAN AT SHEERNESS. -
On Friday Mr. Hind, one of the Coroners for the East-
ern I)ivi;ion of Kent, and a Jury assembled at the Foun-
tain Hotel to investigate the circumstances of the death
of James Maxwell, aged 56 years, seaman of her Ma-
jesty's ship Wellington. Ward, a warrant-officer; of the
Wellington, who has been in custody since the death of
Maxwell on board. of the Ocean, was brought in under
an escort of a party of the Royal. Marines. • He appeared
to be betw(Aia 30 and 40 years of age, and was much
agitated.

--James Sheppard, a seaman, and belonging to the Wel-
lington, stated that the boat, in which Ward and Max-
well were, got ashore and stuck fast on the sands. Wit-
ness jumped ashore and endeavoured to get the boat off,
and Ward got out and tried also. Deceased came for-
ward, apparently to assist, when Ward began to abuse
him for getting the boat ashore. The deceased made
some observations which witness could not recollect.
Ward then struck him several times in th.. face with his
fist. Soon afterwards be missed deceased, but -whether
be fell overboard or was knocked over he could not state.
He sa.,v no weapon used. There might have been one,
but the night was so very dark he could not see well.
Coroner—Are you aware if there was any ill-feeling
existing between the prisoner Ward and the deceased
Maxwell hcfbre the occurrence ? Witness—l never
knew of airy ; they always appeared on the most friendly

torms.

Nathaniel Kingdon underwent a lengthened cross-exa-
mination by the Jury, front which it appeared he knew
little of the affair, being intoxicated at the time. He,
however, said Ward's treatment towards the deceased
was brutal in the extreme. Ile beat him about the face
shockingly, and he thought the blows almost stupified
the deceased, so that when he got out of the boat he knew
not where he went to.
James Heed, the ship's boy, 14 years of age, stated that
he was in the boat with the. deceased at the time of the
occurrence. Ward and the rest of them were greatly in-
toxicated. - The deceased had been drinking, but he
knew what be was about. On the boat getting ashore on
the Isle of Grain, nearly opposite the pier at Sheerness,
an altercation took place between Ward and the
deceased, Ward saying had it not been fur deceased's in-
terference in taking possession of the yoke lines they
would not have been rowed aground. Deceased replied
it was not his fault. WTard then became enraged, strik-
ing deceased in the face, and afterwards took a knife out
of his pecket.- Deceased, on perceiving the knife ap-
peared frightened, and instantly got ever the boat side
into the water, apparently to get out of the way of
Ward, who was in the other part of the boat, and jenme-
diately afterwards disappeared.
eonoNEaL-When Ward brought the knife out did
you see hint strike the deceased with it ? Witness—
No, Sir, I did not.
Coftenern—lf he had done so must you have seen
him ? Witness—Yes, Sir, I should.
Several witnesses were then examined, who proved the
finding of the body. It was discovered by the crew of
a fishing smack on Thursday morning lying on the sand
in the Swale near Queenborough. The face Ives much
disfigured.
Mr. Keddell, a surgeon, residing at Sheerness, and
Mr. C. Inches, surgeon, belongieg to her Majesty's
ship Ocean, deposed to have examined the body of the
deceased. There were injuries, but none to account for
the cause of death. They were of opinion that it re-
sulted from drowning.
At half-past six o'clock the Jury, after a lengthened
deliberation, returned the following verdict :—" We find
that the deceased, James Maxwell, was accidentally
drowned, but it is our opinion that it occurred through
the ill-treatment of William Ward, carpenter of her Ma-
jesty's ship Wellington."
The prisoner Ward was then conveyed back to the
Ocean, where it is expected he will be confined until
tried by a court-martial for drunkenness and disobedi-
eace of orders.

DESTRUCTION OF THE LANCE-
FIELD COTTON WORKS.
(From the Glasgow Journal.)
A period of more than twetny years has elapsed since
we were called upon to record a conflagration in Glasgow
more extensive and more destructive than that which
occurred last night at the Laneelleld cotton, spinning,
and weaving works, the property of Messrs. William and
Alexander Graham and Co., of this city.
A very large portion of these works, known to be
the most extensive of the kind in Scotland, have, by a
sudden and awful calamity, been laid in ruins, the
valuable machinery which they contained entirely de-
destroyed, and several hundreds of poor and industrious
people thrown out of employment, to add to the sad
amount of destitution and misery which are already too
widely prevalent in onr city and its neighbourhood.
The spinning and weaving works of Lancefield are
divided into four portions, each a factory in itself, and
composed of immense masses of building, five and six
stories in height. First in order, there is a large work
looking west, fronting Lancefield-street, five stories in
height, and about 180 feet in length, occupied, on the
ground floor as a mechanics' shop, and above partly as
a spinning factory, some portions of the building being '
used as store-rooms, ware-rooms, a counting-house, &c.
Attached to the south end of this erection, and running
eastward from it, there is another large building, called
the South or Old Mill, also five stories high, and
180 feet in length, the lower flat being need for the
weaving of power-loom cloth, And the others for spinning
and carding, and carrying on the ordinery opera-
tions connected ith these branches. Still farther to
the east there is a spinning and weaving factory of equal
dimensions, which s:retches onwards to Hyde Park,. and
known as the Hyde Park Mill. To the north of all
these buildings is what is called the New Factory, also
running east and west, six stories in height, and forming
an immense range of building, occupied entirely by
power-looms. At the eastern extremity, and lying be-
tween these great buildings on the north and south,
there are some smaller erections of little consequence in
this description, the whole inclosing a court of very con-
siderable extent. The above gives but a faint idea
of the magnitude of the works, but the con-
ception formed of them may perhaps be strengthened by
a knowledge of the fact, that they gave employment to
upwards of 1,100 persons within the walls.
How it caught fire DO one can tell; but the supposition
is, that a spark, struck out by the collision of a piece of
iron with some part of the machinery, may have fallen
among the cotton and set it in flames. From the cotton
on the floor it soon seized upon the wooden furniture
of the room and the building, and spread with a celerity
which defied 'all attempts to stay its progress.
In spite of every exertion, it soon spread through
every ramification of the south mill, and the whole of
the interior of that large building, with all its machinery,
ley a mass of burning ruins, while a large portion of the
back and- front walls tumbled to the' ground. The
flames speedily communicated with the front building,
and the whole of the ror,f and the greater part of its
interior were also destroyed.
It is impossible to estimate, as yet, aright, the loss
which has been sustained by the partial destruction of
these works. We believe, however, we are not below the
mark when we st to that it cannot be less than 30,0001.;
and we are happy to hear that the lois will be more than
covered by the insurance. From 300 to 400 people will,
however, be thrown out of employment; and it is here
that the greatest misery connected with the catastrophe
lies. In the present state of trade there is little or no
hope of them obtaining employment elsewhere; and in
the face of winter these poor people have a very discou-
raging prospect before them. A great proportion are
females, all of them having dependents, more or less,
upon their labours; and what is to become of them we
confess we are unable to tell.

- --- • ----- -
BUDE LlGHT.—Christ Church, St. Pancras,
was illuminated during Divine Service last night with
this light (an intention of which we apprised our readers
on Saturday-last), and the advantages of this improved
system were manifest, the lignt of two lustres suspended
from the ceiling having more effect than that of the 72
Argand-burners previously used ; and producing, at the
same time, perfect ventillation, 133 means of flues which
carried off the foul air vitiated by respiration and com-
bustion, so prejudicial to health in close and crowded
apartments. This subject was adverted to in a very
appropriate manner by the Rector, Yr. I)odsworth, from
the pulpit. _ _

A new kind of institution has sprung up in
Scotland, which is robbing the Mechanics' Institutes of
their members, and which provides lectures, music, &c.,
at a very cheap rate, admitting individuals for the small
sum of Id. fur each evening's entertainment.
EXTRAORDINARY OAK TREE --There is
now growing in Brook Wood, near Brook House, in the
parish of Bnckfastleigh, a remarkably fine oak, about
three feet in circumference, and which, to the height of
GO feet, has scarcely a protuberant bmneh.
Amongst the articles recently recovered from the
wreck of the Royal George were some leaden type used
for marking linen, with the name of P. 11. Durham,
1781, which evidently formerly belonged to the present
Sir P. H. Durham, who was at the time of the accident
a midshipman on board.
A poor man lately applied to a clerical bon
vivant in the country to preach a funeral sermon on his
deceased wife, at the same time requesting to know the
exjrnse. " Two guineas," was the reply. " Couldn't
you do
it for one ?" " Wh;e, I could preach you a ser-
monone guinea, but it would not be worth your
hearinfog.r„

L I T ERA T U I:.E.
THE MIRI:OR. imbird, London.
It is always with pleasure that we refer to this
oldest and,
in some 'reipects, best of the cheap
literary periodicals, by which of late years so
''
much information and'Wholesome ell tertaiament
has been diffused over every part of the earth
where the English larnzuage is spoken. In the
last Number of this eNcellent work, amongst a
variety of articles, we find one worthy of atten-
tion. it is from the per of Mr. Fennel, the well-
known author of "..A Natural History of Qua-
drupeds," and it is entitled "Au Essay upon the
Effects of Music upon Men and Animals."
Although in some particulars we differ from the
author's views, we consider the information con-
veyed in his essay respecting- the beneficial
effects of music -upon the.health of the young,
and upon the temper of persons of all ages, to be
valuable in a very high degree. e could not
help smiling, however,,at the credulity of some
of his historical- references. lie tells us that
" Tyrteus, the Spartan poet,. by certain verses
m
which he *sung to the accopaninient of flutes,
so inflamed the courage of his countrymen, that
they achieved a great victory over tho:gesse7
nians, to whom they had submitted in several
previous conflicts. Timotheus with his flute,
could more the passions of Alexander as lie
pleased, inspiring him at one moment with the
greatest fury, and soothing- him in the next into
the most gentle and placid state. Shakspcare
says music can

ravish savage ears
And plant in tyrants mild humility.'
Low's Labour Lost,_'pct IV. Scene 3.
The truth of this assertion is abundantly shown
both in ancient and modern history. Pythagoras
instructed a woman, by the power of music, 0
arrest the fury of a young man Who came to set
her house on fire ; and his Empedocies,
used his lyre with such success as to prevent
another person from murderinm
his father when
the sword was unsheathed for that
purpose. The
fierceness of Achilles was allayed by playing on
the harp, On which account Homer gives him
nothing else out of the spoils of Aaion. With
quieted wild and
dt
nskaemne
yionustthr
su t; i 1 ta
Tin
dt
ad
es, in a similar
manner, brought back seditious multitudes to
temper and reason."
This History is apocryphal. We thought
it was pretty well established that Alexander was
insensible to the influence of music--that he
could not perceiVe the hatmony of Hotner,;s,
verses, which -he loved only for the,exploks they
recorded—and that the _,effects produced -upon
him by
Timotheus were purely fabulous, not-
withstanding the brilliant use made of them by
" glorious John" in the immortal Ole to St. Ce-
cilia. We believe that much of the " credible
history" quoted by Mr. Fennel rests upon little
better foundation. The following extract is the
only one for which we can here afford room :--
It would, unquestionably, be rash to suppose that all
men who are not pleased with the concord of sweet
sounds would commit those crimes against the person
and the State which the poet says they are fit to execute.
Certainly they must lack a reverence for, or the power
to appreciate, that which is harmonious ; but this physi-
cal defect, if I may so term it, mayshow itself by de-
stroying things of less consequence than life and State.
Lord Chesterfield, if he did not dislike music, certainly
,rfAgadrldieede the
hpi
his
asc(t)inc,e"o
ei t
51,sysn accomplishment. In his
,o
"I cannot avoid calling
playing upon any musical instrument illiberal in a gen-
tleman. Music is generally reckoned one of the liberal
arts, and not unjustly; but a man of fitshion, who is seen
piping or. fiddling at a concert, degrades his own dig-
nity. If you love music, hear it; pay fiddlers to play to
you, but never fiddle yourself. It makes a gentleman
appear frivolous and contemptible, leads him frequently
into bad company; and wastes that time which
.might
otherwise be well employed." Such is the opinion of an
exquisite; but I cannot agree with his Lordship. Hunt-
ing; and other fashionable sports seem to me much more
likely to Lad young gentlemen into bad society (as that
of' betterS, gamblers, jockeys, &c., to wit) than playing
upon the violin. His advice, that if one loves music one
shuald not learn to play it, reminds one of the lazy Turk
who, seeing some English gentlemen dancing, observed
to them, " If you like that sort of amusement, why do
you not: get your servants to do it for you? "

REMOVAL OF THE WRECK OF THE ROYAL
GEORGE.—The work has been much impeded by the
violent gales of last week, notwithstanding which fair
progress has been made, four divers having been em-
ployed for some part of almost every day. Corporal
Harris has been occupied in getting up iron ballast, to
separate which he has found -no easy task. The spot
where Lance-Corporal Jones was working being co-
vered by shingle ballast, hardened into a sort of
concrete, a charge of 170 pounds, contained in a
small barrel, was placed by him, and fired on
Monday last to disperse it, after which this active
and intelligent diver sent up from the since spot
two pieces of the keel, one seven ftet, the other six feet
long, broken off short at both ends by the exploeion,
having the usual notches on both sides mar the top, and
having also copper clamps attached to them by which the
false keel had been affixed. He also sent up a perfect
piece of deadwood, three feet lung and 20 inches square,.
notched on three sides, all from the fore part of the
ship, supposed to be near the original position of the
feretnast. Private Williams sent up a long piece of very
• thick outside planking, covered with copper, but with
the heads of the nails projecting so - far beyond it that
it must evidently.have had wooden sheath:nz over .the
capper, a system now Obsolete.- - TrieiVerither has been
too rough to detach a diver in a haunch to examine a
second time the small wreck, which las lately been dis:
covered bearing about -GO fathoms by east, from the
centre of the loyal George. Corporal Harris who went
down to it . once, and brought up two pieces of timber
from it, thinks it must have been about the size of a
mooring lighter. It muat probably have sunk several
years before the lioyal George. Some pieces stand up
about 18 feet above the bottom, but by sounding over
it Lieut. Hutchinson found that the mass of this small
wreck was only three or four feet higher than the general
level of the anchorage. • A curious circumstance, we
believe hitherto unknown in the annals of diving, was
ascertained about a month ago, by Jones and Skelton,
who found that they could hear each other speak, when
standing close together at the bottom; but this- cannot
be turned to any useful practical purpose, because it re-
quires the divers to speak in a very loud voice unfit for
a connected conversation, and except when they first go
down at the commencement of a slack tide, they must
take care to keep at a distance from each other, lest they
should be struck by the timbers which their comrades
have slung.

On Tuesday last a considerable degree of ex-
citement was caused in the family of a gentleman of pro-
perty, residing in the vicinity of the Edgeware-road, in
consequence of the very sudden and mysterious disap-
pearance of a young lady and a female servant from the
house. Information of their disappearance having been
communicated to Inspector Wiggins, of the D
it was without loss of time circulated throughout the
various other divisions of the force. For two or three
days Wiggins exerted himself to the utmost,
and at length obtained some information, which in-
duced him, on Friday morning, to station himself within
a public-house in Shepherd-street, Oxford street, when,
after waiting for some hours, a cab was driven up to a
house opposite. Two young females alighted and en-
tered.that house, and almost at the same moment the
inspector followed them ; he found them to be the
identical persons he was looking for, and they Nl ere then
in the company of a young man, a Cambridge student,
who had been waiting there to receive them. The in-
spector mentioned the nature of his business, and
ultimately prevailed upon both of them to get into
a coach which he had called off the stand, and they
were then driven back to the mansion from which they
had absconded. The young man, who it is said first
became acquainted with the girl while sitting in a box
with her at Covent-garden 'Theatre, shortly afterwards '
quitted the house in Shepherd-street, and from that
time to the present nothing more has been heard of him.
The young lady, whose parents reside in Huntingdon-
shire, is, it is said, heiress to a large property, and she
was on a visit to her London friends, who, when the
inspector delivered her into their bands, presented him
with 51. for his trouble. In the notice which was sent
round to the different stations neither the name of the
foolish girl nor the address of her friends was given.
Prince Reuss, Sir Bosville Durrant and family,
Major M‘Kinlay, Capt. Parr, and the Rev. R. Arnold,
embarked on Saturday morning from the Custom-house
hen Mr. Brougham
't
on board the General Steam Navigation Company's Mail
Packet Columbine, Capt. Norwood; for Rotterdam, en
route, for the Rhine.
iEN TfoErit DthEeNa.,--nounn
of a wager laid upon a
dog-fight, which, through some unwillingness of dogs or
opeLpneOdßan action
men, had not been brought to an issue, " We, say Lord,"
Said the advocate, " were minded that the dogs should
fight." " Then I," replied .the Judge, •" am minded to
hear no more of it ! Call the next cause."--Law Ma-

gazine. •
GOOD AS NEW.—A gentleman in company
with Foote, at the Smyrna Coffee House, took Up a
newspaper, saying, " Ile wanted to see what the Mi-
nistry were about." Foote replied, "Look among the
: brisknessß eßesides
ntehte-
it'oejornu,s4tkredliapSbc.sihYaurpgge:dtas her
robberies."
LEITH.—The shipping trade here in every de-
partmentlarze.
teas
isiti still 1
which continues
has
have a vessel in from Virginia with 450 hbds. tobacco,
boefrbnoenthd:
wlhiooilnderAs
the finest quality that has been imported for the last 30
3w7iatlii.ssialn'thlienggratilitietraaddie,a,nced period of the year, and
the rise of the Custom-house duties. A vast number of
foreign grain-laden ships arc still in cur docks.
The
duties received upon grain, for the last few days, have
wheat are waiting fur another turn in the scale of duties;
fur, from the immense quantity cleared at the low rate,
been chiefly upon barley and beans.
the market is so glutted that an immediate demand is
not wanted.
in
oTnlntenfcehliesbarraidtedveDinrs.,
English Blood
Hunter," when starting in life, gave lectures. His first
lecture was attended only by the porter.
Gentle-
" John," said
"take that
the great man, unmoved bilytellutntneetcdeirr,c"uTmisletance,
skeleton down, that I may say. with propriety—
men."

A mechanic at Stockton, named Hobson, has
invented a means by which an enginernan may adjust the
railway switches while the train is in motion ; also a
method of instantly liberating the engine from the train.
—Durham Chronicle,

.TO THE MEMBERS AND MINIS-
TERIAL APPROVERS OF THE OP:JP:CT OF
THE LATE MINISTEIZIAL CONFERE:N`CE
• lIE f.D ON THE CORN-LAWS IN MAN-
. CHESTER.
DEAR Sins—Though one of the Secretaries of the Mi-
nisterial Conference recently held in this town on
.the
Cern and Provision-laws of the country, Ido not feel that
I or any other members would be warranted, by the re-
sohition which appointed "a standing committee" to at-
tend to any business left in an unfinished state, er arising
out of the proceedings of the Conference, to initiate any
independent or separate measure in the name of that
Convention. But, from my knowledge of the opinions
of many, and in virtue of the confidence reposed in me,
I take the liberty of addressing this communication to
the members of the Conference, and to all such ministe-
rial friends as have signified their approval of the object
for which it was-convened.
The MI MS of wretchedness, and the extent to which
extreme poverty and destitution prevail among the in-
dustrious classes, which the details submitted to the Con-
ference unveiled, far exceeded our previous apprehen-
sions; and from the brief period to which the meetings
were limited, the varied and urgent accumulations of
evi-
dencs presented from so many districts, -could only be
partially known to
.the ministers assembled—on recount
•of their voltuninuus extent we have been unable to pub-
lish• one-third of the details in the official report ; while,
from -the scattered and remote residences of the members,
we fear the report itself has been accessible to compara-
tively only a few. Moreover, events have occurred since,
and disclosures Pave- been made, which would have
greatly aggravated the impression produced on the mieds
of the ministers, had they been the subjects of authentic
detail. •

I do not allege that a just Government and wise !egis-
lation should in themselves be to us matters of indiffer-
ence, or that we should fail to desiderate such laws -and
such an executive administration as would secure to all
the people the equal rights of citizenship, and the equal
enjoyment of the benefits of a constitutional common-
wealth. The poor should not be debarred by his poverty,
or the conscientious man by his scrupious deference to the
paramount authority of principle, from the immunities
and rewards of loyal fealty to the Sovereign power, and
of conformity with the demands necessary to maintain
the equitable supreme control of' civil rule. An electo-
ral franchise regulated by an exclusive and capriciously
discriminating qualification, class legislation for the pro
tection of favoured interests, and monopolies which sea
cure pecuniary gains or secular distinctions to the advan-
tage of a few and the injury of the many, may but justly
regarded as violations of a righteous equality; and might
legitimately draw down on them the hostility of the de-
vout theologian as well as of the political moralist. They
conform not to the law papenfect and universal love,
But the question iS'ndlemger a subject of speculation
or.theoretie becomes one of humanity and
• jiff i•ej, 'when the operation of any or all of these vicious
principles is seen in the moral and physical deterioration
of millions of men, every one of them struggling with
vision or blindness, with a spark of Divinity called an
immortal soul in him, when, its a consequence, these
millions gaunt in figure, or with shrivelled forms, their
faces pale and haggard, and ready in squalid misery to
start, as in forest roaring's, with ferocity and appetite,
and with strength grounded on hunger, demanding of
those reputed their superiors—" How ;lave ye treated
us? Bow have ye taught us, fed us, and led us, while
we have toiled for you? This is the feeding and leading
we have had of you—emptiness, of pocket, of stomach,
of head, and of heart. Behold there is nothing in us—
nothing but what nature gives the wild children of the
desert." It is a perilous adventure and will require not
a bold and generous but a cruel and desperate courage to
remain quiescent or unconcerned, when we follow these
millions as victim-sufferers, "dreary, languid, struggling,
to their obscure retreats, their hearth cheerless, their
diet thin : for them in this world rises no dawn of
hope--andfin• the world to come almost no expectation,
if it be no: hope in the gloomy rest of death ; since now
even their faith or their superstition begins to fail : un-
taught, uncomforted, enfed : a dumb generation, their
voice only an inarticulate cry: spokesman in the nation's
council, in the world's forum, they have none that finds
credence." What then may be their refuge ? Let the
infidelity and sanguinary deluges of revoluticnary France
answer, and let every patriotic Christian seek to avert so
fearful a catastrophe.
Long time had ministers of religion been repeesented
or believed to be careless about the people's temporal ne-
cessities or physical sufferings, while they were regarded
as. only ostensibly, in.pretence, and for selfish end:, ss:ek-
ing spiritual and far distant objects. A better esti:nate
began to be cherished, and a gleam of hope appeared to
break on the popular mind when " the Conference" as-
sembled ; and the expectation seemed warranted that the
priest and the Levite would take a lesson from the good
:Samaritan. Patience and endurance were prolonged for
a season : the destitute and famished hailed, even though
but too probably visionary, the promise that some change
would follow the confederate expression of ministerial
sympathy. Must this too fond hope be proved deceptive
and a delusion, and this returning confidence be dispelled?
Must the dream of the hungry man, who sleepetli and
behold he eateth—but he awaketh and his soul is empty,
be followed by despair ; and the ferocity and strength
which appetite and hunger create be substituted for pa •
tient endurance and prostrate pauperism ?
If I aslittle more minutely enter into the condition of
the country will you pardon my prolixity, and impute it
to an anxious solicitude to avert the appalling and immi-
nent dangers which impend over our beloved fatherland?
There is but too painful evidence in this vicinity that
there are thousands of unemployed mechanics whose re-
sources are exhausted and whose families are famished,
not knowing whence the nourishment of to-day is to
come; and many of them not tasting food during twenty-
four hours,or they have begged it from their trem-
bling neighbours. I have been assured from the personal
I inspection of parties worthy of credit, that in the towns
of Manchester and Saltine-I there are ten thousands who,
them the ...to...an—x-4 —.nee ay.mrs I,fxs vary:U.l,l4
not more than sixpence-halfpenny per week for theesos-
tennee, rent, and clothing of each person': while the
streets and lanes are haunted by the wretched and gaunt
figures—the unemployed, pauperised, and squalid forms
of fellow-subjects, begging for bread.
This, I grieve to say,- is not all—but we dimly appre •
bend the reduction of others; heretofore in comfort as
small traders. shopncepers, &c., to the same level of ab-
ject wretchedness and helpless poverty. We hear of like
misery and woe from surrounding towns—from Bolton,
Ashton, Stockport, Rochdale, and many other districts.
Nor is this suffering confined to Lancashire, Yorkshire,
Staffordshire, or Wales. But the cry of despair resounds
throughout the country. From Scotland we hear of mo-
thers mixing the dust of wood with the food of their
children, or attempting to silence the gnawings of' hunger
with the miserable shadow of aliment instead of the sub-
stance, by which the craving appetite of their oiTpring
is mocked rather 'than satiated ; while in one town
(Paisley), with a population of sixty thousand, eight hun-
dred and four families have been for weeks subsisting on
the eleemosynary assistance of their impoverished neigh-
bours. Thus besides the ordinary helpless poor, one
family in es-cry seventeen is deriving pauper support from
the casual subscription of benevolence. Is it strange it'
death find an easy prey among such a population, and
produce fearful havoc soon? But what can stop his
ravages during winter amidst such destitution, should
•the famished victims remain in quiescent helplessness
and tame submission till then? The unemployed, who
are pining in utter destitution, and have epocaled to the
benevolence of the affluent and of Government for the
means to expatriate themselves and their families to the
farthest foreign shores, where they may obtain labour
and reward for their industry, have repeatedly assured
me that it has been with difficulty they have restrained
their younger companions from pillaging the provision
warehouses around them, and they have broken up bands
of young men associated to take by force rather than
die by starvation, over whom they had parental control.
If five full-grown millions of such should break loose
from the terrors of law in the darkness of winter, where
will be the rights and restraints of property ?
There are silent sujerers• throughout the country,
among whom are many who would die of hunger rather
than complain, whose household furniture has beengra-
dually disappearing in exchange for food--who, during
the last twelve months, have not enjoyed one comfort-
able meal, but whose whole families haec subsisted on
the earnings of some juvenile member, as his parents'
stay. For days and almost weeks together numbers
of such lived without fire during the depth of last
hinter, while the starred and shivering infants sought
refuge in the dwelling of their neighbours, leaving
their father and mother to express their parentr,l
anguish in unavailing and 'bitter tears. The . chill
and heartbreaking penury-.of these children of - want
has sought monientary relief by pawning the -shirt
from the back of the father, the cap or the handker-
chief from the head and shoulders of the mother, or by
the sale of vessels no longer required for culinary pur-
poses. But so limited has been the supply of sustenance
thus procured, that the younger children, by the
piercing cries of want, have supplicated food from their
neighbours, and the only child at work has gone forth
to his labour in the morning fasting, his mother, with
tears, complaining she had not bread to give him; while
the only alleviation of the father's hunger was found in
the influence of tobacco on his stomach, a morsel of
which had been obtained in charity ; and when relieved
by death from the pangs of famine, only a drop of cold
water could be found in the house to refresh or soothe
the agonies of expiring nature. The tears of a mother •
and widow might well then be many and bitter when
standing over -a deceased husband, she sent forth her
working child to his daily toils, saying--" good morning,
love, I hav'nt a bit of bread to give thee." It is thus that
we trace the unnatural process which ends in the exulta-
tion of a child who shall be seen dancing in joy, and
exclaiming " we have plenty of bread and butter, too,
now, since my father died:" in consequence of benevolent
Contributions then received.
There is a generous philanthropy among the poor :
their sympathy and charity for their neighbours in dis-
tress prevent the worst consequences of destitution.
Their contributions, though small when compared with
the smns given by the wealthy, are large when contrasted
with their own means, and generous as the display of
feeling and the expression of principle : nor Will their
cup of cold water be forgotten by the Judge of all. Thus,
indeed, is life often preserved, and the bonds of society
are kept from dissolution. But we must not too confi-
dently rely on such principle of conservation : when
want extensively prevails, its demands the more speedily
and universally exhaust. the community, and- the sym.
pathetic vibrations of discontent more widely pervade
the masses, and call forth a response in feeling and
action. It is but too probable that there are many thou-
sands of families -suffering privation, and rapidly tend-
ing to the condition I have represented.
Why should it be so ? are the people slothful, or do
they capriciously refuse to work ? It is far otherwise.
They eagerly plead for liberty to toil, that by the sweat
of their brow they may eat bread all their days, but
their former employers can give no work, since their
capital is bankrupt, and their energies prostrate ; or
their warehouses are filled with uusaleable goods, and

their markets glutted with a supply larger than foreign
merchants can purchase; because our fellow-subjects
darn not take in exchange the produce of those foreign
lands.
Tile scarcity of home grown produce and the conse-
quent high price of provisions, have it is to be. feared,
tempted the dealers in grain to mix deleterious engredi-
cuts in the food of the people, and thus those who can
procure nothing but a scanty supply of bread may have
not only been defraude and plundered, but their un-
wholesome diet may be hurrying them to an untimely
grave, thus adding to the cruelties of unjust legislation.
In Staffordshire the alarm was given that such deleterious
mixtures were sold as food for the people. But there has
been cause to echo the same complaint in other quarters.
Such fiad wickedness .has been detected in this town;
and flour mixed with plaster of Paris and other sub-
stances, in large quantities, has been bought from the
regular dealer. One case I could name where eighty
sacks were bought as the finest flour, which by chemical
analysis was found so adulterated as to be unfit even for
manufacturing purposes. What the appalling issue
might be of persisting in practices so nefarious and
calamitous, if they should come to be generally known, I
fear to anticipate. But they clearly enough indicate the
operation of the fiscal restrictions on our provision trade;
while the prevalent distress among the trading classes
proves the vicious tendency of the whole commercial
tariff, and especially that policy which excludes the
grain of foreign c:amtlies from our regular market.
The presi ut occupants of Government offices are not
igriorent of this state of the country. A few short
months ago, indeed, they boldly denied the existence of
distress, but gradually they have come to admit that for
some time it has prevailed in the Manufacturing districts.
It is, however. but too probable that they have dissembled
the facts to the Queen or kept them back from her cogni-
zance. Memorials adopted at large assemblies of the suffer-
ing people, signed by the highest civic fuactionaries, by
Magistrates of the most populous towns of the empire, or
by ministers of religion of every name, have been accu-
mulated in the Government offices ; anti, though in some
instances, assurance was given that such memorials had
been presented, yet it was afterwards acknowledged by
the hie best Minister of the Crown they had not been
laid before the Queen ; but, while they were stored in
the Home. office, that .Minister of tke Crown did advise her
Majesty to prorogue Parliament, in opposition to the pray -
ens of many thousands of her loyal and peaceful subjects.
Thus it tinware that men, wire have been conversant
with the state of the country, and must have known the
starring condition of myriads—who strained every power
and unscrupulously ex: rted -every influence to acquire a
dominant ascendeacy in the rominal House of Commons,
and who succeeded in the overthrow of their political
antagonists, by delusion and artifice, hare assumed office
with a reeoltoioa to contemn the people's sufferings and
prayers, as well as to contravene the expression of the
Queen's desires, and her patriotic recommendation, that
some means might be devised by which the national ex-
penditure might be sustained without any increase to the
existing burdensome taxation, and by which the dis-
tresses of the poor might be permanently mitigated. Not
only did they know the wants and distress of the people
from the depression of commerce, and the benevolent
and enlightened solicitude of our justly-beloved Mo-
narch; but for six months they were conversant with the
project of commercial reform, favourably advocated and
entertained by other financiers ; they also knew that the
principle of free trade in every branch of commerce,
end especially in the provision of the people, had been
approved by millions of petitioners, and was regarded
by thousands of religious teachers of the people as it
righteous means of improving the country and ame-
liorating the condition of myriads ready to perish.
Yet they formed a Government of men pledged to op-
pose these principles. They refused to take into consi-
deration the state of the nation ; they slighted the
prayers of millions ; they intercepted the memorials
on behalf of famishing multitudes : the fearful and
wretched state of the country was vainly exhie
bited to them, and their solemn obligation with its
hazardous responsibility was urged on their attention in
eloquent and fervid pleadings in the' House of Commons ;
earnest entreaties were made that they would not suffer
this season to pass and winter to approach till some roe
medy might be adopted,—but, with a supercilious perti-
nacity nod an appalling hardihood, they have shut up
the national council and dismissed the senators of the
land to their pleasures or to -; ursue their selfish inte-
rests, while the nation reels on the brink of' ruin, and
men's hearts are failing them for fear in observing the
signs or the times. The summer is past and the harvest
is ended ; but the people, instead of preparing for win-
ter, have been exhausting their resources, or eking out
their existence by the wild vegetables of the field. Their
clothes, their bedding, their furniture have been sold or
pledged ; and they have no hope of employment for the
reward of which they may be able to redeem their
pledges. How tin-n can they meet cold, dreary winter,
without a stock of food, fuel, or clothing, or any pro-
spect of remunerative employment ? how can they
resist fevers, contagion, or pestilence ? and should the
seditious and treasonable plot convulsion and civil war,
how can we assure ourselves that the faithful subjects
will be able to resist the temptation, or succsssfully to
repress'revolt ? -
In despite of all remonstrances or representations,
then, the Legislature has separated, probably, till another
year, leaving the people to such direful calamities as
want of employment and extreme poverty may occasion,
while no provision has been made to mitigate or soothe
exasperated feeling. The consequences may, indeed,
recoil on the counsellors who advised, or the obstinate
and daring partisans who, for political or selfish purposes,
have incurred the fatal responsibility of such e. measure.
But whe among them willbe- able to relume the light of
the eye once dimmed, by the shades of death, or give the
cold heart to beat again ? And who can calculate the
result among the myriads %%Ilia may be called to hear
the wail of funeral obsequies, when mothers, in worn
raiment, yet with living hearts under it, shall fill the
public places with their wild liachael cries ? Will the
rof-72cavii innanated policy be able to
encounter a whole people wearing a pain-stricken look—
a look past complaint ; as if the oppression of the great
had been like the hail and the thunder; but was no
longer, is thing irremediable or beyond their power of
resistance and revenge ? Were they not bound to re-
member and act in consideration of the tact that, even
should wi, e measures be promptly adopted when Parlia-
ment again assembles, it will be long ere their beneficial
operations will be experienced by the people ? It is
with trembling' I look forward.
Pardon, dear Sirs, this lengthened statement. Some-
thing may be gained by a sympathy and communion of
sentiment in such a crisis. But I propose to do more.
If the suffering people shall see that a movement is in
progress in their behalf among friends in whom they
have confidence, they may renew their patience, and
submit to protracted suffering for a season, in hope
of relief. I should wish, then, to prove to them that
not a few, but that thousands of their pastors sympa-
thise in their sorrows and share in their sufferings,
and have resolved to act with and for them at such
a time. May I be permitted to recommend that
immediate measures be taken to ascertain both the
conditions and sentiments of your people and neigh-
bours, and that memorials and a petition be pre-
pared on the basis of such inquiry— that memorials
to the Queen, one by the males and another by the
females, and a petition to the Legislature, severally com-
plaining of the neglect and insult perpetrated by the
Ministers of the Crown in the present prorogation of
Parliament. and also declaring that the present House of
Commons does not represent the people. Such docu-
ment may bear the signature of every adult male and
female willing to subscribe them, with heir designation.
I should wish to see such memorials and petitions from
as many separate congregations us may be brought to
- feel and co-operate in this movement. The documents I
should recommend to be collected in London, at a time
and place to be hereafter specified, the time to be coin-
cident with the opening of Parliament. To give effect
to them, it will remain for consideration whether simul-
taneously another conference ought to be held in London.
It' so, I should recommend that the members be chosen
by every separate congregation, the number and charac-
ter, whether 13y or clerical, being determined by the
people themselves. But the arrangement, as well as de-
termination for holding such a conference, will roost be-
neficially proceed from London, and to the friends there
I commit the matter. The memorials being collected,
should be presented to her Majesty at one time, if pos-
sible, by deputies, us many as can be admitted to the
Royal presence and escorted to the Palace by the whole
delegation. The petitions, in like 'manner, should be
presented at the bar of the Legislature, with a prayer
drat the petitioners be heard in support of their cause by
counsel, or otherwise.
In the interim, correspondence will be extensively re-
quired—the Anti-Corn-law League, too, will have to put
forth its fullest energies by leethres and the co-operaletiroen.
of its affiliated associations. In their, efficient proceedure
I have full confidence. For each cortreepgzeint
dienn't there
tint
fore, a small Committee will be required, say two or
three, whether in conjunction with, or
minister, as circumstances may render expedient. I
would further respectfully suggest that each congrega-
tion should take immediate measures to raise a fund for
the expenses to be incurred, and resolve, say by the Ist
ofDecember, to transmit to the treasurer of the Anti-
Corn-law League at least 1/. sterling, and also to secure
whatever sum may be needed to bear the expenses of
the deputation to the London Conference.
I would ask you, dear Sirs, to ascertain whether other
they to
Wray sileh an effort and communicate
,
ministers in your vicioity than those whom I have ad-
dlliietshsed,be favourable
them,so that
be included in this general
and national movement against an odious systern of taxa-
tion and injustice, by which the poor are robbed and
the energies of the nation are repressed and prostrated,
Manelhaenslt,edr,eaoreSt.irlss,,yloBl4irl.obedient servant,
J. W. MASSIE.

A few days ag
o a poor man in Leith was most
surprised at
agreeably receiving a letter from his son in
Canada, whom he considered
for some time had been
no more, and for whom he had gornieeiliny thse :—Thetoiemourning.
The particulars of the case are b
young man in question had gone out the capacity
of
baker, in the ill-fated vessel the President ; however,
a few days before she sailed from New York, having
had_ some mi,undcrstanding wi:h the captain, he signi-
fied his determination not to return in her, but' the cap-
tain, being able to supply his place to his mind,
expressed his de,,ermination to compel him, and to avoid
which the young man, only two days before she sailed,
left the vessel clandestinely, and was thus saved from
the melancholy fate which otherwise would have awaited
him,
POST-OFFICE.—The Lords of the Treasury
have at last agreed to the numerous applications which
have been made by postmasters, for some remuneration
for the additional trouble imposed upon them since the
introduction of the new Post-office stamps and envelopes,
and by a circular just issued by Colonel Maberly, it has
been notified that an allowance of 2 per cent. will be
previous
made on all the sales of stamps and envelopes
to the loth instant, and 1 per cent. on the amount of all
sales which max be effected after that date,

One great -mistake in the tactics of the 'Chartists
the recohrse to physicatiorce•—has been since atoned
for by
~ and repudiated by ovary man of any
1
weight amongst them. I need not, therefore, allude to
it, except to remark that the increase of the army to the extent of 5,000 men, and the scheme of the rural
police, .grew out of that unfortunate mistake of tho
Chartist !cadets. Another false move inustle acknow-
ledged in the recommendation of " the sacred month ;"
during which the working classes were to suspend their
labours in order to secure the Charter. These, how-
ever, are past errors, arid I merely allude to them in.
order to put the friends of universal suffrage on their
guard for the future. 'There is, however, a new plan
at present in operation, to which I must refer at more
length, because it bears practically upon the actual
agitation for the Charter. I allude to the plan recom-
mended by some of the leaders to put clown every
other agitation, especially that against the brracLtax.
Upon this subject I will trouble you with a second later-
Let me, in conclusion, however:repeat tl.c advice
I have ventured to offer, that the advocates of the
Charter confine themselves to their object of securt,,-ng_
to all men_a voice in the Government, without a; ;1..,;_.
taking to forciel the yrolicy which the people's
,Pe "
b best
meal will pursue. Lct no again suggest
that
middip
ground to take for co :wincing the minds of,
the
•oeiett:
class and ell tying their prejudices, is that of '
i h:insclF for
and constitutional right of every Man_toa.rrs, ,
, ;ecturers
the purposes of revenue. Lot the qh,
class legislation, :r3
and writersinehx.thpecoshccaarrtitstehreo evils vils of
,mof taxation, the
exhibited in our present unjust s}stc,
r_Hon,, ilie ne.
enormous expenditure in places arir,t..„ e,ntri the opprcs. •
&eat of the education of the pan
the n"
smivaenyn,rofnoorpetlii,eer,
benefit-maintained
of Ite few, "Tr'!;3er'ss: aorle' tthh Eve
tr
05 etial
or erst hueseC(iii ISz
owhich
themescobbrt
t,fo
Cr
aprotzliagrhlt7turnenrts ;
et.
Hofraeltemfourlintit.udei3u tas
leotr gnu:: e;Ltes,
advocates
nndevieoascisaaotnuetrsl yoo.
ffi
capital, or argue in defence
future denounce machinery,
Pasrella'enalrecsu:atinhYey would be traitors to the
the suspicion that they are
justify
the people.
the tried enemies I
am Sir, your obedient S..f.rvant,
AN OLD RADICAI.
goodoofritistlohi errcetaibilertseepea:rdc-tasthena?
184
i.t:uusatify
ittth Oct.,

--•
Mn.ATLIN AND,
.A111:7.13- UFKIZirJRAISI.....
I •
and m.,sat, non• residing itaundon, have
1
44 My- wife . )
readvery on our native country,
your . r Reuliar satisfaction; in:asmuch as the rut- -
America, %%it , I . -.
- v pursuits
Ilees and ins interesting work
has led us to 'visit nearly all the
-muttons 3oa have sick vividly and so justly
- described in your pages. In reading them, we have' been
carried along by a feeling setil:cel-r less vivid and less real
titre or in., .1 • t•
- .
than if were fellow-travellers with you, and actively pass-
ing over the scenes you have so graphically
I think you have brought to the Parent Country, a very
described.
encouraging and just treeount of her Transatlantic Child,.
and this at a time when general and correct information is;
peculiarly desirable, to remove mutual prejndices, and to
promote a fair and friendly understand'
two countries." Mr. Catlin ing b
is the distid author
of " On the Manners and Customs of'nguisheetween
the North American
to
Indians," and gives the above
voluntary and testimony in a letter Mr. Buingham, of the value of
is, we find, published this dack
powerful
his recent work on America, the second edition of which
complete or in shilling 13arts y, and may be had either
, the latter a great desidera-
reedy of " The Great Replthlito ,1
tam, as it enables all classes inform themselves
cor-
,Q.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

THE BRISTOL AND EXETER

RAILWAY.
At the request of a correspondent we insert a letter
addressed to the Editor of the Exeter Flying Post,
on the position and prospects of this line. We are
certainly surprised at the apathy of the persons most
interested in completing it. It would confer a vast
benefit on Exeter, and all the surrounding country,
and we are confident it is absolutely necessary to place
that part of England on a footing of equality with
rival districts.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE " EXETER FLYING POST."
SlR—Ever since the commencement of this most im-
portant work, it has generally been viewed with
apathy both by the inhabitants of Devon and Cornwall,
and of the good city of Exeter. Our most influential
citizens have quietly disposed of the subject by saying
" the line will never be finished," and it has been rather
the fashion to decry and undervalue the undertaking.
The time has now arrived, however, when facts
should open the eyes of men's understanding, for unless
we are afflicted with mental blindness, we must see, for
certain, that despite of all doubts and misgivings, the
rail is not only actually open to Bridgewater, but is half
made thence to Taunton, and will certainly be brought
to Exeter. Now, Sir, every year, half year, and month
that this is procrastinated, is a positive lose to Exeter,
and a great inconvenience to all the country around
it ; with a view, therefore, of directing public attention
to the subject, 1 request permission to offer a few
remarks on the position and prospects of the Bristol
and Exeter Railway.
First, then, of its position. It is open for traffic to
Bridgewater 31 miles, and the speed and comfort
are certainly unrivalled. The distance is often travelled
in an hour, and I have come in 55 minutes, but then,
alas ! had to endure near five hours' confinement in
a coach, to get through the rest of my journey to
Exeter. Need I say how deeply I deplore the contrast ?
With regard to the traffic, I wiil compare it with nine
other lines, taken from the Railway returns, by which you
will see that thus early, and under the disadvantage of re-
ceiving all its westward traffic by road travelling, it takes
a respectable position among other lines, although
many of them are longer, and all, except I believe the
Great Northern, were opened for a considerable time
before it. I subjoin my list :

Traffic par Mile
Miles open. Name of Raihray. per Week.
34 Bristol and Exeter
52 Birmingham and Gloucester 4O
45 Great North of England
38 Birmingham and Derby Junction 33
19 Preston and Wyre 33
31 Hull and Selby 32
60 Newcastle and Carlisle
17 Dundee and Arbroath 22
20 Lancaster and Preston Junction 29
20 Cheltenham and Great Western
Union, Swindon to Cirencester 20

Now, it will appear from this comparison, that the
traffic of the Bristol and Exeter Railway, even at pre-
sent, stands well ; and the pubic may, from such a
commencement, form somothing like an opinion of the
extensive traffic certain to exist on the entire lino to
Exeter, developed av it will he during the existence of the
lease held by the Great Western Rill way Company; and
this leads we to observe that at present the proprietors of
the Bristol and Exeter Railway are receiving 30,0001.
a year, and a 'mileage estimated at upwards of
10,0001. a year more, so that they have at once ob-
tained a revenue from their wcrks, from the opening to
Bridgewater. Such being the position of the Com-
pany, their prospects seem to me certain. They are
rapidly finishing to Taunton, and they will then have
an increased rent and an additional mileage, so that
again revenue will immediately follow completion of
the works.

With such a security in aid of the Company's De-
bei.tures, it is not surprising that loans are offered by
capitalists, and therefore the 500,0001. which th• Com-
pany's Act of Parliament authorises them to raise will
be obtained, and great part of the line constructed
without a call ; but the time will come when
the remaining 401. per share must be wanted, and
then it will be highly important to Devon, Cornwall,
and the city of Exeter, if the Directors of the
Company receive it with as much rapidity as possi-.
ble, that the works may not be met trded. What then
should Devon, Cornwall, and Exeter do ? The answer
is obvious, they should pave the way for the calls being
quiekly made, and paid, by becoming Shareholders.
It is very plain to any man's underst inding that if the
shares are divided among a great number of persons,
each an caoly pay up his proportion quickly. No
Cornwall, Devon, or Exeter man who can command
70/. or 80/. should be without a share in the
Exeter Railway. From general report, I understand
that many shares have lately been bought for Devon-
shire and Exeter proprietors, and I trust ere long
it will be felt as a reproach by all opulent gentlemen,
merchants, and tradesmen, in the West of England, it
they keep aloof from this line, so important as it is to
this rail of the kingdom, A 3 a mere money specula•
tion, the holder of shires at par, with his alletinent of
forfeited shares, now receives more than 4 per cent., and
a buyer at the presert discount will get nearly 7, and
the C.)mpany are in possession of a large income under
the leas .% towards this payment ,o proprietors.

I think, Sir, that the few facts and comments I have
thus thrown together, show that both the position and
prospects of the Bristol and Exeter Railway are now
beyond the control of adverse circumstances. It will be
made in time, but if we please, it may ba done vickly.
From the Engineer's Report on the remaining work
there sceass nothing even of an average difficulty except
the White Ball Hill Tunnel of about 1,9.00 yards,
and doubtless if the resources of the Company enable
it to be done, the line both West and East of this
may be finished, and the rails laid, as was the case
with the Box Tunnel on the Great Western Railway.
Let us then, Sir, now exert ourselves, and I hope
the aid of the press will constantly keep the subject
before the public mind, that inquiries may be in-
duced, from which will follow conviction. If the influ-
ential gentlemen, merchants, and tradesmen of Exeter
had combine 1, and set an example to Devon and Cornwall
four or five years age, there is no doubt whatever that
we might at this very time have had the rail open all
the way from Exeter to London. This retrospect
should have its use and stimulate exertion now, by
which in 18-t3 this great advantage may be secured us.
We have men of wealth, station, and influence in the
city and county, and there have been rumours
of their intended exertions ; but now, when their
assistance may do so much good, I trust that
a few of them will give their attention to the
subject, and then, as men are very imitative, we
may soon see a powerful body of shareholders ir:ded
to the proprietors of the Bristol and Exeter Railway,
anxious for the shares to be called up and the money
expended with all possible dispatch, and then this im-
portant and attractive part of the kingdom will soon
have all the advantages of railway communication.

I am,-Sir, B,:e.
A CITIZEN OF EXETER.

THE " PATRIOTS " ON THE
BORDER.
(From the New York American.)
NIAGARA FALLS, SEPT. 2l.—The patriots have,
since the removal of the United States army from
Buffalo, again made this neighbourhood the scene of
their operations, in order, if they can, to embroil both
countries in war.

Last week they made an attempt to blow up two
of her Majesty's steam-beats, lying at anchor in the
Niagara river, at Chippewa. Lett had laid this ne-
farious plot, and since his arrest is said to have boasted
to Governor Seward at Auburn, "that he had been
recently in Canada, and wouM have been successful if
he had not been captured !" Ne also acknowledged
being the actor in the destruction of Brock's monument,
and of a recent blowing up of one of the locks on the
Welland Canal.

The machine consisted of two casks, eoetainit.„-0 1501bs. of powder. They were each placed on a frame
100 yards apart, but connected by a rope, with a leaden
pipe the fuse therein inserted, and thus towed from
Grand Island, and sent drifting towards the vessels.
One only of the casks exploded ; but, most fortunately,
prematurely, being 300 yards short of the mark, other-
wise every soul on board, with the vessel, must have
been destroyed. It was about three P.M.. Those on
board at first supposed the report was that of a cannon.
The men were speedily mustered, and the machine was
seen floating. A boat with six men was lowered, and
whilst proceeding to secure it fired at from Grand
bland, but without injury. And these things have dis-
turbed the public mind, and the canal and frontiers are
sow patrolled night and day by the British troops. It
is my firm conviction that unless there is a strong de-
tachment of United States troops forthwith sent toßuf-
falo, and strong enough and sufficient to show these
gentry the Government of the United States is deter-
mined to preserve peace, acts of this character will to
done, which must have the effect of breaking up the
peace existing between both countries.

contains the The Constitutionnel 1
statement relative to the late inissionsof
Greece :—" The special object of his *o •
servo the present situation of the!ubjoined
I. Ptscatory in.
Greekinej was to ()b-
-and make an inquiry as to the resources of the country.
It appears certain that the Greek Govern('
mcountry.
more than once solicited that the last paymentenhas
of the lean guaranteed by France should be made ;
and that the French Ministry, before coming
to a
final decision, wished to ascertain to what extent the
sacrifices already made hero been beneficial to Greece,
The Ministerial Envoy 13 said to have gathered inf.,
!nation of a illost favourable nature. The amount of the
revenue receipts has considerably increased, balancing
the expenses, and even slightly exceeding them. The
finances are all brought to a regular account, estab-
lished partly upon the French system—for which the
country is indebted to the ability and zeal of the late
M. de Regny, The mercantile marine has been increased
to an astonishing extent. The Greek journals, a short
time ago, enumerated the naval fierce, which, in case of
war, their Government would be able to oppose to the
Turks, and their list showed an effective navy of more
that 300 vessels of all kinds. It appears also that the
municipal institutions already work well, and are becom-
ing so deeply planted as to mi-e r the future establish-
ment of social
order. p o s

HOLBORN BRIDGE VIADUCT.
The model of Mr. John A. Galloway's plan of a
viaduct from Hatton-garden to the Saracen's Head,
Skinner-street, exhibited on Thursday in the Court of
Common Council, has been very much discussed by the
members of the Corporation, and the subject will undergo
immediate consideration in the Court. He states sub-
stantially the object and plan, to the following effect :--
The numerous accidents which are daily occurring,
occasioned by the steep and slippery ascents of Hol-
born-hill and Skinner-street, are too notorious to need
more than a passing reference, nor can it be necessary
to do more than mention the inconvenience sustained
by the public in consequence, because the number of
plans which have been suggested to obviate the diffi-
culties sufficiently attests that the public mind is
alive to the subject. Almost all the plans hitherto
suggested have, however, failed, either because they
have proposed schemes which would create an entirely
new line of street, or so fill up the old line, as to
destroy the value of the houses and shops, and thus the
trade would be diverted, and the present traffic, which
creates business, taken away. Avoiding both these
errors, and profiting by the failure of other schemes,
the projector of the present plan has devised a viaduct,
which he thinks will entirely obviate the objection urged
against a new line of road, and at the same time will
enhance the value of the houses on the present line by
diminishing the trade in the street, which brings no
business, and will leave the foot and such of the car-
riage
passengers as may have business on Holborn-
hill, Farringdon or Skinner-streets. It is intended that
Holborn-hill, from Hatton-garden to the Saracen's
Head, Skinner-street, shall be widened where re-
quired, so as to form a street of the uniform width of
80 feet. This will be effected by the removal of some
of the projecting houses in the line. In the centre of
this street will be built a viaduct 30 feet in width, and
extending in a level line from Hatton-garden to Skin-
ner-street. This viaduct will be used only for
horses and carriages passing direct from Holborn-hill
to the city, and from the city to the west
end. On either side of the viaduct will remain
the present streets, leaving room on either aide for two
carriages to pass each other, and an ample footpath.
This plan will, therefore, preserve to the present line of
shops all the advantages that are derivable from a great
thoroughfare, while it will relieve the inhabitants from
the pressure and inconvenience of those carriages which
now merely pass their doors without contributing to
their trade. And in order to give a free circulation to
the air, and to make the appearance of the viaduct
fight and elegant, it will be carried on light iron arche ,
and of a design so at at once to become an ornament to
the City, while by its utility it will add to the transit of
its traffic, and for ever put an end to those frightful ac-
cidents; which are now of almost daily occurrence. .It is
proposed to seek from Parliament power to levy a very
slight toll upon horses and carriages to effect so impor-
tant a work ; and from the calculations which have
been made of the daily number of carriages and horses
passing, all the cost of purchasing houses and affording
compensaton to their occupants, and of erecting the
viaduct, it is considered certain that a profit of at least
10 per coat. on the outlay will be re ilised. The neces-
sity of some improvement is so apparent, that it is
confidently anticipated that if this plan be not immedi-
ately adopted, some other must be carried into Effect.,
which will divert the trade frum, and destroy the value
of, the present line of houses.
This pl in, as we said above, has given rise to a great
deal of discussion. It is by some considered that no
great would be the saving in (elate by travelling on a
level line, instead of pulling up the steep hill on either
side of Farringdon street, that the viaduct would Le-
come at once the exclusive passage for all vehicles, the
passengers in which did not visit the city for the pur-
pose of shopping in that particular locality. This seems
to be the general opinion, and it is believed that the
trade of the busy neighbourhood would not suffer by
the great rad* thus afforded to heavy vehicles ; but it
is objected by se, eral tin it it would be incoevenient t
build the viaduct in the middle of the street, in con-
sequence of the heavy appearance of an object which,
of whatever materials composed and with whatever skill
and t tste erected, must cast a gloom over the shops,
likely to interfere with business', which requires in this
time of extensive competition, all the aid derive de
from show and parade. The most probable course will
be, it is believed, the erection of a viaduct upon Mr.
Galloway's principle, built clove to the south side of
Farringdon-street, Holborn, and Skinner-street, so that
but a smell number of houses may be sacrificed to an
improvement which will be likely to be exceedingly ad-
vantageous. The most influential men in the Cor-
poration are in favour of the latter mode of erecting the
viaduct, as the traffic at present existing will not be in-
juriously affected by it.
The subject will come on for discussion in all proba-
bility on the next Court-day. In the meantime the in-
habitaots in the local ty are in a Fate of excitement Ili
to the ultimate decision. Some of the members of the
Corporation are in favour of a small toll for pening
over the viaduct, while others say the improvement is
one for which, as great benefits are likely to arise to
the city from its adoption, the Corporation ought to pay
out of their own funds.

[Westover plan may be adopt!d, we trust universal
opposition will be made to a toll in a great thorough-
fare like this. The Corporation of London is not re-
duced to such a degree of poverty as t 3 be compelled to
establish a nuisance of this kind i❑ the heart of the City.
—ED. Sun]