The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-28 00:00:00

THE QUEEN'S PROGRESSES.
The preparations at Woburn Abbey fur the reception
of the Queen and Prince Albert are admitted on all
hands to be magnificent and worthy of the occasion.
Those at Pansanger and Brocket Hall are on the same
grand scale, and it may therefore be interesting to our
readers to have a short historical account of these splen-
did mansions. The Royal guests will arrive at Pansan-
ger to-morrow, and on the followin7 day will honour
Lord Melbourne with a visit at Brocket Hall. The ac-
counts which we subjoin are from actual inspection as
well as from documentary records.
PANSANGER.—This elegant mansion belongs to Earl
Cowper, and is situated about three miles from Hertford.
It has only of late years become the family residence of
the Cowpers, their more ancient seat being Coln-green,
at a little distance to the south-west. Lord Cowper.
however, in 1801, pulled down the old house at Coln-
green, which had been erected by Lord Chancellor Cow-
per in the beginning of the eighteenth century, and
built the present handsome house in the Gothic style of
architecture upon the site of the manor of Pansanger,
on the north-east bank of the river Mimeram. It has,
moreover, been recently considerably enlarged and im-
proved, and now forms, with its beautiful park, one of
the most delightful objects in this part of the country.
This manor, variously called Pansanger, Blachmene,
and Blakemere, lies in the parish of St. Andrew, Hert-
ford, and was bestowed by William the Conqueror, at
the time of the Conquest, upon Geoffrey de Beet', one of
his followers. It is thus recorded in Domesday Sur-

rey
• Geoffrey Runeville holds of Geoffrey (de Bech) one
hide in Blachmere. There is hind to two ploughs.
There is one to the demesne, and another may be made.
There is one villane with two borders, meadow for to
ploughs, pasture for the cattle, and pannage for the forty
hogs. This land is, and was, worth fifteen shillings ; in
King Edward's time, forty shillings. Two of King
Edward's Thanes held this land, and might sell it."
Any further acount of the descent of this manor is not
to be met with among old records, till the reign of King
Henry the Eighth, when it formed part of the possessions
of Gertrude Courtney, Marchioness of Exeter, upon
whose attainder it came to the Crown. Afterwards,
King Henry the Eighth, by his letters patent, dated the
18th of June, in the 38th year of his reign, granted it by
the more modern name of Pansanger, to Nicholas Throg-
morton, RA., in fee. Pansanger, afterwards, by means
which are not ascertainable, became the property of
Su- Stephen Slaney, who was knighted in the reign of
Queen Elizabeth, and chosen Lord Mayor of the city, in
the thirty-seventh year of her reign. From him it con-
tinued in the family till it became by descent and pur-
chase entirely vested, by intermarriage, in the hands of
Elwes, a merchant of London, by whom it was sold
to William, son of William, first Earl Cowper.
This nobleman was sprung from an ancient family,
seated at Strode, in Sussex, in the reign of Edward the
Fourth. The place of his birth is not known, but it is
supposed that he was born in the Castle at Hertford,
which his family occupied for several years previous to
their erection of the family seat at Coln-green. He was
brought up to the profession of the law, and on the 4th of
May, 1707, was created Lord High Chancellor.
Upon the removal of the Earl of Godolphin, on the
Bth of August, 1710, from the post of Lord Treasurer,
and the resignation of the other Whig Ministers, Lord
Cowper waited upon the Queen to resign the seals, which
her Majesty returned to him three times after he had
laid them down. At last, when she could not prevail by
entreaty, she commanded him to take them, adding, " I
beg it as a favour of you, if I may use that expression."
The Chancellor was twice .married ; by his second
Wife he had two sons, by the eldest of whom, William,
the purchaser of this manor of Pansanger, he was suc-
ceeded in his titles and estates. After two descents,
Pansanger fell into the hands of the late Earl, fifth
of this title, and who in 1805 married the first Viscount
Melbourne's daughter, by whom he had a son, the pre-
sent Earl. He succeeded his father in 1837, and married
in 1833 the eldest daughter of Earl de Grey.
In the pleasure-grounds at Pansanger is a most superb
oak, as remarkable for the largeness of its dimensions as
for the vigour of its growth. It measures upwards of
seventeen feet in circumference, at five feet from the
ground. It was called the " great oak "in 1709 ; it is
very healthy, yet grows in a gravel surface, apparently
as sterile as any soil whatever ; but it undoubtedly ex-
tends its top roof into a soil of a very different quality.
By a measurement taken in the year 1719, this magnifi-
- cent tree was found to contain 315 cubic feet of timber,
and by a subsequent one made by Mr. Edward Ellis, of
Hertford, on the 29th of May, 1805, by the direction of
Earl Cowper, it contained 796 cubic feet, including those
branches which were sufficiently large to be considered

timber.
BROCKET HALL—This seat stands in a beautiful park
on the north-east bank of the River Lea. It derives its
name from its ancient proprietors, the family of Brocket;
of whom, Sir John Brocket served the office of Sheriff
for the county in which it is situated, in the years 1566
and 1581. Thisgallant soldier in the year 1577, received
the honour of knighthood, and in the year 1585, was en-
trusted with the training and inspection of the men who
were levied and trained in these parts at the time of the
Spanish armament, in Queen Elizabeth's reign, and
whence they were forwarded to the camp at Tilbury.
From the family of Brocket, this estate passed into that
of Read, upon the marriage of Thomas Read, of Barton,
in Berkshire, with Mary, fifth daughter and co-heir of Sir
John Brocket, Knight.
Passing by several minor descents, we find it come at
last into the hands of the Lamb family, who at present
hold it, and who became possessors of it by purchase
about the year 1755. Sir Matthew Lamb was succeeded
in the possession of the estate by Sir Peniston Lamb,
who, after having served in Parliament for three several
places, viz. Laggershall, Malmesbury, and Newport,
was, in the year 1780, created Viscount Melbourne, of
the Kingdom of Ireland ; and, by patent, dated the
11th of August, 1815, Baron Melbourne, of Melbourne,
in the county of Derby. The conjunction of the Mel-
bourne and Cowper t'amilies took place in the year 1805,
by the marriage of Emily Mary Melbourne to Peter
Leopold Lewis Francis, Earl Cowper.
The present. seat of Brocket Hall was begun by Sir
Matthew Lamb, from the designs of Mr. James Payne,
architect, upon the site of the ancient manoigiouse, and
completed, in its present form, by his son and successor,
the present Viscount Melbourne, who has enlarged the
river in front of the house, into a spacious sheet of
water, by throwing an embankment across the valley,
over which the principal approach to the house is car-
ried, by means of a handsome stone bridge of three
arches.

LONGEVITY IN SKYE.--The population of
parish of Snizort, according to the recent census, is
3,177. The proportion of sexes is 1,406 males and 1,77 f
females. Of this number there are now living 46 indi-
viduals above 80 years of age, 7 above 90 years, and 2
have even attained the patriarchal age of 103 and 104
years respectively, whose united acres amount to 3.875
years, a decided proof of the salubrity of Skye, and of
the bleak hills of Snizort in particular, notwithstanding
its general humidity. There is one couple in the
southern end of the parish, of the name of Mackinnon,
who have had 16 children, 14 of whom are now living-
-7 sons and 7 daughters—and the youngest son is clanishly
named Kinnon M'Kinnon. The prolific mother suckled
15 of' them. The population of Snizort in 1831 was
3,487, showing a decrease of 310.
SALMON FISHING.—The exertions of the
salmon fishers in this quarter have hitherto been attend-
ed with very considerable success. The number of fish
taken is much greater than last year, and large quanti-
ties are from time to time shipped for the London market.
A vast number of salmon has been caught this season at
Hopeman, where the fishing is prosecuted with great
spirit, under the auspices of ,Admiral Duff, the enterpris-
ing proprietor of the harbour.—Elgin Courant.
EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY.—
In reference to the interdict which has been granted by
the Court of Session, against the Board of Directors of
this Company proceeding to act under the resolutions of
a meeting of the shareholders, held on the 22d February
last, by which difficulties in the future management were
intended to be removed, we understand that the interdict
is restricted to the first.two resolutions ; the first author-
ising the Board to take upon itself the superintendence
of' the whole affairs of the Company, remitting only
matters of a purely local character to the Edinburgh and
Glasgow Committees, and the second, authorising the ap-
pointment of certain Committees to expedite the busi-
ness of the Company. The Court has not extended the
interdict to the other resolutions of the shareholders, one
of which is to erect all the workshops at Glasgow, in-
stead of dividing them between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The decisions of the Court, and the opinions of the
Judges, as reported, leave still undefined the powers and
duties of the two statutory Committees, as distin-
guished : from the powers and duties of the Board
of Directors, and leaves uncertain whether the in-
terdict refers to the Committees as deliberative or execu •
tive. The Act of Parliament on-the points in dispute, it
would soon seem, like most Acts of Parliament, admits
of two interpretations ; meanwhile, we understand, that
in order that no obstruction be made to the opening of
the line, the Board, at a meeting held this week, consist-
ing of most of the Edinburgh and Glasgow members,
unanimously agreed that the superintendent, and other
officers of the line, be immediately appointed by the
Board, and that it proceed to enact the regulations for
the management of the whole affairs of the Company.—
Glasgow Herald.
GUANO AND NITIIATE OF SODA.—A speci-
men of guano, or of the dung of the guano, a South
American sea-bird, was shown at the agricultural meet-
ing last week, by Mr. Shirring. It is likely to become
a considerable art•icle of commerce, as it is found in great
quantities on the rocky coasts of the Pacific, and is said
to be the most powerful and concentrated of all manures.
Applied at the rate of about two cwt. an acre it produces
very fine crops of turnips and grasses, and is particularly
suited for the light lands, on which tbese crops are
usually reared. The wonderful effects of the sea-fowl's
dung are mentioned by Sir Humphrey Davy, in his Ag,
cultural Chemistry. Together with nitrate of soda,
which is obtained from the same quarter of the world, it
is likely to have a great effect on English agriculture.
Some of the farmers who were at the meeting last week,
spoke in the highest terms of the e&cts of nitrate of
soda, particularly on their wheat crops.—Liverpool Times.
The late county contests have presented a singu-
lar phenomenon. The hungry farmers (who devour
each other by their competition for the hire of farms over
each other's heads, and who oppress the poor by making
their wealth out of them in the summer and autumn,
and throwing them on the parish in the winter), these
hungry farmers and their parish priests—the study of
whose lives is, how to plunder and get the most out of
each other—are to be found banded together in the
struggle to maintain the iniquitous Corn-laws. It is a
peculiar feature in the Popish-Protestant Church of
England, that its tithe-fed priests and their country flocks
are in harmony only when mischief and injustice to the
community aro to be perpetrated. If we w proof
that a law was bad, we should require nothing better
than the fact that a grasping and over-paid priesthood
ettlously supported it.--Dover Chronicle.

COURT CIRCULAR.
The Queen and Piince Albert, attended b y th Dow-. 1
alter Lady Lyttelton, Hon. Miss Sarah Cavendishe , Mar-
quis of IleaEort, Mr. George Edward Anson, Colonel
Buckley, and Colonel Bouverie, arrived at Woburn Ab-
bey, Bedfordshire, on Monday evening, having experi-
enced a most gratifying and enthusiastic reception
throughout the whole of the route from Windsor Castle.
The Royal party occupied three carriages and four.
The Duke of Wellington, the Duke of Devonshire,
the Duchess of Sutherland, the Duke and Duchess of
Leinster, Earl de Grey, Viscount Melbourne, Viscount
and Viscountess Palmerston, and other visitors who had
been honoured with invitations to meet her Majesty, ar-
rived at the Abbey in the course of the day, on a visit
to the Duke and Duchess of Bedford.
After dinner the following Loyal Ode, in honour of
her Majesty's arrival, was sung in the west front of Wo-
burn Abbey, to the tune of " God save the Queen:"—
God bless the Royal pair,
This is our midnight prayer,
God save the Queen ;
Nov stars their vigils keep,
Now night winds around tti sweep,
And now the world's asleep,
God bless the Queen.

Day's pageant now's away,
Yet loyal hearts still stay,
Prolong the strain ;
Guard, Lord, the Royal pair,
Thy mercies let them share,
From every Lam and care,
God save the twain.
The Royal parents bless,
Their child—our young Princess,
Do thou defend ;
And when life's day is done—
Its course in glory run—
() may their mortal sun
In brightness end.
Now let the welkin ring,
While Woburn minstrels s'ng
Their loyal theme.
May Briton's sons prolong
Our Woburn Park night song,
And shout the anthem strong,
God save the Queen.
The unfavourable state of the weather in the early part
of the morning yesterday, prevented 'the Royal party
leaving Woburn Abbey in the forenoon.

The Duchess of Cambridge, the Princesses Augusta
and Mary of Cambridge, returned to town from Kew on
Monday evening.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester left
Kensington on Monday afternoon, on her return to her.
residence in Bagshot Park.
Their Royal highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge,
Prince George and the Princess Augusta of Cambridge,
attended by Lady Augusta Somerset, visited the Royal
Academy in Trafidgar-square yesterday afternoon. Sir
Martin Archer Slice, the President of the Academy, re-
ceived their Royal Highnesses, and conducted them
through the different schools.

FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE

ARRIVALS.

The Earl of Liverpool, at Fife House, from 'hided Park,
Sussex ; the Duke and Duchess of Richmond, in Portland-
place, from Goodwood, Sussex ; Sir George Talbot, Bart., at
Mivart's Hotel, from Leamington Spa ; Lord Sondes, in St.
James's-square, from Kent; Sir John Tho-old, liart., from
Lincolnshire ; the Duchess Dowager of Richmond, from Good-
wool to London ; Mrs. Robert Markham, at Raggett's Hotel,
from the Continent ; Captain and Mrs. Scott, at the Pulteney
Hotel, from Windsor; the Rev. Air. Drake and Miss Drake,
at Marshall Thompson's Hotel, from Dover ; Cobb, Esq.,
and Mrs. Cobb, at ditto, from Hawkhurst ; Houston, Esq.
and Mrs. Houston, at ditto ; Charles Fairfax, Esq., at ditto
from Gilling Castle.

DEPARTURES.
Sir Philip and Lady H. Durham, from their house in Hill-
street, for their seat in Scotland; Mr. and Lady Louisa Alex-
ander, and Lady Mary Knox, for Brighton; Mr. East, M.P.,
and Lady, from Eaton-square, on a visit to Lord and I.ady
Leigh, at Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwickshire; Mr. and Mrs.
Hudson, from Park-crescent, for their seat in Shropshire ; Ma-
jor Pugh and family, from Hanover. square, fur their seat,
I.lanerchydol, Montgomeryshire ; J. Potts, Esq., and Miss
Potts, from the Pulteney Hotel, for Ramsgate; Edw. Singleton,
Esq., and Mrs. Singleton, from ditto, for Margate ; John
Dosser, Esq., and the Misses Bower, from ditto, for Paris,
the Earl and Countess of Beverley, the Ladies Percy, and
Lord Lovainc, for Brighton; the Earl and Countess of Gallo-
way, from Grosvenor-square, yesterday morning, on a short
tour; the Earl and Countess of Alanvers, and the Ladies Pier-
repont, from Portman-square, for Thoresby Park, near Oiler-
ton, Nottinghamshire; Charles Barr, Esq., and Mrs. Barr,
from Marshall Thompson's Hotel, for the Continent ; Langford
Brook, Lg., and Mrs. Langford Brook, from ditto ; Dr. Hay,
from ditto; Captain and 11Irs. Watson, from ditto; Mr. and
Mrs. S. Schwabe and family, from Fenton's Hotel, for Man •
chester ; Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson (ol New York), from ditto,
for Scotland ; Capt. F. Ives, from ditto, for Southampton ;
John Latouche, Esq., from ditto, for Southampton; Sir Charles
Scudamore, M.D., from Wimpole-street, for Buxton.
CHANGE.
Sir William and Lady Pole, from Cheltenham, to Wylie
House, Dorsetshire, the seat of James Mortimer, Esq.

BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.
PLYMOUTH, JULY 24.—The extensive preparations ne-
cessary for holding this (the eleventh) meeting of the
British Association are now nearly complete, judging
from what have been already made known. A visit to
the town upon this occasion cannot fail to interest the
curious or scientific inquirer. Plymouth and Devonport
have for some years solicited a .visit from the Associa-
tion, and it was decided at the last meeting at Glasgow,
in opposition to the solicitations from Manchester, Hull,
and other places, that the request of the former towns
should be agreed. Independent of the extensive local
resources of th 6 towns in their naval, military, and ord-
nance establishments, which, by the permission of the
Commissioners of the Admiralty and other authorities,
have been thrown open for the inspection of members
during the week of meeting, the large and valuable inin
ing and manufacturing stores in the neighbouring vi-
cinities of the place of meeting, in Devonshire and Corn-
wall, afford vast opportunities for gratification. All
these advantages have been liberally offered to members.
Hitherto the expenses attendant upon providing ac-
commodations for the meetings in the various towns has
been enormous, whilst many of the fetes have given
them the character of a raree show, scarcely consistent
with the dignity of science. At Liverpool and New-
castle the sums expended were more than 3,0001. each,
whilst last year, at Glasgow, the sum of 3,4001. WA i
charged " fur entertaining the British Association," of
which no less than 8141. was for rent and fitting up the
theatre for dinner, &c. The whole of the expenses at
this meeting are under 6001., nearly the whole of which
has been subscribed for ; and as the prices of lodgings
have not advanced, as on other occasions, on the antici-
pated influx of visitors, the cost to each member will not
exceed that of an incidental visit to the town. The local
officers appointed tier the town, and under whose autho-
rity the arrangements are being made, are, Vice Presi-
dents, the Earl of Morley, the Earl of Mount Edgecumbe,
Lord Eliot, Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, Bart., and Sir
Charles Lemon, Bart. ; Treasurer, Harvey Woolcombe,
Esq., Plymouth Institution ; and Secretaries, W. Snow
Harris, Esq., F.R.S., Col. Hamilton Smith, F.R.S., H.
Were Fox, Esq., F. 13. S., and Richard Taylor, Esq.,
jun., F.G.S.
The first general meeting will be held on Thursday
next, when the meetings of the different sections will
commence. The General Committee holds its first meet-
ing on Wednesday, at one o'clock, at the Royal Hotel,
Plymouth, when the officers for the various sections will
be. appointed. The sections will assemble for the read-
ing and discussion of reports, and other communications,
on Thursday, at eleven o'clock ; and afterwards, at the
same hour, daily during the week of the meeting, ex-
cepting Wednesday, 4th of August.
The general model room will be opened every day at
the Naval Accountant's Office, in Ker-street. The Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty have, at the suggestion
of Admiral Warren, permitted an exhibition of models,
relative to naval science, &c., in her Majesty's Dockyard
at Devonport, and members, on producing their tickets,
will be admitted to the model room, and allowed to in-
spect the various constructions and operations in the
Dockyard, the subjects of which will be explained by
the master shipwright. Captain Taylor, R.N., com-
manding her Majesty's ship San Josef, 112 guns, in Ha-
moaze, will also have an exhibition of models relative to
naval science, on board the ship, which may be inspected
by members. The evening meetings will also form a pro-
minent part of the days' proceedings, and will all take
place at the Town-hall, Devonport, being the most suit-
able building in the two towns. The first general meet-
ing will be held on Thursday evening, the 29th instant,
when Professor Whewell, the President, will take the
chair and deliver an address. On Friday and Tuesday a
soiree and promenade will be held at the same place, at
the former of which Mr. Chatfield, of
and her Majesty's
Dock-yard, will explain the constructing launching
of ships, and at the latter there will be an exhibition of
electro-magnetic and other clocks. On Wednesday, the
4th of August, the concluding general meeting will be
held, when the proceedings of the general committee,
and the proceeds of the several grants of money sanc-
tioned by it having :been explained, the Association will
adjourn till the next year, at such other destination as
may have been resolved upon.
To add to the interest of the occasion, the launch of
her Majesty's ship Hindostan, of 80 guns, which has been
deferred to the period of meeting, will take place on
Monday 2d August, at five, P.lll, preparatory to which
she will be lifted by wedges, to which operation mem-
bers will be admitted. At least three hundred tickets of
admission have been provided for members who desire to
see the launch, on board her Majesty's ships San Josef
and the Caledonia ; and on the same evening, her Ma-
jesty's ship Caledonia, in llamoaze, opposite Mount
Wise, will, by permission of the Lords of the Admiralty
I be illuminated with port-fires.
'ri-

NEVER SATISFIED !—A man accidentally
found a small bag, which he thought was a shot. bag; but
on takitg it up, the bottom came out, and to his great
surprise out rolled 500 spade-ace guineas. When he had
counted them he was sorry he had not found them 20
years sooner, that he might have had the interest on
them also during that period !—lpswich Express.
AN EVERGREEN.—All old lady, residing in
Exeter, a short time since eighty-three years of age,
feeling a pain in her finger, exclaimed, on rising from
her easy chair, "IN ell, if I live to be old, I do believe I
shall be crippled in this finger."—Western Times.
SUICIDE.—The town of Ledbury was thrown
into a state of excitement on Wednesday evening
last, by Mr. Thomas Taylor, a retired tradesman
of the place, committing suicide. He had been long
suffering from dropsy, and was nearly at the point of
death. He had shown symptoms of temporary derange-
ment two or three days prevy)us, and while his attend-
ant was arranging sometlpng in the room, he nearly
severed his head from his body with a clasp knife.—
Cheltenham Journal.