The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-26 00:00:00

TWENTY PERSONS SUPPOSED
TO BE POISONED.
GRANTOWN, OCT. 16, 1847.—This quiet neigh-
bourhood was thrown into a state of considerable ex-
citement on Tuesday last, the 12th, by a report that
the farm servants at Culchoich. about seven miles
from the village of Grantown, had been poisoned.
Mr. Grant, agent for the National Bank in Grantown,
is the tacksman of Culchoich ; and it appears, that
since the commencement of harvest, a considerable
party of shearers, principally women, have been em-
ployes' on the farm, who, with the regular servants,
amount to twenty in number, and are victualled and
lodged in the house. On Tuesday, at two o'clock, the
party dined on sowens and milk and bread—their
wonted fare—some in the house, and some in the
field, where they were at work ; and, in course
of a couple of hours thereafter, every one of
them was seized with illness, severe pains in the
stomach and intestines, accompanied by reaching
and purging, and a burning heat in the feet, by all
the usual symptoms attending a virulent poison. By
nightfall, their condition became worse, and a mes-
senger was dispatched for Mr. Grant, who resides in
Grantown, and who arrived without loss of time, ac-
companied by Dr. Edwards. By this time many of
the women were in a deplorable state—some of them
delirious ; but towards morning they gradually re-
covered, and are now happily out of danger. The
Procurator-Fiscal of Inverness-shire, who happened
to be in this village, was promptly on the spot, and
investigated the circumstances ; but we understand
that, as yet, no clue has been discovered to the origin
of this serious affair. We can scarcely suppose it
possible that any person could contemplate the indis-
criminate poisoning of so large a party—and no ani-
mosity appears to have existed between any of them
to give an appearance of likelihood to such a suppo-
sition. We understand that judicial investigation
will be further prosecuted, and we trust that this
mysterious matter will be satisfactory cleared up.—
Rasa-shire Advertiser.

MEETING OF SCOTCH FISH
CURERS.
_

On Tuesday week a number of the fish-curers of
Wick and Pulteney-town met in the Exchange
Reading-rooms, Wick, for the purpose of considering
the present manner of conducting business in the
consignment of herrings to the Stettin market, and
of consulting as to what means might be adopted for
introducing a better system. Mr. O'Kell, of North-
wich, Cheshire, addressed the meeting at considerable
length, pointing out the disadvantages under which
the Scotch herring-curers labour by the incongruous
way in which they transact:business with the Stettin
market—the most extensive and influential emporium
for Scotch fish in Europe, there having been, on an
average, for the last ten years, no less than 100,000
barrels of cured herrings exported there, the com-
mission on which amounted to about 8,0001. He
proposed that the herring-curers should coalesce,
and open a counting-house in Stettin, as the
Scotch Herring Company, and appoint an ex-
perienced, respectable manager, able to give a
guarantee for a few thousands, through which office
each curer's herrings could be sold, provided they
be shipped on consignment to Stettin. This, in the
first place, would be an entire saving to the body of
the Scotch fish-curers of 7,0001. per annum. He
calculated, as formerly stated, that the commission
paid, direct and indirect, on herrings imported into
Stettin amounted to 8,0001. Suppose, then, the
manager gets 600/. of salary, and 4001. for incidental
expenses—together, 1,0001. ; deducted from 8,0001.,
leaves the large sum of 7,0001. sterling, which is
now expended annually in a foreign state. This sum
of 7,0001. could be dispensed with, as above shown—
a saving to the curer of seven per cent., being a
handsome remunerative profit itself ; and, further,
that on his shipping to Stettin, he would feel a
satisfaction that his goods would be honestly and
dealt with. The manager's salary might be raised by
each curer paying to 1 per cent. on the value of
fish cured by him. The general opinion of the
meeting was in favour of the proposal, and a com-
mittee was appointed to draw up regulations to be
submitted to a subsequent meeting. A document
was drawn up and numerously signed by the meeting,
pledging the subscribers to support the scheme, should
the approval of three-fourths of the curers in Scotland I
be obtained.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY.—The Recruit, 12, Com-
mander A. Slade, was towed into harbour to-day by
'the Echo steam-tug. She will require to be docked
to have her bottom cleaned, the starboard side of
which is thickly encrusted with marine productions
of all sorts. She will be paid all over the bottom
with the composition of the chymical officer of this
dockyard.
The Birkenhead steam-frigate, Commander Ingram,
is in dock refitting, and having the damages sustained
by her collision with the Horatio brig, of South
Shields, repaired.
It is surmised that the Victory will be shortly paid
off, and re-commissioned with the regular flag ships'
officers, the Victory's present officers being transferred
to the ordinary guard ship about to be commissioned.
We are happy to be informed that Commander
Gould, of the Victory, who recently met with a very
serious accident, is going on very favourably in Has-
lar Hospital.
Very powerful and important additions to the
strength of the wall of this garrison are being made
with as much dispatch as the weather will admit of.
The Myrmidon iron steam-vessel, Lieutenant
Commander Roberts, as soon as ready, will tow a
mud engine to Holyhead, or attempt to do so; whe-
ther she will ever get it to its destination is doubt-
ful. She is unquestionably the worst of the iron
steamers.

The Amphion, 36, Captain Williams, will sail, ac-
cording to present orders, to-morrow morning, to re-
inforce Sir C. Napier's squadron in the Tagus. She
will take out supernumerary officers and men, and
letters and dispatches.
The Cambrian, 40, Commodore Plumridge, remains
at anchor off the Knab light. It is now said she has
not yet received sailing orders.
Wind N.W., moderate breezes, weather cloudy,
five P.M.

WOOLWICH, OCT. 25.—The Fisgard, 42 guns, was
taken into the east dock on Saturday to have her
bottom examined ; and on the William and Mary
yacht being paid off on Saturday, Commodore Sir
Gordon Bremer, K.C.B. and K.C.H., Superintendent
of the Woolwich Dockyard, hoisted his broad pendant
on board the Fisgard, and the officers, supernumeries,
and crew of the William and Mary yacht have been
transferred to the frigate. The Black Eagle was also
paid off on Saturday, and her officers and crew are to
be borne on the books of the Fisgard. One sergeant,
one corporal, and ten privates of the Woolwich divi-
sion of Royal Marines, disembarked on Saturda
and joined the division from the William and Mary
yacht, and a similar number from the Perseus, Lieu.
tenant Commander Greet, paid off on Saturday at
her station off the Tower.
The Blazer steam-vessel has been commissioned
by Lieutenant Commander Smith.
The Hecate steam-vessel, Commander Moorman,
left Woolwich for Greenhithe this af,`ernoon to have
her compasses adjusted, and will thin proceed to
Portsmouth to receive further orders at that port.
The Acheron steam -vessel, Commander Lort Stokes,
received her complement of Royal Marines to-day,
from the Woolwich division, consisting of one ser
geant, one coporal, and ten privates, and will soon be
ready to proceed to New Zealand on the surveying
service.

CALLINGTON.—Things are looking rather gloomy
here. Hingston Down Consols and Clidsworthy Mines
managed by Mr. Hitchens, have stopped, although the,
former is reported to have large quantities of tin at the
surface, and to be a very promising speculation. The
steam was getting up to commence stamping for the first
time, when the news arrived that the " bal was knacked."
The Callington mines are not looking so well as they
were a few weeks since. Holmbush is poor; unem-
ployed men are very numerous.—Falmouth Packet.
ullitlST'S HOSPlTAL.—Saturday last, being the'
anniversary of
celebrated by atb e birthday of King Edward VI., was
in Christ'snroaber of "Blues," or gentlemen edu-
cated Tavern. The chair Wital, dining together at the London
as taken by Joseph Beioley, Esq.,
and near him were
W. S. Grey, Esq., aidai: Shea
. Roseviral other old Blues—now
Shea, Thomas Brown, Esq.,
governors of Christ'
; there were also present
John Smith, Esq. (treasjerl the Benevolent Society
of Blues), the,Rev. Dr. the
Prebendaryy
il:niaCßoelovn‘el Pettingal
Horne, M. De tile, and Lieutenant
joining and others from
after. forty-one years' absence in
various parts of the world, all
delight in a social reunion. The evening
e ected as the fit
with heartfelt
Lary secretary,
peculiarly interesting by its being i vies rendered
time to present to Mr. Barnard, the i:
a splendid silver salver and tea servicoen°
seription expressive of his zeal in thletcliauseea,rainngd :',l the high regard in which he is held. It
and
sdpresented by
W. S. Grey, Esq., with an elegant
aappro.priate
speech, in presence of the assemled corn
diately after dinner. Mr. Barnard, thoughpconnysid'emrEZ
overpowered by his feelings, made his acknowledgments'
in a very suitable manner. The inscription states that
it is presented by one hundred of his " brother Blues."
Most of the toasts after dinner had direct allusion to
Christ's Hospital, and the shouts with which they were
responded to, and the attention and pleasure with which
they listened to Dr. Rice's and M. Delille's account of
the progress and improvement of the y oung Blues, gave
abundant evidence that every heart beat with gratitude
to the home of their childhood.
SIX NEW BISHOPS FOR INDIA.—It is contem-
plated to apply the principle of subdivision which has
has recently been made in the diocese of Australia to
India, the whole of which enormous territory is under
the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the four Bishops of
Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, and Co.'ombo. Thole four
sees are to be divided, and six new sees formed, so that
for the present there will be ten Indikm Bishops instead
of four, and this number will be increased as speedily as
circumstances will admit.