The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-17 00:00:00

T toiUN,

to separate those who God joined, and take m' darling's
heart from me—my own husband? Do you think you
could love him as I did? Ilis love was every thirg to
me. You knew it, and wanted to rub me of it. For
shame, Rebecca; bad and wicked woman—false friend,
and false wife.'
" Amelia, I protest before God, I have done my
husband no wrong,' Rebecca said, turning from her.
" Have you done me no wrong, Rebecca? You did
not succeed, but you tried. AO:your heart if you did
not?' _ _

" She knows nothing, Rebecca thought.
" He came back to me. I knew he would. I knew
that no falsehood, no flattery could keep him from me
long. I knew he would come. I prayed so that he
should.'

" The poor girl spoke these words with a spirit and
volubility which Rebecca had never before seen in her,
and before which the latter was quite dumb. But
what have I done to you,' she continued in a more
pitiful tone, that you should try and take him from
me? I had him but for six weeks. You might have
spared me those, Rebecca. And yet, from the first day
of our wedding you came and blighted it. Now he is
gone, are you come to eee how unhappy I am?' She
continued, • You ;mule me wre' ched enough for the past
fortnight; you iniOtt have spared me to day.'
" • I—l never came here,' interposed Rebecca,' with
unlucky truth.'
" No. You didn't come. You took him away. Are
you come to fetch him from me?' she continued in a
wilder tone. He was here but he is gone now. There
on that very sofa he sate.. Don't touch it. We sato and
talked there. I was on his knee, and my arms were
round his neck, and we said, " Our Father." Yes, he
was here; and they came and took him away, but he
promised me to come back.'
" • Ile will come back, my dear,' said Rebecca, touched
in spite of herself.
" Look,' said Amelia, this is his sash—isn't it a
pretty colour?' and she took up the fringe and kissed it.
She had tied it round her waist at some part of the day.
She had forgotten her anger, her jealousy, the very pre-
sence of her rival seemingly. For she walked silently
and almost with a smile on her face, towards the bed,
and began to smooth down George's pillow.
" Rebecca walked, too, silently away. How is
Amelia?' asked Jos, who still held his position in the
chair.
" "fhere should be somebody with her,' said Rebecca.
I think she is very unwell;' and she went away with a
very grave face, refusing Mr. Sedlcy's entreaties that
she would stay and partake of the early dinner which
he had ordered."
The flight of Jos -Sedley for Brussels, leaving his
sister to the chances of war, on the ever-memorable
18th of June, 1815, is meat humourously told.
Amelia, the trusting Amelia, refuses to accompany
him ; she will remain with Mrs. O'Dowd, at Brussels,
until she hears tidings of George. At last—
No more firing was heard at Brussels—the pursuit
rolled miles away. The darkness came down on the
field and city, and Amelia was praying for George, who
was lying on his face dead, with a bullet through his
heart."

THE COMIC HISTORY OF ENGLAND. By

Gilbot Abbott A' Beckett. Part XV.
The History of the Gunpowder Plot is gloriously
told in this Number, and Leech gives us a most
characteristic portrait of the " Original Guy." The
" lark " of Prince Charles and Buckingham in Spain
is " larkishly " narrated, and the events of the reign
of James I. which are really worthy of record are
summed up after the following amusing fashion :
" Though the sovereign himself was not calculated to
inspire respect, there were► many events in his reign
which rendered it useful if not glorious. Sir Hugh Mid-
dleton commenced at Amwell that now venerable New
River, by dabbling in which he swamped himself and
secured a stream of health and prosperity to those who
came after him. The immortal Hicks finished his
memorable Hall; Lord Napier invented logarithms, to
the extreme disgust of the school• boys of every
generation; and Dr. Harvey made the magnificent
discovery that the blood is a periodical enjoy-
ing the most unlimited circulation. Two Dutch
navigators contrived to double Cape Horn; which
the reader must not imagine was twice its present
size before that operation was performed, for Cape Horn,
like any other cape, is not larger when doubled. Bill
Baffin, an Englishman (you all know Bill Baffin) disco-
vered Baffin's Bay in the year 1616, and a patent for the
fire engine, granted two years afterwards, has been stated
as a proof that steam power was first known in Engtind
in 1618, though upon inquiry we are inclined to think
there was. more of smoke than steam in the invention
spoken of.
" The wealth and extravagance of the nobles, among
whom corruption and bribery were practised wholesale,
retail, and for exportation," may be imagined from the
statement, that on ►he marriage of the French king, the
horse of the English ambassador wore silver shoes so
loosely fastened on, that they fell off, and were instantly
replaced, for distribution among the populace. We can
scarcely believe that any English horse could have
walked in these silver shoes or slippers in the time of
James, however skilfully they could have substituted
sliding for walking, since the Wood Demon, coming to
London, caused the introduction of wooden pavements."

THE COMMITTEE OF THE LIVER-
POOL STOCK-EXCHANGE AND THE RAIL-
WAY COMPANIES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Liverpool Sharebrokers' Association, Royal
Bank-buildings, Sept. 16, 1847.
Sia,—l beg to forward to you resolutions passed
by the Committee of the Liverpool Stock-Exchange,
together with a copy of Mr. Glyn's letter on the sub-
ject, and I am also directed to add, that replies have
been received from the Chairmen of many of the lead-
ing Railway Companies, expressing themselves in
favour of the views of this Committee.—l am, Sir,
your obedient servant,
H. SCRIVENER, 'Secretary.

Committee-room, Stock-Exchange,
Liverpool, Sept. 11, 18477

. _
At a meeting of the Committee of the Liverpool
Stock-Exchange, held this day, in accordance with
an unanimously expressed wish of the entire body, to
take into consideration the present state of railway
property, and to adopt such measures as might be
deemed desirable ;

It was resolved--." That in the opinion of this Com-
mittee the depression of railway property, caused by
the extraordinary events of the last two years, has
been seriously aggravated by the enormous sums
which the railway companies have obtained, and are
still attempting simultaneously to raise from their
proprietors and the public, and that a perseverance in
the same course will perpetuate the embarrassments
which exist, not only in the railway interest, but in
every branch of the industry and commerce of the
coun try.
" It also appears to this Committee that it is in the
power of the several railway companies, by a cordial
union amongst themselves, to devise some measure
which shall afford prompt and effective relief ; and
for the attainment of this end, the Committee very
respectfully suggests that deputations from the various
boards of direction should be invited to meet in Lon-
don, at the earliest practicable period, and take the
subject into consideration."
It was further resolved—" That a copy of these
resolutions be transmitted to the Chairmen of the
leading railway companies."
D. NEILSON, Chairman.

London, Sept. 13, 1847.
Sir,—l shall be perfectly willing to meet the de-
putation whenever it may come to London.

As the organ of the board of the London and North-
'Western Railway Company, I have already announced
tlle intention of the directors to delay, as far as prac-
ticable, the commencement of new works on their
lines.

With regard to the suggestion of a cordial union
among railway companies, allow me to assure you
and the Committee of our earnest desire to co-operate
in any plan by which the desirable end can be ob-
tained.—l remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) GEO. CARR GLYN.
D. Neilson, Esq.

TII E MOST EXTRAORDINARY PROPHECY EVER
KNOWN.---TO SPORTING AND BETTING GENTLEMEN.—
A prophecy in the Era newspaper of last Saturday and
Sunday placed correctly the first, second, and third
horses. The only paper that named the winner, and the
only prophecy ever penned, that plarcaedidltheristihagreefamfirdsyt
horses correctly. Order the above
Satur-
day, it will contain more than,
and sporting journal of your neeTwersmwaanpa,
kfyobrownaexetf Spateuer:
caster Races.
Uncle Sam
expres-
sively, and will bark _
iaideas of racing in print. 0 •5,
sfeoffirDeteohgefirsetattiimieerinhea.
Catherine-street,
Strand, London.
belief now appears to prevail that the
By advices from Paris receivedoiyreeesttoerrsda7)f,
Bank or France have reconsidered the question of a
re-
duction in their rate of discount, upon which they had
the
almost positively decided, and that for the present, at
all events, no change will be made. The state of the
London market is the presumed cause of this decision.
Meanwhile the Minister of Finance is in a position of
great embarrassment. lie has an authorisation to issue
25,000,000 f. in Bonds, at 4i per cent. interest,.to meet
immediate wants ; but a better rate can be obtained by
the discount of good banking bills, and no reliance,
therefore, in cases of emergency, could be placed on this
means.peete;
affairs Still
ei
\t is ,
i,yeffort believed
will
llthatunder
be
mad h
made to
t et
avert
presentthe
ae s-
ne-
gotiation of the loan as long as possible. It seems that
the holders of railway shares are the parties most
alarmed at the possibility of a continuance of the present
pressure in London.
A new station-house is to be established in Leman-
street, Goodman's-fields. It will accommodate 56 men,
with superintendent and four inspectors.

HER MAJESTY'S TOUR TO THE

HIGHLANDS.
(From the Court Circular.)
ARDVERIKIE, SEPT. 14.—Yesterday afternoon her
Majesty and the Prince, accompanied by the Prince
of Wales, and attended by the Duchess of Norfolk
and Major-General Wemyss, drove to Cluny Castle.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness walked in
the grounds at an early hour this morning.

(From the Special Correspondent of the North British

Mail.)
LOCH LAGGAN, MONDAY NOON.—The storm
lasted during the whole of yesterday, and a consider-
able part of last night. This morning the wind is
moderate, but thick showers of rain fall at intervals,
accompanied with a cold piercing breeze, which
smells strongly of winter. As the period named for
the departure of the-royal party approaches, without
bringing any prospect of settled weather, the natives
are getting naturally alarmed lest the Queen may go
away with such a bad opinion of their climate as
will prevent any future royal visits to Loch Laggan.
But Ido not suppose that her Majesty is so very,
easily frightened. There is something even in a High-
land storm worth seeing; and amid all the blustering
vicissitudes of wind and rain which have occurred since
the arrival of the royal party at Ardverikie, her Ma-
jesty has never lost her usual buoyancy and gaiety of
spirits. Mists and tempests, in short, are charac-
teristics of the country, just as much as its invigo-
rating sports and romantic scenery; and if the latter
would be enjoyed the former must be borne.
I learn that considerable damage has been done to
the crops throughout Inverness-shire. Much of the
standing corn has been lodged ; and the ricks of hay,
a great quantity of which is still out, have been scat-
tered in all directions. One would think that such
disasters might teach the farmers to use the utmost
expedition in cutting and carrying in their crops ;
but this is a lesson which a variable climate seems to
have failed in impressing upon their minds. Corn is
allowed to stand long after it is ripe ; and when
reaping is commenced, it proceeds with very slow
and languid steps. If the people basked under the
steady warmth of an Italian sky they could not be
more dilatory in their harvest operations. On making
inquiries into the cause of this apparent apathy, I
have found, in several instances, that it arises from a
positive want of people. The population, thinned by
the policy of the lairds, becomes still more spare at
this season of the year, when great numbers flock to
the harvest in the lowlands, attracted by the higher
remuneration which is there given for their labour.
The result is, that hands cannot be got by the farmers
in this quarter, and they are obliged to cut down the
grain in small parcels by their own hired servants,
till the return of the reapers from the south enables
them to secure the remainder of their weather-
beaten crops.
The loss occasioned by this system is immense.
The corn is scattered, mildewed, and destroyed by
the wind, rain, and frost, with which so elevated a
region is almost always visited towards the middle
and end of September. When the oats are taken to
the mill, the produce in meal, of course, is meagre
in the extreme; and then nothing is heard but excla-
mations against the badness of the soil and climate,
which would be much more just if directed against the
mismanagement of the owners and cultivators of the
land themselves.

The same complaints are made in spring. Sowing
is retarded by the wetness of the soil, for which the
climate is also blamed. But if the fie!ds were well
drained, and the cold wet mosses reclaimed, not only
would the climate itself become more favourable, but
the land would be ready much earlier, even in the
worst seasons, for the reception of the seed.
The wetness of the climate there can be no denying.
But this fact should only induce a man to exert him-
self the more, to arm himself at all points, and to put
in operation those artificial resources by which he can
adapt himself to the vicissitudes, and even conquer the
greatest difficulties of nature. The draining of the
soil, the planting of trees, and the increase of popula-
tion, would tend infallibly to chasten the climate ; and
when by these means it has been brought to its highest
point of perfection, let the industry of the country as-
sume the form for which its natural qualities render it
best adapted. My own opinion is, that these high grounds
would be found better fitted for green than for white
crops. The present system of cultivation is marked
by two opposite extremes. You have either large
sheep farms, in which the fertile straths and barren
mountains are thrown into one general and indiscri-
minate range of pasture, or you have small crofts,
which are covered with an almost unintermitting suc-
cession of white crops. Fill the bottom of the valleys
with a greater profusion of green crops, with which
to fatten the sheep and cattle reared on the moun-
tains, and you will have a system more consonant
with nature, and much more likely to develop the
immense resources of the Highlands than either of
these extremes.
if I am at all right in this opinion, it is to the High-
land people—such people as occupy the townships
which I described in my letter of Friday last—that
we must look for a thorough and profitable occupa-
tion of the Highlands. The large graziers are gene-
rally men who have arable farms in the south, to
which they convey their flocks to be fattened ; or, if
not south country farmers, their frequent
i absence at
markets in all parts of the kingdom render then? n-
capable of giving that close attention to their farms
which the cultivation of crops renders indispen-
sable. They are consequently opposed to the culture
of the Highland soil, and are always loud in their
exclamations against the impracticability of the
climate. It is different with the small native farmers.
They have been accustomed from their infancy to
combine a pastoral with an agricultural life. The
necessities of their families demand the cultivation of
every arable spot of the soil; and all their hopes and
interests are centered in the complete development of
the capabilities of the Highlands. Let them be more
perfectly instructed in the art of agriculture, teach
them how to fatten their own sheep and cattle, open
up communication between their secluded valleys and
the great seats of population, and I venture to pre-
dict that a tide of prosperity will flow over the High
lands, which is altogether unattainable through the
agency of any other class of men.
Fort William offers a splendid outlet for stock fat-
tened in Glen Spean and its neighbouring valley? ;
end it is not unworthy of notice that a steamer sails
on Wednesday from Loch Eil to the Mersey for the
first time.
I understand that Prince Albert intends to visit
Inverness on Wednesday, and that it is probable his
Royal I lighness will sail down the Caledonian Canal
on Friday, in the Fairy, and join her Majesty at
Fort William, whence the royal party will sail
homeward on Saturday morning.
Captain Robertson, of the Shearwater, Mr. Mac-
kenzie, innkeeper at Adiemore, and others, have ar-
rived to-day to receive instructions respecting the
departure.

ITER MAJESTY'S RETURN.
Her Majesty will leave Ardverikie on Friday
forenoon, and embark at Fort William in the after-
noon. On Saturday morning the royal party will
proceed to Crinan, where the handsome barge which
Messrs. J. and G. Burns of this city had fitted up for
royalty, will be in readiness to convey them through
the canal. The above information may be relied upon
as correct.

COURT CIRCULAR.
The Duke de Broglie, French Ambassador, had
rn interview with Lord John Russell yesterday, at
his official residence in Downing-street. Lord
Ilatherton had also an interview with his Lordship
yesterday.
Mr. John Wood, Commissioner of the Excise, had
an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer
yesterday. Colonel Maberly had also an interview
yesterday with the Right lion. Baronet, at his official
residence in Downing-street.
The Earl of Auckland has arrived in town.
Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening from
the Colonial Office for the Governors of the 'West
India Colonies.

A Constant Reader has sent us the following :—As
an illustration of the sentiments entertained by educated
and intellectual persons in France towards the existing
Government, the following incident, reported by an in-
dividual who was present at the time of its occurrence,
appears so much to the point, that the fact is worthy a
place in your columns
" OPINION OF THE EDUCATED CLASSES IN FRANCE
RESPECTING LOUIS PHILIPPE'S GOVERNMENT.—The
Scientific Congress of France—a body similar to our
Association for the Advancement of Science—held its
fifteenth session, during the last week at Tours, on
which occasion nearly one thousand persons, some of
whom were well known to science, art, and literature,
enrolled themselves as members. At a very full meeting
of this learned society, held on Thursday, the 9th inst.,
in the great hall of the Palace of Justice, at Tours,
Monseigneur the Archbishop being present, with many
of the notabilities of the city and neighbourhood, as also
a phalanx of the fair sex, with the lady of the Prefect
of the Department at their head, one of the orators,
whilst discussing the solitary system now pursued in the
Penitentiary of Tours, said incidentally, ' Le Gouverne-
ment sous lequel nous avons, a present, le bonheur de vivre.'
Immediately he had uttered this expression, which, not
long ago, would have passed as only complimentary
verbiage, the speaker was interrupted by such an ex-
plosion of derisive laughter, from apparently almost the
entire audience, that he was unable to finish his sen-
tence, and forced to pause for a short time before tran-
quillity was sufficiently restored to allow him to continue
his speech, and for some of those occupying high places
in this crowded aisemblage properly to arrange their
features, so suddenly discomposed by this sudden out-
burst of genuine public opinion."
SHIPWRECKS IN ORKNEY.—From an estimate
made by a farmer in the Island of Sanday, who has kept
a note of the loss of property by shipwrecks for the
last twenty years, it appears that not less than a quarter
of a million of pounds sterling has been sacrificed in
this manner during that period on that island alone.—
% Scasnian,