The Sun.
London, England, 1840-06-08 00:00:00

WEsT INDIA MAILS.

Return to an Order of the Honourable the House of
Commons, dated May 7, 1840, for a Copy of the
Instructions of the Lords of the Admiralty, for regu-
lating an inquiry as to the comparative advantages
afforded by different Ports in the Channel, as Ports
for the Departure and Arrival of the West India
Mails :

Admiralty, May 20, 1840.
Sea—The Chairman of the Royal Mail Steam
Packet Company having submitted to my Lords Com-
missioners of the Admiralty, that Southampton be fixed
on as the port for embarking and landing the mails to
and from the West Indies, &c., I am commanded by
their Lordships to request you will act as Chairmen of
a Committee to examine into the claims of the different
ports in the British Channel, and to report to my Lords
which port may be considered most elieible for the pur-
pose—with regard to facility of access at all :items—
aud with reference to the internal arrangements of the
Post Office for despatch in the transmission of mails.
Captain Drew, an elder brother of the Trinity
I-louse, and Mr. Lawrence, Assistant Secretary to tho
Post Office, have been requested to associate them-
selves with you in this inquiry ; and, in the event of
your undertaking the investigation, my Lords wish the
Committee, in the first instance, to call on the Direc-
tors of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company to
place before them the reasons for their selection of
Southampton ; and then to consider the memorials
from any parts in the English Channel (notice of the
inquiry being previously given to each port), and if
deemed necessary, to call before them any individuals
who may wish to be examined as to the points set forth
in such memorials.
The committee are also to examine into the advan-
tages of selecting any other port in the English Chan-
nel, other than those which shall have come before them
by memorial, and for such purpose shall give such pub-
lic notice as they shall think necessary, and shall ex-
amine evidence if they shall think fit.
The principal points for consideration, after having
ascertained the draft of water of the vessels to be em-
ployed in the service, will have reference to facility of
access at all times of tide, and safe moorings for the
vessels in the harbour ; as also the prevalence of winds
and currents at all periods of the year, along the coast
adjacent to the harbour.
The committee are to consider all objections raised
by the company, and will, as far as possible, consult
ttie interests of the company, so far as they may be
consistent with the public service.
The facility of transmitting letters by land to the
port of departure is an important advantage, which, if
combined with naval security, should considerably in-
fluence the decision of the committee ; but as the safety
and regularity of the service will much more depend on
naval considerations, the committee will giee particular
attention to this latter object.
The report of the committee will decide where the
mails shall be placed on board, the company having the
power to start the vessels from any part they please,
provided they can be at the port appointed at the hour
agreed on.—l am, &c.,
(Signed) R. MORE O'FERRALL.
R'ar-Adm. Sir Jas. Gordon, K.C.8., &c. &c.
H. F. AMEDROZ, Chief Clerk.
Admiralty, May 20, 1840.

METROPOLITAN PATENT WOOD PAVE-
MENT.—We hear the principle of this kind of wood pavement
is getting into considerable public estimation. The piece
• laid down in Whitehall has been reported on by Mr. Toogood,
surveyor to the Commissioners for Paving Regent's-park, Re-
gent's-street, and Whitehall districts, as highly satisfactory ;
and the 2.000 yards laid down in Oxford-street 7 have been so
much approved, that an equal quontity more has been con-
tracted for, and is in course of construction. The principle
appears, also, from the meetings lately held at Liverpool and
Manchester, to be taking deep root in other parts of England.
MR. O'CONNELL AND MR. BUXTON.—We
fear that Mr. Buxton has been misled from the path of honour
and of duty, by an ovenNecning desire to obtain the sanction of
certain aristocratic and sacerdotal names to an undertaking that
requires for its successful reselt not only the influence that
wealth and station can contribute, but the power which lies
only in the mental resources, ane moral energies, of such men
as he who has been thus neglected and insulted. It is every
way desirable to see the bishops, the clergy, and the aristocracy,
identify themselves with this great moral movement; but if
their countenance is only to be purchased by the sacrifice of old
tried friends, we tell Mr. Buxton plainly that he much mis-
takes the relative value of that which he would woo, and that
which he would divorce. Mr. O'Connell, on a moderate com-
putation, is worth the entire bench of bishops in a cause like
this. We say this advisedly, regarding him merely as a man ;
but, if we enlarge our view, and regard him in his true posi'ion
as the great legate and herald of the Irish people, we may safely
snperadd the entire peerage to the scale, and yet see it kick the
beam when we have done.— Carnarron Herald.

AN ADVERTISING SEDUCER.—Advertise-
ments hare appeared frequently of late in a Morning Paper, for
a young woman to act in the capacity of general servant, and
it is particularly enjoined that she should be moral and reli-
gious ; it is subsequently stated that a Dissenter would be pre-
ferred, &c. We have good authority for believing that in more
than in one instance the hoary-headed advertiser has endea-
voured to seduce the girls he has thus entrapped. If this
beastly nuisance be not abated, we shall feel it our duty, at all
risks, to give the particulars of a case within our own know-
ledge. As the principles of the young woman happily shielded
her from contamination, we, in the hope of seeing no more
" advertisements," abstain from going farther at present.—
Sunday Times.
INFALLIBLE BAIT.—The full roes of the sal-
mon were placed in a large basin of water. The particles
were carefully separated, and the blood thoroughly washed
from them. Having, after the cleansing, carefully drained
the roe through a cloth, I put about two pounds of common
salt upon them, working the salt well in by the hand. I then
tied the whole in a cloth, and suspended it in the air, while
the preparations for my refreshment were making. In two
hours I tied the mass up in a handkerchief, and placed it
in my basket. The next day I potted it carefully down. This
proved, on the ensuing season, some of the finest roe-bait I
have ever possessed.—Sportsman in Ireland and Scotland.
IMPROVEMENT IN THE SMITHERY AT
CH ATHA al DOCK- YA nn. —Last week the newly-constructed
machine for blowing, and which has been some months in pre-
paration, was put in operation, and found to answer beyond the
most sanguine expectations. It is composed of fans shailar to
these of a winnowing machine, and is worked by the steam-en-
gine employed in supplying the yard with water, and in pumping
out the docks. The engine is some distance from the smithery.
The current of air is therefore conveyed by an arched brick
drain or culvert, perfectly air tight, under ground, which
passes all round the shop, and from this drain pipes convey the
air into the back of the fire, at the point formerly occupied by
the bellows. A valve is placed on the pipe, and acting on the
the same principle as a common cock, the workman is enabled,
by means of a small handle at the side of the fire place, to turn
on as much force as he requires ; and such is its power, that
when full on, the whole of the tire can be blown out. It is
found that when turned one-third on the blast is equal to any
purpose required, except when taking welding heats, and then
one-half is quite sufficient. By this invention a saving of labour
is effected, by dispensing with the services of the men hitherto
continually employed at the bellows. All the old bellows have
of course been laid aside.—Dover Chronicle.