The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-30 00:00:00

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE KESTREL
An examination of this fast-sailing yacht took place
on Monday and Tuesday last, when she underwent the
ordeal of a strict examination by Mr. Finchim, of her
Majesty's dockyard at Portsmouth, and, his assistants.
She proved to be quite sound, her scantling of the proper
dimensions, and altogether a faithfully built vessel.
This splendid yacht was built by Mr. Joseph White, of
Waterwitcli celebrity, for the late Noble Commodore;
and was launched as a cutter ; she was subsequently
lengthened by him in midships, and converted into a
yawl, and latterly rigged into a brigantine, which is
her present rig. From time to time great sums of money
have been expended upon her, and she has always been
kept in the must perfect order. There is no doubt she
will be destined to grace the royal navy—a compliment
as much due to her builder as to the memory of the
deceased Earl. Her superior sailing qualities will
render her eligible for the suppression of the slave trade.
In short, vessels of such class and capabilities aro the
only ones adapted to cope with slavers, and, should she
be destined for that service, we have no hesitation in
saying she will prove herself a second Waterwitch, and
there will be no difficulty in getting her manned. It is
a curious coincidence, that the Government of the day
should have selected to purchase both the Commodore
and Vice-Commodore's yachts into the navy, and is no
small compliment to the Royal Yacht Society and the
merchant builders.
_ _

Her Majesty is expected to leave Osborne for Arundel
on Monday or Tuesday next, on her promised visit. It
is generally believed the royal visit to the island will be
prolonged till near Christmas.

ELECTION OF A NEW BISHOP

FOR ARGYLL AND THE ISLES.
(From the Edinburgh Chronicle.)
In obedience to a mandate from the Primus, the
clergy of Argyll and the Isles met at Oben, on the 14th
inst., to elect a new Bishop. There were present the
Very Reverend James Paterson, M.A., Dean of Ar-
gyll and the Isles, the Reverends Samuel Hood, of
Rothsay ; M'Lennan, of Fort William ; D. 31-Kenzie,
of Pprtnacroish ; and H. Montgomery Moore, of Stor-
nowary (Lewis). The Reverend Samuel Hood, of
Rothsay, opened the proceedings, and at considerable
length pointed out the necessity of electing a pious and
good man, and at the same time one who was a gentle-
man in habits and cunnexicns, and who would carry with
him, and exercise an influence and respect worthy of his
high station both in the church and in the world, and, if
possible, ono who had the means of properly sustaining
himself, and, at the same time, of aiding and assisting
his poorer brother. He admitted it was desirable that
the individual should possess a competent knowledge of
Gaelic, but a person thus qualified was not to be found
among themselves, and when they considered the
cir,:unistances under which they were assembled, it
became them to consider whether a knowledge of Gaelic
on the present occasion was absolutely indii-pensable.
They were aware that, the Right Reverend Bishop Low
intended to assign the whole of his income as Bishop of
Moray, and Argyll, and the Isles, as a present provision
for their new bishop, and that at his (Bishop Low's)
death, he meant to give the sum of 8,0001. to the diocese
of Argyll and the Isles, as a permanent endowment; and
in making this munificent intention known, he had at the
same time recommended the Rev. Alexander Ewing, of
Forres, as his successor. Mr. Hood asked whether they
were not bound to take such circumstances into their
serious consideration, and decide (perfectly free as they
were to act, even without such a recommendation)
whether there were any serious objections to Mr. Ewing
which ought to induce them to reject him. He was well
spoken of in the Church and out of the Church as a good
mars—as a gentleman, with ample means, as far as
regarded this world, to be useful. As to his knowledge
of Gaelic, what was to prevent his acquiring as much as
was needful for his public ministrations? The present
Bishop of St. David's in two years after his consecration
acquired a sufficient knowledge of the Welsh language
to enable him to preach to the people in Welsh—and
there was no reason why Mr. Ewing should not do as
much. But suppose he might not make such progress as
Dr. Thirlwall in the acquisition of a language, would
such a supposition, if they had no other objection against
him, justify them in refusing to elect him as their bishop?
Mr. Hook certainly thought not.
The Very Reverend Dean PATERSON next rose, and
said he could not but concur with what Mr. Rood had
said; and, after a few remarks upon the subject, he
proposed that 314 should elect the Rev. Alexander
Ewing as their.-13ishop.
Mr. HOOD seconded the motion; and, after a good deal
of subsequent discussion, Mr. Ewing was elected as the
Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, and the meeting was
then dissolved.
'1 be reverend gentlemen afterwards dined together at
the Caledonian hotel in the greatest harmony.
The new Bishop, we understand, is likely to build a
church, and make Oban his permanent residence. This
will diffuse quite a new spirit in the place and the
immediate neighbourhood, and we have no doubt will
prove a public beiiefit.

CULTIVATION-OF COTTON IN

INDIA.

Towards the close of last month, the Manchester Com-
mercial Association addressed a letter to the Directors of
the East India Company on the cultivation of the cotton
plant in India. In that letter they drew attention to the
increased consumption of cotton in this country, and ex•
pressed their fears that owing to the diversion of land
and labour to other products, the production of the ar-
ticle in. America would rather diminish than increase.
In their opinion, " a crisis iu the cotton trade appears to
impend ;" and they are therefore extremely anxious that
the Court of Directors should, by energetic, liberal, and
comprehensive measures, clear the ground in India for
the tree exercise of British enterprise and intelligence
in the culture of that most necessary article to this
country, and especially to Manchester and the surround-
ing district. The association point out the prominent
obstacles to increased and remunerative production,
which are—the Government assessment or land-tax,
amounting, in two presidencies, to seventy-fire per cent.
on the produce; the want of a regular local market for
the ryot; the badness of the existing roads; the pressure
of local transit dues; dishonest peeking, and the igno-
rant or careless use of the saw-gin. The experiments of
the East India Company have, they think, proved that
American cotton can be grown in India, some of the
earliest sown fields having this season produced 700ibs.
per acre; and they contend, on the authority of expe-
rienced parties, that the cultivation " ought now to be
transferred to the native ryot and merchant, who are
prepared to take it up, and who could produce it at least
fifty per cent. cheaper than the company." In reply to
this letter, the Commercial Association have received
the following communication :
" East India House, Nov. 17, 1846.

" Sir—l am commanded by the Court of Directors of
the East India Company to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter, dated the 20th ultimo, stating that fears are
entertained that the diversion of labour in America from
cotton cultivation, for the purpose of increasing the
production of sugar and other articles of food, will bring
about a crisis in the cotton trade seriously affecting the
manufacturer and operative in the northern districts of
England, and urging, on this and various other grounds,
the great importance of extending and improving the
cultivation of the cotton plant in India, by the removal
of all obstacles that present themselves to an increased
and remunerative production, by the establishment of
local markets, and the construction of roads; and fur-
ther pointing out the frauds that continue to be practised
by the natives of India, for the purpose of increasing
the weight of the cotton; likewise the injury to the
staple by an unskilful use of the saw-gin; and, also re-
questing on the part of the Manchester Commercial As-
sociation, certain information regarding the quantity of
cotton ordered by the Court of Directors to be forwarded
to England, the arrival of which, you state, is expected
with much interest.

" In reply, lam commanded to acquaint you, that the

. -
interest the Court of Directors have for many years
manifested in the important t-übject to which you have
drawn their attention has in no degree abated, and that
there is reason to conclude that the exertions of the go-
vernments of India to improve and extend the cultivation
of the cotton plant, and to introduce machinery for ra-
pidly and effectively cleaning the cotton, are likely to be
attended with the best results.
" I am commanded to add, that in order to test the
success of the experiments which have been undertaken,
the Court have given directions for shipment to England
of cotton to the extent of 5,000 or 6,000 bales, if pro.
curable, from each presidency, in the expectation that
the attention of capitalists in this country and in India
will be thereby drawn to the subject, and that they will
be induced to take advantage of the important improve-
ments in the cultivation and preparation of East India
cotton, effected through the measures which have been
introduced for that object, at considerable expense, by
the East India Company.—lam, sir, your most obedient,
humble servant, JAMES A. MELVLLL,
" James A. Turner, Esq."
—Manchester Examiner.

LAURENT'S CASINO.—This popular place of enter-
tainment is nightly crowded. Among those who have
lately visited the salon, may be mentioned the Earl of
Uxbridge, Viscount Ranelagb, Viscount Cantelupe,
Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, Lord Charles Thynne,
Lord Cecil Forester, Lord Harry Vane, Lord Loftus,
Sir 'Henry Hunlock, Sir W. Anstruther, Sir W. Car-
michael, Sir J. Key, J. Spalding, Esq., G. Wombwell,
Esq., &c.

AERONAUTICS IN GERMANY.—Mr. George Green,
son of Mr. Charles Green, the celebrated aeronaut, has
Just returned from Germany, where he has made several
ascents in his new balloon, " Grosz Behren," so named
from his having descended on that celebrated plain, on
kis first experiment at Berlin ; he afterwards visited
Leipsic, Dresden, and some other places, concluding by
an ascent from Hanover, on which occasion rather a
droll accident eccurred. We extract the account from
the Yolks Blast of the 11th instant, by one of the
voyagers:--" The ropes were slipped at a quarter-past
three o'clock; the superb machine took a south-westerly
direction, and was soon afterwards lost in the clouds,
whence, after a delightful voyage of an hour's duration,
it descended. At its first appearance, and whilst still
at a great altitude, a number of boors had assembled to
witness the strange sight of what they imagined to be a
monster bird, and one of them fetched his loaded rifle,
to have a shot at; it ; but the voyagers were luckily saved
from such a catastrophe, by the rapid descent of the
balloon undeceiving them as to its character; it was only
after considerable hesitation that any of the spectators
would venture near the machine ; but at length some
lads, more courageous than their older fellows, were
made to comprehend what was required of them, and
they seizing the ropes, soon drew it to a place suitable
for a safe landing. The greatest altitude attained in this
ascent was 14,000 feet." The balloon seems to have
excited the greatest astonishment everywhere, from its
enormous dimensioes. Mr. Green has been accompa-
nied in some of his trips by very distinguished per-
sonages. The Swedish ambassadors, amongst others,
ascended With him from Berlin.

AWFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION.
On Tuesday morning last, between five and six o'clock,
an accident of a melancholy nature occurred in the
" CoppallTitt," the property of Mr. John Hargreaves,
jun., of Bolton, whereby eight persons lost their lives.
Thursday afternoon an inquest was held at the
Wheatsheaf Inn, Coppall, before Mr. P. Palmer, coroner,
when the whole circumstances were thoroughly investi-
gated. Mr. J. Gaskell, solicitor, Bolton, appeared on
behalf of Mr. Hargreaves, and offered every facility to
the inquiry.
From the evidence adduced, it appeared that the rule
at the colliery is, that the firemen (whose duty it is to
ascertain that there is no fire-damp in the places where
the men have to work) shall examine the mine before
any of the men are allowed to go to work. The practice
is, that the fireman shall examine each place with a,
Davy lamp, and on finding it free from sulphur, he leaves
a candle burning, which is an indication to the collier
that his place has been examined, and is fit for him to
commence work.

On Tuesday morning, between five and six o'clock, a
number of the colliers and drawers had descended the
pit, and were waiting for the report of the fireman to
commence, when Thomas llalliwell imprudently went
into his "steight" before it had been examined, and the
fire-damp, with which the place was charged, coming in
contact with the light of his candle, a terrific explo-
sion took place, by which the following persons lost their
lives :

Thomas llalliwell, aged 37, who has left a wife and
four children.

Jane Haldwell, aged 13, daughter of the above.
Joseph Hale, a drawer, aged 14 years.
William Turner, aged 25, a collier.
Seth Turner, brother to the above, also a collier,
aged 23. ,

—Mary Booth, aged 11 years, employed as a drawer.
Jane Moss, aged 21, a drawer.
William Wilditig, aged 16, a drawer. And three or
four others more or less injured.
In reference to the employment of women in the mine,
it appeared that it was without the knowledge and con-
trary to the instructions of Mr. Hargreaves. .They
were taken into the pit dressod as boys, and when the
manager told Halliwell that he would have his drawer
examined to ascertain whether it was his daughter er
not, he said he would stick his pick into any one who
would attempt to examine a drawer of his. Mr. Jackson,
of Bolton, th^ surveyor, about three weeks before in-
formed sir. Hargreaves tl-at he suspected from the voices
of the drawers, that some of them were girls, and Mr.
Hargreaves, indignant that his manager should so far
transgress his instructions, Roat over to the pit, but was
assured that Mr. Jackson had been mistaken.

After hearing the evidence, the CORONER said, that
so far as the evidence went it implicated 'no one con-
cerni.d iu the management of the mine. If any one was
to blame, it appeared to be the man Halliwell, who went
into his bt fore it was examined, and vs lie had lost
his life in conscquerce.
The jury returned a unanimous verdict of " Acei.
Ceuta] death."