The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-04 00:00:00

FLANDERS MAIL.

BRUSSELS, DEC. 2.—The average price of wheat in the
week ending Saturday the 28th November, was 26f. 60e.,
that of rye, 20f. Bc. These prices are a trifle lower than
those of the preceding week, viz., 26c. on wheat, and
27c. on rye.

An experiment has been made at Grammont to make
bread by an admixture of beetroot, viz., 41lbs. of wheat
flour, 311bs. of rasped beetroot, mixing a little more salt
than usual. The experiment has proved perfectly suc-
cessful ; the result being 9lbs. of excellent bread.
The Chamber of Representatives, in the sitting to day,
received the reports presented by Messrs. Lowde and
David in the name of the Committee of Petitions. It
afterwards formed a secret committee for the discussion
of its budget.
The trial of persons implicated in the disturbances at
Nieuport during the fetes will be shortly terminated.
According to the information received twenty-three
soldiers and two citizens are to be tried. The wounds
which have been legally proved are very serious, and
extremely numerous. They were inflicted with the
butt-end of muskets, with sabres and bayonets.
A letter from Alost, relative to the linen market of
Saturday, sa)s, " The additional duties with which our
linens are threatened in the states of the Zollverein,
after the Ist January next, cause all the pieces that come
to market to be eagerly bought up in'order that they may
be sent to Prussia before the new year. This produces a
temporary advantage, which will be followed by an in-
crease of disti ess, unless the Government adopts the
necessary measures to prevent the fatal effects which must
result from the new blow with which our linen manufac-
tures are threatened.
COLOGNE.—IL-ports from the manufacturers of the
circle of Gladlack addressed to the President of the
Chamber of Commerce, upon the melancholy prospects
of thousands of workmen during the ensuing winter and
spring ; 6,000 looms are standing still, and from 12,000
to 15,000 persons are utterly destitute of work or of the
means of obtaining any. Added to this, the work now
in the hands of the manufacturers will not last longer
than the end of December or the beginning of January.
"It is manifest," says the Cologne Journal, " what must
be the pitiable condition of the poor people, when this
is the state of the manufacturers. The masters are be-
sieged by crowds of suppliants entreating for work,
which they are compelled to refuse them with bleeding
hearts, because they have none to give them. The
effect of the misery upon the well-being and morality of
the district is but too apparent, and all must look for-
ward with apprehension to the effects upon a manufac-
turing population. The obvious necessity of doing
something to meet this crisis are most painfully felt,
and doubtless efforts will be made ; but it is next toim-
possible that individual benevolence should meet the
wants of so large a body of sufferers."

ALARMING COLLISION ON THE

BOLTON RAILWAY, —-.
- -
MANCHESTER, THIIRSDAY.—A collision of a frightful
character took place yesterday upon the Bolton division
of the Manchester and Leeds Railway, whereby a bal-
last-train, in which were 29 labourers, in the employ of
the company, was run against by a luggage-train tra-
velling on the same line of rails, but in an opposite
direction. The engine of the ballast-train was seriously
damaged, and the carriage containing the work-people
thrown off the rails and turned over.

The engineer and foreman of the luggage- train, seeing
the opposite train approaching, shut off the steam and
had time to jump off and escape uninjured. Assistance
was procured as soon as possible, and the men, all of
whom were more or less injured, were sent to their
homes, where some of them at present remain in a very
bad state.

The accident appears to have been occasioned by the
wilful disobedience of orders by one of the engine-
drivers. A portion of the line, near the Kearsley em-
bankment being under repair, the materials used in the
works are conveyed from near Bolton, in order that the
repairs might not interfere with the passenger traffic,
the works were ordered to be carried on in the night
time. For the better prevention of accidents, one engine-
driver, named Johnson, was ordered to take all the
luggage trains, either to or from Bolton, upon the " up"
line, while Steventon, the driver of the train conveying
ballast for the repairs, was ordered to use the " down"
line. Had these instructions been obeyed, it is obvious
there could be no passibility of a collision ; the ballast
train was, however, run upon the a rong rail, and the
catastrophe above related occurred in consequence; and
upon Steventon being asked how it was that he ran upon
the wrong line, he excused himself by stating that he
had done it to save the time that would have been lost
by " shunting" the train upon the other line, as he
thought that the luggage train would not run to Bolton
again that morning, as it had already made two journeys
since the preceding evening.
Mr. Himmers, the secretary, and Mr. Issett, the su-
perintendent, having instituted an inquiry into the cause
of the disaster, Steventon, the driver of the ballast
engine, was taken into custody, and brought up before
the county magistrates at the New Bailey Court-house,
Salford. '

The circumstances having been fully investigated, the
prisoner, in his defence, threw the blame upon one of the
watchmen at the Bolton terminus, who told him there
were no more trains coming on that line.
Mr. Trafford told him that that was no excuse, for he
had clearly disobeyed his orders, and, by so doing, he
had endangered both life and limb.
The prisoner was then sentenced for a month to hard
labour ; and in the event of any of the injured parties
dying, will be tried upon a charge of manslaughter. The
injuries received by some of the men are stated to be of
a serious character.

ALMERIA GRAPES.—There are a description of
grapes annually imported at this season of the year from
Almeria, which are much esteemed. They differ very
materially from almost ever) other kind of grape, both
of home and foreign growth, having a peculiarly cool
and refreshing flavour, and of so comparatively firm a
substance, as, on being bitten, to burst with much force
in the mouth, and in consequence of their full appear-
aaceaamdetxh, extent
of
bunch, form a handsome dish for
dessert, when other grapes, excepting those of an in-
ferior quality, throughout the winter months, are dear
and scarce. The importation of this description of grape
is now taking place to a considerable and unusually
large extent.

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.—On Saturday last a little
girl, about six or seven years old, while swinging on a
railing at the top of a stair in Rose-street, fell to the
bottom, a height of three stories. She is now fast re-
coveriog.—Edinburgli Register.
The mortal remains of the late Marchioness (Dow-
ager) of Westminster, were removed from Grosvenor-
square yesterday forenoon, for Eaton Hall, Cheshire,
and this day they will be consigned to the family vault
at Eccleston church, close adjoining. The Marquis of
Westminster, the Earl of Wilton, and Lord Robert
Grosvenor, left town last evening for the purpose of
attending the funeral.
WESTMINSTER-BRIDGE.—The whole of the west
footpath is now repaved, and the palisade is nearly
finished. When the present high and unsightly hoarding
is taken down, a good view of the new houses of Parlia-
ment will be obtained, as the new paling is about the
same height as the stone balustrade on Waterloo-bridge.
Many masons are now employed in layihg down the
kerb-stones on the cast side, and from the activity dis-
played, there is much promise of the bridge being opened
to carriages in the course of a few days. Small trades-
men and poor people who get their living by hawking
commodities about the streets for sale, will duly appre-
ciate the boon—of once more—a free bridge across the
Thames at that part of the river.
Sir Henry Pottinger will take his departure for the
Cape Colony on Saturday ; leaving Southampton by
the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company's ship
Haddington.
Lieutenant-General Sir Benjamin D'Urban, whose
appointment as Commander of the forces in Canada we
have already mentioned, will proceed there with his Ex-
cellency the Earl of Elgin, the Governor-General.
COURAGEOUS CONDUCT OF A CLERGYMAN.—On
Wednesday, the 18th ult., at abouthalf-past nine o'clock
at night, as the Rev. W. Powell, of Ragland, was sitting
in the parlour at his vicarage, he was suddenly alarmed
by one of his servants, who had occasion to take up a
mat from the hall-door previous to fastening it for the
night, rushing in and screaming violently that two men
had forced themselves after her into the hall. He im-
mediately seized the poker, which was fortunately at
hand, and went to demand what they wanted ; when,
without uttering a word, they commenced an attack
upon him with their clubs, but he parried the blows
levelled at him with so much firmness, that though he
received a severe cut on the temple, was knocked down,
and severely bruised on the hands, shoulders, and knees,
he succeeded in getting them out of his house. The
cries of the females attracted two or three of the neigh-
bours to their assistance, though a quarter of a mile dis-
tant ; and as soon as the rev. gentleman was a little re-
covered they searched the premises, and discovered that
the ruffians in their confusion had left a hat, a hedge-
stake, and a large club, behind them ; and that a con-
siderable quantity of blood was sprinkled over the hall
in different placss.—Hereford Journal.
FREE WOODS.—The Lords of the Committee of
Privy Council for Trade having recommended the remis-
sion of the duties on locust treenails and mara wood,
used in shipbuilding, the Commissioners of the Customs
have received a communication from Mr. Parker, one of
the Secretaries to the Lords Commissioners of the
Treasury, stating that he has been commanded by their
Lordships to convey to thm the authority of that Board,
for the admission, free of duty, of locust treenails, and also
greenhart and mara wood, as woods which would have
been formerly admitted as paying the same duties as
teake, and therefore are entitled to be now admitted free
for shipbuilding purposes, equally with that description
of wood.
SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE Snow.---Yesterday the
arrival of beasts and stock intended to be exhibited for
prizes at the show of cattle on Tuesday next created a
tt
good deal of bustle in the neighbourhood of this great
cattle depot. During the day many large and high
arrived ks were
in it
heed, metropolishaving
and in the course of the day several waggons
of prize
in
cattlebullocks n
travelled
by
railway, Lon-
donand
some rare
fatted
fatted beasts have been brought from Scotland
v !os ,
c
by the Aberdeen steamer. Among the stock to be
offered for competition for prizes are some beautiful and
well fatted beasts belonging to his Royal Highness Prince
Albert, reared on the Home Farm. The judges will
admitted,
award the prizes to the owners of the best breeds of cattle
and sheep, &c., on Tuesday next, and on the following
day the exhibitio
• • n will be thrown open for the sale of
cattle and public inspection.
LANCASTER AND CARLISLE RAmwAy.--We are
informed that the determination to open this line
throughout on the 21st of December next has been post-
poned—it is presumed, in consequence of General Pasley
having resigned his situation as Inspector of Railways
at the Board of Trade. The earliest opportunity will,
however, be taken for opening the line, as we believe it
is now in a complete state for public traffic,--Carlisle
Fatriek

MILITARY FORCE OF MEXICO.
We extract from the New York Courier and Enquirer
a brief and interesting sketch of the military resources
and capabilities of Mexico :
"Mexico has always had a larger army than any other
American Republic. In 1827 it was 60,000 strong. At
present it numbers 40,000; 30,000 of whom are infantry,
8,000 cavalry, and the remainder artillery. These troops
come under two categories—active and permanent. The
permanent arc only called out on emergencies; but their
organization resembles that of the active, to whom, in-
deed, they are very little inferior in efficiency. A regi-
ment of Mexican infantry comprises 2 battalions, 16
companies, and 1,792 men, rank and file. A regiment
of Mexican cavalry is 676 strong. But these, though
the number which appears on the muster roll of a Mexi-
can regiment, do not represent its real force. That
force, from desertion and other causes, is continually
varying. A Mexican colonel may command 1,000 men one
week, the next not half that number. Nothing is stable
in Mexico, except its climate ! At an annual cost of
8,000,000 dolls. these 40,000 fighting men are maintained.
26 generals of brigade and 14 of division command them.
A regiment of Mexican infantry has a colonel, 2 lieute-
nant-colonels, 16 captains, 30 lieutenants, and 64 second
lieutenants. If we mistake not, an officer is attached to
each battalion who is called a commandante, a grade
equivalent to that of major in our service. A French
aveller, lately in Mexico, says that there were 24,000
officers in the army of that country! He may be right;
but in his estimate be has included persons who hold
merely honorary commissions, and also the retirados, or
half-pays. The frequency of revolutions in Mexico is
the cause of the vast number of retirados in that republic;
for the leaders of a successful revolt, the moment they
go into office, distribute among their friends a number
of commissions, the recipients of which perform military
duty and receive military pay for a year or two, when,
another successful outbreak occurring, they are
placed on the list of retirados. After the lapse
of a year or two another revolution occurs, which has the
same results as the previous one. Here it is necessary to
remark, that the retirados only receive a portion of what
is their due; so that the term " half-pay officers" is, as
applied to them, something of a misnomer.
The commissioned officers of the Mexican army are
mostly white men; but men of anv colour or caste may
obtain commissions if they have the requisite influence
with the Government. Few of the Mexican officers are
highly educated; nor have they, as a body, that nice
sense of honour which characterises the officers of other
armies. Within the last ten years a military school, on
the plan of the far-famed Polytechnic School, at Paris,
has been established in the city of Mexico. It is, or
was till lately, under the charge of General Conde.
Notwithstanding the assertion of the French writer we
have already quoted from to the contrary, the school in
question is a most valuable institution, and has begun
to realise the expectations of its founders, nor could it
well do otherwise. In the profession of arms, as in
every other, ' knowledge is power," and the knowledge
of the military man cannot be too profound or too ex-
tensive.
" The pay of a general of division in the Mexican
service is 500 dollars per month ; of a brigadier, 375.
The subalterns are somewhat better paid than officers of
the same rank in the British and French services; but,
on the other hand, their clothing and accoutrements cost
them more. In the city of Mexico you cannot buy a
military cloak for less than 100 dollars.
" Let us now say something about the private soldiers
of the Mexican army. Their pay (in the infantry) is
12 dollars a month—in the cavalry, 12i. The soldiers,
when in garrison, cater for themselves. Once a year
they are supplied with a new suit of uniform, quite as
well made as that of the California volunteers ! The
cloth of which their clothes are made is manufactured at
Queretaro, a town in the department of that name.
" The colour of the uniform of the Mexican infantry
is blue. Some of the cavalry wear blue, others red coats.
One regiment of infantry, the 11th, and one or two of
cavalry, are clad in white. There are two kinds of
horse-soldiers in Mexico, Lancers and Dragoons. The
Lancers are the most numerous. The cavalry are
mounted on horses which, though small, ugly-looking,
and only half trained, are incredibly hardy. The sabres
of the privates are not good, yet they cost the Govern-
ment a good deal of money.
" The Mexican infantry are drilled in the French
fashion, and armed with English muskets.
" They are anything but serviceable arms, still they
are better than those made in Birmingham for sale in
Africa, which are apt, the first time they go off,' to go
off altogether. If the muskets of the Mexican soldiers
are bad, their powder is a thousand times worse. During
the bombardment of San Juan de Ulloa by the French
squadron, in 1839, many of the shots from the castle
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"The mode of recruiting for the Mexican army has
been often described by travellers. It is this:—A re-
cruiting party enters a town or village—they stop the
first lazy-looking man they meet, and if he cannot give
a good account of himself they handcuff him and take
him to the barracks. There he is examined by the sur-
geon, handed over to the drill-sergeant, and three weeks
afterwards he is a soldier.
"About three-fourths of the Mexican troops are pure
Indians, the rest Mestizos or half-breeds. There are
very few negroes amongst them.
"It is worthy of remark, that prior to the revolution,
the Indians in Mexico were exempt from military service.
And, what was very singular, the Spanish military code
then in vogue contained a clause forbidding the enlist-
ment of butchers, whatever their colour or birthplace.
A great deal has been said in praise of Mexican valour,
and a great deal in its disparagement. The truth lies
between the two extremes—Mexico is not a nation of
heroes; nor is it a nation of cowards.
"There is great diversity of character amongst the
Mexicans. The inhabitants of the department of Puebla
are much braver and energetic than those of the depart-
ment of Mexico. But in the neighbourhood of Tampico
exists a tribe of Indians who surpass all others in point
of courage, resolution, and strength of character. It is
from thess Indians that the Battalla de Tampico' (which
so distinguished itself at Pulo Alto and Resaca de la
Palma) is chiefly recruited. They resemble the Welsh
in character—may they not be descendants of that
people? There is a tradition in Wales, that about the
fourteenth century one of their princes, accompanied by
a number of his countrymen, their wives and families,
left Wales on a voyage to some distant land, Is hence he
never returned.
" The Mexican soldier has one or two useful qualities.
He is obedient to his officers, and he endures the
greatest privations without a murmur. His stature is
short—seldom exceeding five feet five inches, or five
feet six inches—and he is clumsily made. In the
management of his weapons he evinces' no dexterity.
Wanting pliancy of body and activity of mind, he makes
but an indifferent skirmisher. Deficient in height and
strength of arm, he is not calculated for a Grenadier.
His strength is in his legs. He can march distances
which even a Spanish soldier might fail to accomplish.
During the revolution of 1841, Santa Anna made a
forced march of 60 miles in twenty-four hours. Detach-
ments of Mexican infantry have been known to keep up
with their mounted officers, though they (the officers)
were going at a trot !
" Some travellers say that the cavalry of the Mexicans
is much better than the infantry. This is not the case.
Both are equally good, or, as some might say, equally
bad. The cavalry, for the most part, are recruited from
the same class of men as the infantry. The irregular
cavalry, however, are composed of much finer men than
the regular. They are chiefly Mestizos. Such is the
army of Mexico. Thrice it has been defeated by General
Taylor and his companions in arms, and we have little
doubt that every conflict yet to come, if it be equally fair
and open, will witness a similar issue."

CHURCH-RATES.--A vestry meeting of the inha-
bitant householders and other ratepayers of the exten-
sive parish of St. Dunstan, Stepney, was held yesterday
in the ancient parish church, in pursuance of notice, and
in consequence of a monition from the Bishop of London,
directed to the churchwardens, commanding them to
adopt the necessary measures for making a rate for the
repair of the sacred edifice, which is in a very dilapi-
dated condition. The meeting was a very stormy one,
and the supporters and opponents of church-rates mus-
tered strongly on the occasion. Mr. Head, a brewer and
churchwarden of the hamlet of Mile-end Old-town, after
alluding to the ruinous state of one of the most interest-
ing ecclesiastical edifices in England, and the necessity
for its preservation, read the surveyor's report, and said
that the estimated expense of repairing the church was
1,6501., an outlay which a 3d. rate would scarcely meet.
He proposed a rate of 3d. in the pound, and the motion
having been seconded by Dr. Buchanan, Mr. Holt,
brewer, of Ratcliff, said a 3d. rate would not be sufficient
to raise the sum required, and proposed a 4d. rate. Mr.
Johnson seconded the amendment, which was put from
the chair, and carried by a very large majority. A
scene of great confusion took place, and several persons
got up and began to address the meeting. The Chair-
man, in the midst of the uproar, retired with the parish
officers, and the church was soon cleared of the people,
who had filled every corner of it. The repairs of the
old church will be commenced forthwith, and 1,100/.,
aised by private subscription, will be expended in deco-
ating the interior.
FURTHER ALLEGED DESECRATION OF THE DEAD
IN ST. GILES'S BURIAL-GROUND.—Fresh complaints
having been made about this matter, a further communi-
cation has been made by the police authorities to the
Rev. Mr. Pratt, the resident minister at the cemetery,
who positively denies that any malpractices take place.
Yesterday some members of the St. Pancras Board of
Guardians visited the cemetery, in order to ascertain the
truth of the allegations. The large opening in the
ground appropriated for the deposit of the remains of
those bodies removed from Short's-grounds, Drury-lane,
was opened, and shown to them by the sexton, who, in
answer to questions put to him, positively declared that
the remains were nothing but dry bones, and that
there was no foundation whatever for the assertion
that half decomposed bodies were indecently thrust
into the hole. lie accounted for the appearance of
smoke issuing from the graves, by stating, that it was
a common thing in cold weather for graves to smoke
when newly opened, consequent on the moisture of
the earth. The only circumstance, apparently, to com-
plain of, is the fact that in digging the large pits for the
pauper interments, some of the graves as well as head
and foot-stones of persons lyingin the vicinity have been
disturbed.
We are happy to state that Lady Cottenham, whose
health has been indifferent for some time back, is im-
proving. Her ladyship is staying at Brighton.
ENROLMENT OF PENSIONERS FOR NEW ZEALAND.
—lt is intended to enrol six companies of pensioners,
each consisting of four sergeants, four corporals, two
drummers and fifers, and seventy -six privates, for service
, in New Zealand.