The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-04 00:00:00

No. 17,349.] LONDON THURSDAY '4
3 •
N • ,
IMUNNAMIUMMIr=OIIIEM. ^

A.N APPEAL to the
WIDOW of WILLIAM
COMMA'

!ÜBLIC in behalf of the
THOM, Poet of Invernry.
Provost Thorns Mr. John Watson
Rev. George Gilt'llan Mr. James 14. Ower
Rev. J. R. M`Gavin Mr. William Boyack
Dr. Arrot Mr. William Belt
Mr. James Westland Mr. James Chalmers, Jun.
Mr. Patrick Watson Mr. Arthur Begg, jun.
Mr. Thomas Saunders.
TREASURER—Mr. Patrick Watson.
SECRETARY—Mr. William Boyack.
The Committee appointed to raise a fund for the relief of the
Widow and Family of the late William Thom, the gifted but unfor-
tunate Poet of Inverury, beg leave briefly but earnestly to appeal to
the Public, more especially to the Public of Scotland, in behalf of the
trust which has been confided to them.
The name and genius of Thorn are well known and universally ac-
knowledged ; many of the feeling and pathetic effusions of his WIIISC
have been brought before the public, not only in a combined form,
but in various periodicals. His talents attracted the attention of the
ablest judges; and the Messrs. Chambers, In their Journal, have de-
♦oted a chapter to his autobiography, and to that favourable meed of
praise to which they considered his merits entitled.
The life of William Thom has, indeed, combined the vicissitudes of
a humble child of the Muses, having formed a scene of trials and dis-
appointments, accompanied by au overflowing share of poverty and
distress.

e se
mt abnradn
cbee
ofs t ehairesh Iveeerme
epaasdseeedp al
yt
inh,ep Ir
eI as
swe
akhoi
n 1 I
of I‘Diatillitydeoef—the
his mind ; for thither, to use his own emphatic language, he wished
to return, like a bird that flutters round her forsaken nest, to spend
his latter days in comparative peace and quiet.
His wishes were fulfilled, for not many months ago he did return
from his wanderings, debilitated and impoverished, and breathed,his
last on Monday, the 28th of February. He has left a widow and three
infant children, the youngest but five months old, totally unprovided
for ; and it has therefore been resolved to raise a fund, in ordei, if
possible, to afford them permanent assistance.' A Committee has
been appointed, who have cheerfully undertaken this duty, and. al-
ready they are happy to announce that their call has been responded
to In a prompt and liberal manner. Lord Kinnaird, Lord Jeffrey,
Messrs. Douglas Jerrold and Robert Chambers, and many others,
have spontaneously sent their contributions ; and it is earnestly
hoped that the charitable end the admirers of native genius and un-
obtrusive merit will support and encourage the laudable object which
the Committee have in view.
Dundee, march .111, 1848. ,
Coutributithis• will be received by any of the Members of Commit-
tee; and at the shops of %Messrs. Chalmers, Shaw, and Middleton,
Booksellers, mid Mr. Mills, Perfumer, Dundee.
DEATH OF WILLIAM THOM, THE INVERURY POET.
(To the Editor of the "Dundee Courier.")
undeary 29, 148.
Sir,--The painful task has been &pit Died toe, meFeb of announciBng to
the public the death of William Thom, the Inverury poet. For
some time past he had been in delicate and declining health ; and
his diseased state of body was doubtless aggravated by the uncer-
tainty of his circumstances, and the consequent anguish of his
honourable and sensitive mind. Yesterday, In our city, at half-
past elevat a.m., he departed this life. He has left behind hint
something more than a name—some true and beautiful strains.
which, as " a thing of beauty is a joy for ever," the world will not
willingly sutler, like the inscription on the coffin, to Ise buried in
the tomb. He has left behind him, alas! something of yet ten-
derer and mere mournful interest—a widow and three children,
th 7 eldest of whom is only four years, and the youngest but a few
months old. These are " utterly destitute," and but for the kind-
ness of one or two private friends, might have been cast out ere
this to the charity of the streets. I make no appeal in behalf of
the poet himself; " after life's fitful fever he sleeps well." He has
found what the most troubled and tempest-tossed wanderer will at
last find, and which to him was peculiarly grateful—rest. Nor will
I indulge or express any vindictive feelings as to the treatment
which he recsived while yet alive. A true poet, he met with trimly
poetic usage. He was caressed, but not fed ;as if one could sup
on incense, or as if one public dinner could keep a man alive for
years : But I would bespeak general sympathy in behalf of his
destitute family. I would implore every lover of literature—
every one who has derived pleasure from the departed poet's
lyrics, or from the simple story of his life—to prove their pleasure
and their gratitude true by some more substantial evidence than ex-
clamations or tears. I would call especially upon those who saw
him at our late Watt Festival, and heard almost his latest breath
given forth in those brief, broken, but thrilling accents—accents how
far superior to the measured cadences of rhetoric—to testify by
generous deeds their sense of melancholy satisfaction that theirs was
the privilege of meeting with and hearing him far the last time.
No time ought to be lost. Indeed, no time has been lost. Intima-
tions to the above effect either have been, or are immediately to be,
dispatched to Douglas Jerrold, Charles Dickens, Lord Jeffrey, and
others But as Dundee has had the honour of containing his death-
bed, let us follow the start we have accidentally gained by instant,
active, strenuous efforts in behalf of his widow and his tatherles s
balms.

Messrs. Chalmers, Middleton, and Shaw, Booksellers, and Mr
Mills, Perfumer, have kindly undertaken to receive donations.
The smallest sums will be welcomed
I am, Sir, yours truly,
GEORGE GILFILLAN.
The last verses of the late William Thom, written shortly before
his death :

SONO OF THE DWELLERS IN DEAN VALE.
Tune—" Miller o' Dee."
While we laugh and sing, in this happy ring,
With a bright and a brotherly glee,
May we never forget that the sun bath set
On the homes of misery.
For oh 1 it may be that this chill night wind
Sweeps round some fireless hearth,
Freezing the heart of the homeless one,
With never a friend on earth.
Then aye, as we sing, may we closercling,
In our bright and brotherly glee ;
Yet never forget that the sun may set
On the homes of misery.
Man was not made for this world alone,
The world was lent to man ;
'Tis a debt we owe to Heaven, you know.
Then pay it as well as you can.

Now winter rides mad in his carriage of snow,
'With his pelting rain and his hail;
May it never be said that hunger and woe
Held abiding in bonny Dean Vale.

Then aye, as we sing, may we closer cling,
In our bright and brotherly glee,
And never forget that the sun may set
On the homes of misery.

W. THOM.

CITY of LONDON LIFE ASSURANCE
SOCIETY, for Accumulative and General Assurances.
2, Royal Exchange-buildings.
G. J. FARRANCE, Actuary.
EDWARD F. LEEKS, Secretary.

ARCHITECTS', ENGINEERS', and
BUILDERS' FIRE and LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,
69, Lombard-street, London.
Capital, 1,000,0001.
CHAIRMAN— SYDNEY SMINKE, Esq., A.R.A.
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN—ANTHONY SALVIN, Esq.
Insurances against loss by Fire on the usual moderate terms. In-
surances on Lives at the lowest rates consistent with due regard to
security,
Prospectuses, Forms of Proposals, Form of Applications for the
Unappropriated Shares, and all particulars, may be had at the Chief
Office, 69, Lombard-street, or of any of the agents.
Agents wanted for those towns is which none have yet been ap-
pointed. JOHN REDDISH, Manager.

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and great improvements have been effected In the Optical Depart-
meat. Popular Lectures by Dr. Ryan and Dr. Bachhoffner on Che-
mistry and Experimental Philosophy. A Description of the Depo-
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Saturday Evening) from Seven to Half-past Ten.
Admission, Is.—Schools, Half-price.

THE UNITED STATES
AND MEXICO.

ARRIVAL OF THE• HIBERNIA.
LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.
The British and North American Royal Mail
steam-ship Hibernia, Captain Shannon, reached the
Mersey this morning, about eight o'clock. She
sailed from New York on the 19th ult., and Halifax
on the 22d. She brings 103 passengers, specie to
the amount of 95,0001., and the semi-monthly mails
from the United States. The steam-ship Acadia,
which sailed from Liverpool on the Bth ult., had left
Halifax for Boston some hours previous to the
Hibernia's departure from the latter port. The
,
Washington, for Bremen, via Southampton, was to
sail from New York on the 20th and may, there-
fore, be expected at Southampton in the course of
few days.
By this arrival we have papers from New York,
Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, New
Orleans, Montreal, and Halifax, to the latest date.
Their contents,
in a political point of view, are un-
important, but that relating to trade and commerce
is on the'whole favourable for this country. We shall
therefore first notice that part of the news. The
news taken out by the Hibernia had caused consider-
able embarrassment among the
French houses at
New York, owing to the sesse tion of business and
the overthrow of credit,sconsegnent upon the suspen-
sion of banking and other houses'of France,. added to
the impossibility of realising-'
consignments sent
thither. The following houses ,have; therefore, been
forced to yield to the pressure of the times :—Messrs.
Colonel and Iselin, Pillot and Barbier, A. Rozier and
Co., and Fox and Livingston, the owners of the
Havre Packet Line. Other French houses were
making strenuous efforts to place funds in the bands
of their European correspondents, in order to
strengthen them, and hence exchange on England had
suddenly risen to 110} to 111, at which last rate bills
were held. The export of corn to this country, under
the state of affairs just noticed, was heavy, and over
and above the sums sent out during the week ending
April 12, amounting, it is said, to 350,000 dolls., and
that brought by the Hibernia. The Washington
will bring about 100,0001. This extensive ship-
ment of money had produced a tightness in the New
York money market. The rates of exchange at the
sailing of the Hibernia were, London, 110 - to 111 ;
Paris, 5 32k; Amsterdam, 401; Hamburgh, 36, and
Bremen, 76k. The value of sovereigns was quoted
at 4 doll. 86c. to 4 doll. 88c.; light, 4 dolls. 85c. ;
five-franc pieces, 94kc. to 95c.; Napoleons, 3 dolls.
87c. to 3 dolls. 89e. The cotton market was dull.
The Hibernia's advices had brought down prices kc.
per lb., and at thatgreduction prices were steady.
Middling sold at Sc.i to 6-Ic., uplands, 64c., and Or-
leans, 7c. The market for bread-stuffs had remained
quiet. Flour had declined 50c. per barrel, and wheat
was 15c. per bushel lower. Freights were lower, and
continued dull.
Full particulars of the markets are given in the
reports herewith subjoined.
As already observed, the political news is not im-
portant. Meetings to aid the revolution in Europe
had been held in all the principal cities of the union.
In New York the Germans had raised a large revo-
lutionary fund, to be sent out with fifty pioneers of
liberty, and 2,000 dollars' worth of muskets, to aid in
propagating free principles in Germany. A grand
demonstration to celebrate the late French revolution
came off in the city of Washington on the 12th
of April. The " Marseillaise" hymn was sung,
many houses were illuminated, and a torch-light
procession moved through the streets amidst the
cheers of assembled thousands. A meeting was held
at Boston for a like purpose, but it proved unsuc-
cessful.
By an arrival at New Orleans we have have ad-
vices from Vera Cruz to the Ist ultimo, and from
Tampico to the 22d of March. They inform us that
on the 21st and 22d of March seven senators had left
Vera Cruz for Queretaro, to take their seats in the
Congress, which was expected to assemble in a few
weeks from that date. All civil authority has been
turned over to the Mexicans in Vera Cruz and Tam
pico. Santa Anna, at the date of last advices, via
at Antigua. He had obtained a passport from Colonel
Haynes, Governor of Palopa. It was said he would
proceed to Jamaica, where he would take up his resi-
dence. Fears were entertained by the better class of
Mexicans that the Congress at Queretaro would not
dare to form a treaty. General Valencia, the Mex-
ican General, who commanded the troops at the battle
of Contrieras, and upon whom Santa Anna threw the
responsibility of all his reverses, expired suddenly, in
a fit of apoplexy, on the 25th of March.
General Paredes had been instrumental in getting
up a revolution at Queretaro. Reports received state
oafr c 2,11
Mexico
g . Some that he had been arrested for his trouble. Some
reports also add that he had been aided by Santa
Anna and the advocates of the Monarchist party.
troopse g u
hadtla o
left n the
the 23
city March
Saranta was said to have passed through
l n
for the purpose
clearing the road of the robbers who infest it from
Puebla to Mexico.
of
The court-martial sitting on the case of General
Pillou were still receiving evidence on the case.
A Bill to regulate the transportation of the mails
between the United States and foreign countries had
passed the Senate.
The following is a copy of the Bill :
" I. That the Postmaster. General, under the direction
of the President of the United States, be, and is hereby,
authorised and empowered to charge upon, and collect
from, all letters and other mailable matter carried to or
from any port of the United States, in any foreign
packet-ship or vessel, the same rate or rates of charge
for American postage which the Government to which
such foreign packet or other vessel belongs imposes upon
letters and other mailable matter conveyed in American
packets, or other vessels, at the postage of such Govern-
ment. And it shall be the duty of all custom-house
officers and other United States agents, designated or
appointed for that purpose, to enforce or carry into
effect the foregoing provision, and to aid or assist in the
collection of such postage. And to that end it shall be
lawful to such officers and agents, on suspicion of fraud,
to open and examine, in the presence of two or more re-
spectable persons, being citizens of the United States,
any package or packages supposed to contain mailable
matter, found on board such packets or vessels, or else.
where, and to prevent, if necessary, such packets or
other vessels from entering, breaking bulk, or making
clearance, until all such letters or other mailable matter
are duly delivered into the United States Post-office.
" 2. That all letters or other mailable matter conveyed
to or from any port of the United States by any foreign
packet or ship, except such letters as may be directed to
the owner or owners, consignee or consignees of said
ship or other vessels, shall be so subject to postage
charge as aforesaid, whether addressed to any person in
the United States or elsewhere : provided it is done by
the packet or other ship of a Government imposing
foreign postage on letters or mailable matters conveyed
by any packet or other ship of the United States ; and
such letters or other mailable matter carried in foreign
packet-ships or other vessels, except such as may be di-
rected to the owner or owners, consignee or consignees
aforesaid, are hereby required to be delivered into the
United States Post-office by the masters or commanders
of all such packets or other vessels, when iirriving, and
to be taken from a United States Post-office when de-
parting, and for refusing or failingtodn a?, or for con-
veying said letters over or across the
or
any portion thereof, the party offending United RI.
shall, on con-
not exceeding five thousand dol-
viction, forfeit and pay
lars for each offence.'

Prom Canada we are informed a copy of the official
Quebec contains a rod al
Gazette published at procla-
mation for the regulation of the quarantine establish.
The island
meat at Grosse Island. The orders are most stringent.
Every vessel having more than thirteen passengers on
a thorough
board
beenis
any
toanchor
diseaseaton boardduring th e quarantine
i if there
has y
age,
or
if the vessel has sailed from any port where infectious
pdnisreiafiseeaptirnenv,aailnedd,
the
ee
dirtyves emigrants
g to r
a unntdse are undergo
to be landed
on the island, and they and their clothing and lug-
gage to undergo a compulsory scrubbing,
is placed under the authority of a military com-
mandant.
NEW YORK MONEY MARKET.—APRIL 19.
In Exchange, such is the position of things in France,
all bill operations have been suspended. Parties having
a to make there have been sending speeie.
At Boston the banks last week discounted liberally,
and negotiations of prime, six months' paper were niati
in the street, at the rate of ten per cent. per annum ; th
range, however, for fair names is from Ito 1 ,
-1 per month.'
The transactions in stock were mainly confined to the
fancy and depreciated descriptions, for which the quo
tations are lower. Little
sl has een done in the '' -
s,
solia
in which there has been aslight b
decline.
The sum in coin that will go out in the Hibernia to-
morrow, and in the Washington on Thursday, is esti-
mated by competent persons at about seven hundred
thousand dollars. All foreign gold is at a premi
sovereigns of lull weight being 4 dolls. 90c.; Napoleons, 1114,
3 dolls. 90c. Five-franc pieces have almost disa
peared
American halves are well i premium; Mexican
1 to ii. dollarc,
..,

FOREIGN EXCHANGES.
Exchange on London ... ••• . . 110 to 11 I
Do. on Paris; ••• ••• • ••• 532 i to —.
Do. on Amsterdam ..• .611 GOO 44 to