The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-19 00:00:00

THE SHUTTING UP OF HIGH•

LAND PASSES.
(From the Glasgow Argus.)
We are glad to see that the illegal attempt of the
Duke of Leeds to shut up the pass to Glen Lui Beg,
amid the Cairngorm mountains, has excited so much at-
tention throughout England an Scotland. There has
been a growing disposition for some years, on the part
of great Highland proprietors, and the English sports-
men to whom they let their shootings, to exclude the
people from the mountain paths, to which the people
have as clear a right as any landlord has to his estate.
Fortunately, this last attempt of the Duke of Leeds,
and the odd defence made for it by the Duke and
his eccentric friend, Mr. Grantley Berkeley, have put
matters in such a train as will bring the question
to a speedy issue. The Duke of Athol, imitating
his southern compeer, has, it seems, determined to
close Glen Tilt, which he has no more right to do
than any Mr. Smith or Mr. Jones of London has to
take possession of the best bed-room or drawing-room of
Dunkeld House. These great Nimrods have yet to learn
the great fact, that in the eyes of the law their fondly
cherished deer are not "game," but " vermin "—a fact
which was very dearly proved not many months ago, to
the great discomfiture of a Ross-shire laird, whose deer
were very summarily dispatched by a lowland farmer,
now settled in Ross-shire, in whose turnip fields they had
made depredations more extensive than welcome. They
have yet to learn an equally indisputable fact, that no
landlord has any right of exclusion over the wilder-
ness. Waste land, if not free for the plough and
the spade is free for the foot ;—at least there are very
good lawyers who maintain so, and any doubts that may
exist upon the question will soon be set at rest. The
right of way is in England a right most dear to the
people—a right which the common law has ever enforced.
One John Lewis, a brewer of Richmond, tried this right
against the influence of the whole Royal Family of Eng-
land, and beat it triumphantly. The Princess Amelia,
daughter of George the Third, was ranger of the Royal
Park at Richmond, and thought fit to shut up a footway
that had been used by the inhabitants from time imme-
morial. Her father and all his court supported her. The
brewer, backed by the people of Richmond resisted the
oppression ; and after a long suit, vexatiously defended,
won the cause. The Scottish law is not less clear and de-
cisive. If there is not public spirit enough in the few
Highlanders yet left amid the magnificent glens and
mountains of Perth and Aberdeenshire to re-
sist these autocratic deer preservers, there is sufficient
among the tourists of England and other parts of the
world to try the point. It will not be difficult to found an
association for the preservation of the rights of way, and
to depute half a-dozen sturdy pedestrians next season to
force the passes, if need be. We fancy the Dukes and their
gamekeepers will be rather shy of laying forcible hands
upon any pedestrians sent upon such a mission ; and we
would advise the instant formation of a society for this
very purpose. It will be well supported ; and funds will
not be waning for a cause so noble. We invite the co-
operation of sight-seers, of the admirers of the grand
and the beautiful in nature, as well as of the friends of
popular rights in this cause. Such a society would soon
bring the Dukes to reason, and show them that what roy
alty could not do for a few acres of ground in Surrey
aristocracy shall not do for whole counties in Scotland.

MEMORIAL AGAINST THE ASSOCIATION OF ARCII
AND STATUE.—If Lord Morpeth and the Government
were sincere, when they stipulated that if the appear-
ance of the Wellington colossus on the arch was not
satisfactory to competent persons, after being "on
liking " for three weeks, it should come down—down,
unquestionably, it must come. We would suggest that
a respectful protest against its continuance on the arch,
addressed to her Majesty, should be forthwith drawn
up for signature, and should lie, during a specified time,
at some public place for that purpose. The accom-
plished professor (Cockerell), whose personal protest we
commented on a short time since, would but perform a
duty he owes the public were he to imitate this mea.
sure, and would thereby entitle himself to the thanks of
every lover of art, and of every man jealous for the re-
putation of England in matters lof taste.— The Builder.
ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF CAMPERDOWN.
—Monday last being the 49th anniversary of this
glorious battle, which gave the first check to the hitherto
irresistible prowess of revolutionary France, and anni-
hilated the fleet which Napoleon had destined for the
subjugation of Great Britain, was celebrated at Cam-
perdown, the seat of the Earl and Countess of Camper-
down. A large party of the friends and connexions of
the family assembled on the occasion. Among the dis-
tinguished visitors were Admiral the Marquis of Tho-
mond, Viscount and Viscountess Duncan, Sir Henry and
Lady Johnstone and family, the Lady H. Allen, Sir
Hew Dalrymple, Sir John Ogilvie,&c. The party sat
down to a sumptuous
entertainment at seven o'clock.
The dinner table and sideboards oards were ornamented with
the splendid service of
gold plate belonging to the family.
The large suite of rooms
distinguished
open. In the
saloon, round the portrait of the
13.stinguished Admiral
were displayed the colours of the teh fleet, and in the
grand staircase hangs the celebrated fleet,
by Copley
(father of Lord Lyndhurst), rep
in fall-length
his sword to
portraits Admiral de Winter deliveerlt,iol:, the victorious Duncan. The compan
till a late hour, and nothing could eyxceednothte hilarityseparate
part of the day
and mirth of the party. In the earl
those of the visitors who were fond ofy the sporthseopfatrhke.
field enjoyed the amusement of a battue
Upwards of 190 head of game were broltingtht home
within four hours, chiefly consisting of pheuants.

COMMERCE AND COMMERCIAL

RELATIONS WITH SWITZERLAND.

Statistical science has at length been more directed
in the Helvetic federation to the investigation an ' clas-
sification of positive industrial facts. To the depressed
state of some branches of Swiss industry we owe the re-
port of a commission of practical men, appointed for the
purpose of investigating the causes of depression, and, if
possible, of suggesting the means of remedy or of preven-
tion for the future. With an intelligent impartiality,
the protectionist party was admitted by its representa-
tives into the commission. We find that a minority of
members dissented from the free trade laissez faire re-
port laid before the diet by the majority. That report,
however, was fully affirmed in its conclusions and princi-
ples by the Diet. As a well-written, ably-reasoned do-
cument, it is highly creditable to M. de Gonzenbach, Se-
cretary of State to the Confederation, and a distinguished
economist, to whom was committed the task of preparing
it. Although in some respects not so complete in its
statistical details and information as might be wished,
the returns embodied in it will establish, for the first
time, a basis from which the industrial statistics or
Switzerland may start, and hereafter be gradaally per-
fected, like those of other neighbouring or advanced
countries. We proceed briefly to notice some of the
chief points and figures relating to textile industry.
Of the various manufactures, that of cotton ranks first
in the order of importance. The first spinning factories
date, it is said, from the continental system of Bonaparte.
We are rather inclined to question the accuracy of this
statement, for we have heard, on competent authority in
Lancashire, that some, if but few, spinneries were esta-
blished in Switzerland before that period. One of the
oldest cotton spinners, if not the oldest, yet living in
Lancashire, a contemporary of Sir Richard Arkwright,
Sir Robert Peel, &c., who was largely concerned in the
supply of cotton yarn to the Swiss markets, assured us
some short time since that he had an offer made, about
the year 1795 or 1796, as nearly as we can recollect—
say ten years or more before the continental system—to
undertake the establishment of a large cotton mill, to be
built, filled with the best machinery,- and conducted
under his own superintendence, with a large allowance for
management, in addition to one half-share of the profits,
for which a capital of 100,0001. was to be supplied by, or
under the guarantee of, the Government of the Canton
of, we believe, St. Gall. From patriotic motives, and
himself largely embarked in spinning and mercantile
concerns, with the interests of which it might have in-
terfered, he declined the offer. But he had the means of
knowing, through his travellers and agents, that factories,
though certainly on a much smaller scale, then existed
in Switzerland. The continental system communicated,
doubtless, a powerful impulse to the spread of the factory
system. There were, according to the report of the
Commission, in Switzerland, in 1844, 131 spinneries, of
which 70 were in the canton of Zurich, turning 660,001)
spindles, and producing 160,000 quintals of cotton yarn.
The imports of raw cotton for their supply had for
several years been in constant progression: in 1842, the
last year cited, the quantity was 228,000 quintals.The
number of factory operatives employed was upwards of
10,000 Of power-loom factories there were eighteen,
in which yarn was worked up into 100,000 pieces yearly.
But the far larger portion of the fabrics was still woven
by hand, in common looms, of which there were not far
from 100,000. The canton of Zurich alone reckoned from
18,000 to 20,000 hand-loom weavers, who wove each year
nearly 1,000,000 of pieces of all kinds.
The situation of the hand-loom weavers was, however,
becoming very precarious, in consequence of the fearful
competition of the power-loom. Their wages had fallen
to 16 batzen per week, or less than 2s. On such a
miserable pittance it was not possible long to exist.
The remedy looked to wa3 in the extension of power-
loom works, and their gradual absorption of the desti-
tute hand-loom labour, or the exclusive transference of
the labour to the fabrication of fancy tissues, which
could not be so easily executed by power looms.
Jacquard looms had recently been introduced into several
cantons and it was hoped that the operative crisis in the
cotton manufacture might thus by degrees be alleviated
and pass away.
Next after cotton ranks the silk manufacture. It em-
ploys about 40,000 workpeople. Silk-worms are culti-
vated in the cantons of the Grisons and the Tessin,
which yield a product of about 50,000 pounds (the Swiss
is rather more than the English pound) of silk. The
quantity of raw silk, and of silk, and half silk fabric im-
ported besides, was, in 1842, 28,300 ; and, in 184',
29,900 quintals. In piece-goods, the manufacture is
chiefly in plain silk, from the strongest taffetas to the
lightest fabrics. The ribband manufacture, the chief
seat of which is at Basle, although largely extended also
in Berne, Soleure, Argovia, Thuringia, and Zurich, is,
however, the principal branch of silk industry, and en-
joys a great repute. Exported to Paris, the ribbands of
Basle are so alike to the finished products of Lyons and
St. Etienne, as not unfrequently, it is said, to be pur-
chased and re-exported to Switserland, as the choice fa-
brics of those famous places.
The manufacture of flax and hemp, although no
longer of the same consideration as formerly, was not,
and is not, without importance. The raw material for
working is amply produced in the cantons ; flax is
grown in Berne and Argovia, and hemp everywhere.
But flax-spinning machinery was operating the same
revolution in the linen as had been similarly accom-
plished through the same causes in the cotton manufac-
ture. Flax was no longer spun by the Swiss female
peasantry, except for household use. Foreign machine
spun yarns were imported from all parts, but
particularly from England. The imports of linen and
hempen yarns and fabrics amounted, in 1842, to 14,600
quintals, and in 1843 to 14,000. The transition from
spinning by hand to machine spinning was a great diffi-
culty in the way of the establishment and extension of
flax-spinning mills, and, again, Swiss linen fabrics were
repulsed by the prohibitive duties of all the bordering
states. But several spinning mills had been established,
and every confidence was felt that the linen manufacture
would progress and prosper like that of cotton.
The woollen manufacture occupies the least important
place in the textile industry of Switzerland ; it is far
from sufficing, indeed, for domestic consumption. Flocks
of the ovine race are extremely rare, and agriculture
furnishes but a small quantity of raw material, and that
is worked up in the places where produced. The
greater part of the wool consumed is imported from
Hungary, Bohemia, Wirtemberg, and Italy. Each can-
ton possesses one or several manufactories of wool.
There are twelve in the canton of Zurich, employing 500
or 600 workmen. The quantity of wool imported in
1843 was 13,000 quintals, a portion of which, however,
only enters the country in transit. But the consump-
tion of Switzerland still requires, in addition to the
home manufactured products, a large importation of
foreign-made woollen fabrics ; in 1843, more than
28,000 quintals were thus imported. The report refers
with just pride to the fact of the wealth and well-being
which such an extent of consumption implies. The
workmen of the towns, and the peasantry of the country
are always seen well clothed ; there is not the humble
proprietor of the most modest cottage who has not, be-
sides his holiday suit, good and warm clothing for work
days, and who does not renew it often.

EXTENSIVE BURGLARY AT
BRIGHTON.
A burglary was committed on Thursday night, or Fri-
day morning, on the premises of Mr. Morganti, jeweller,
50, Grand-parad, and property to a large amount car-
ried off. It seems that Mr. Morganti retired to rest on
Thursday night soon after eleven o'clock, leaving every-
thing safe. He sleeps himself at the top of the house ;
the floor immediately above the shop is used as an office
by Mr. King, solicitor ; and the floor above that is let to
lodgers, who state that they heard no noise during the
night. On Frid-ty morning, however, on the servant
coining down at half-past six o'clock, she found the
shop in a state of great confusion—the glass cases open,
the glass-sash in the front window drawn aside, the
shutters of the room behind the shop undone and two
panes of glass broken. Here, it was apparent, the
thieves had effected an entrance ; and indeed no very
formidable obstacle was opposed to them. They had to
get over a wall (facing into Circus-street) about seven
feet in height ; the shutters were only fastened by an
ordinary bolt, and this being forced, and the glass
broken, the window of the back parlour was opened.
There was a door separating the parlour from the shop ;
but it was left open. The thieves must have taken their
time ; for they literally stripped the shop of its most
valuable contents, taking them from their case, which
they left behind, and sweeping them from the rods on
which they hung. Watches, rings, and chains were
their principal aim. Seven gold watches were carried
off—the only remaining one escaping by being covered
over by some other articles, also several silver watches,
four gold chains, a gold box and several silver ones, 3
silver guard-chains, 18 gold pencil cases, five diamond
and ruby rings, and about 100 lady's and gentlemen's
gold rings, with stones, about 36 gentlemen's pins, 8 gold
lockets, 5 gold brooches, 6 gold cord guard-chains, a
diamond earring, silver spoons and forks, and a variety
of other articles of value, which the owner estimates
altogether at upwards of 5004 Many articles of value,
as cameos, gold brooches, &c., were left behind ; the
object of the thieves evidently being to get as much
booty within as small a compass as possible. They left
by the same way they entered, leaving the back-door
unfastened. At half-past two, the policeman on duty in
Circus-street states that he tried this door, and that it
was fastened ; he was again on that beat at half-past
five, and saw nothing to excite his suspicion. On the
police beinc, made acquainted with the robbery, an officer
was dispatched by an early train to London ; but as yet
no traces have been found of the offenders.—Brighion
Herald.

A YOUNG DISTILLER.—On Saturday a little boy,
known by the name of " Billy," whose chin scarcely
touched the upper part of the dock, was brought before
Mr. Rushton, charged with having been found in at-
tendance upon an illicit still, at work, in Marybone.
Mr. Walker, an officer of the Customs, said that " Billy"
was an acquaintance of his, of pretty considerable stand-
ing, for that he had met the young gentleman in almost
every house he entered, where illicit distillatioa was
being carried or. He had always taken the principals
into custody, and allowed "Billy," on account of his
extreme youth and apparent innocence, to go at large,
but that day he had found him the sole tenant of the
house in which the still was. He had, moreover, seen
him attending sedulously to the illicit occupation of
keeping the still at full work. Mr. Rnsliton ordered the
lad to be remanded, observing that ho was manifestly
an instrument in the hands of the other parties.—Gore's
.Lwerpool Advertiser.

TIIE NOTT MoNtimENT.—Government has offered
sufficient metal for a statue in bronze of the late gallant
General Nott, in Carmarthen, but it is doubtful if the
Committee can avail themselves of it, on account of the
great expense of the casting. Colonel Trevor still seems
to think that Llangunnor Hill, facing the town, is the
proper place for the site ; but to look anything at that
distance, it should be a column of considerable height,
and of imposing appearance, and the amount collected
precludes, it is found, anything of that sort.—Cambrian,