The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-15 00:00:00

THE FRENCH AT BRIGHTON.
" Jolly Mr. Punch,—As a lone woman, Sir, I
wri,e to you about our natural defences. I've been
reading the Stisiex Advertiser, and Brighton, it seems,
is in pretty state of oeshabille, and may he surprised
any morning—as one may say—with its hair in
papers, afore the town knows .. where it is. The place
is mine 1, Mr. Punch ; lodgers not coming here, as
thinking themselves double hazardous. For is it to
be believed, sir, that married men with families will
let their wives and children come down when—at no
notice at all—the town may be boarded by the French
fleet, and-screaming women and children be carried off
in gigs, and jolly-boats; to say nothing of the pro-
perty ? And yet, Mr. Punch—as my poor dear Gerkins
used to ask, and 'specially when he'd had a glass—and
yet, we are called upon every day, I may say, to pay_
taxes. Yes, Sir, we are made to pay window lights,
when, at any minute, our sashes may be blown to
mincemeat by the cannon-balls of the French ! As
Gerkins would have said, is this honest of her Ma-
jesty's Ministers ? If ever there was a town that
had its weakness—and that weakness known to the

French—it is this precious Brighton. Of course.
Why, I myself—never minding what I thought the
non3ense of nat'ral enemies, so as they paid their way
—I have let my first and second floor to French
families, that now. I'm sure of it, only took 'em for
spies. Yes, sir; I've no doubt that Periwinkle Villa,
Marine Parade—that's my house, sir, and painted
from top to toe only last May—is known to all the
French. There isn't a French soldier (I'll be
bound) that doesn't know where to put his hand
upon the plate basket—not a man among 'em
but wouldn't, in the dark, find his way to the
beer-cellar. (Not but what I shall take precious
good care to disappoint 'em.) And this is the
s!ase with ever► other house in the place. We are
known, inside and out. We haven't a garret hid from •
'em. They may cut us up, and share us out like
cakes. Thinking of this, I put on my bonnet and
victorine, and went out to take a good look of the
town. When I saw that we'd only a handful of guns
at West-street, and not so much as a pocket pistol at
Seaford Bay, I said to myself—What's to prevent the
French coining here whenever they like ? Why—l'm
certain of it—when the moon did'nt seine, they might
come over, and let themselves into all the towns with,
latch keys ; for it isn't likely—so many lodgers as
ti ere have been here—that they went away without
caking the false ones. lam not a timid wohifin, Mr.
Punch—poor Gerkins would always allow that much of
me; but upon my word and honour I do assure you,
a hen I saw myself standing on the Marine-parade with
not a gun—no, not a single piece of cold iron, as the
words go—between me and France, I did tremble
for Brighton ; I did tremble for my Queen (though
her Majesty has left us for the Isle of Wight) ; and I
did tremble for Prince Albert and the rest of the
Royal Family. Ido hope, Mr. Punch, that you will
write directly to Rear-Admiral Lord John Russell—
(who, I have somewhere heard, once did such won-
ders when he commanded the Channel Fleet)—and
beg of him to send two or three hundred ships always
to lie between us and the French. The wooden`walls,
air—as poor Gerkins used to say—the true hearts of
oak that grow the laurel ! And, moreover, I do think,
it. Government would only send down Mr. T. P.
Cooke to dance twice a-night the sailor's College
Hornpipe it would do a great deal of good to public
spirit. However, at least Ido trust that you will insist
upon the heads and branches of families all going into
the Militia. Not that I hope we shall have any use for
them—'specially with the hearts of oak beating in the
sea—but there's:always this beauty abou*oldiera; when
they're not useful, they're very nice to look at. Once
I used to think there was a sort of protection about
the royal liveries, that now and then flamed in and
out of the Pavilion. To be sure—poor things—they
rather looked like the ghosts of footmen on board
wages, than the stout rosy fellows that, when •
George the Fourth used to bathe here, made the
place so gay and handsome. Well, sir, now they are
gone. It was a sad sight, but only yesterday, the last
footman (with a carpet bag marked in faded worsted
G. R.') took his long leave of Brighton by the
second train. And there's the Pavilion, as empty
and good-for-nothing as a shell that's held an addled
egg. What should be done with that, sir? Why, I'll
tell you. It should be worked with loop-holes over and
over, and be filled from top to bottom with brass
cannons. If brass can't be got, let 'em, without
owning it, try wood, as better matching the building.
And moreover, sir, as it's the dull season, I do think
—especially as the Court's left us—that Government
might take all the lodging•houses (the barrack. not
holding 'em) for the soldiers. First and second floor
for officiers—third, for men. Struck by this happy
thought, I send you my card of terms. Ten guineas
first floor, severs the second. Plate and linen found.
(Boots not included.) Address, post-paid, and be-
lieve me, your obedient servant,
MARY GERKINS.
P.S. As at such a time England—as poor Gerkins
used to say—expects every woman to do her duty, I
shall have no objection (for an extra three pounds) to
mount two cannons at my attic windows, if warranted
not to be fired."—Punch.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
LIVERPOOL, Jix. 14.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—There has been a change for the
better in to-day's market.' London and Midlands are better,
as are stocks and shares generally. Prices remain firm, and
a fair business has been done. The sales are—Ambergate
and Eastern Junction, 214 dis.—Birmingham, Blackburn,
Clitheroe, and West Yorkshire, Preference, No. 1, par—
Eastern Counties, 16— Lancashire and Yorkshire, Halves
(late H. and Sheff.), 93/4 dis.--Liverpool, Crosby, and South-
port, New, 3/4 dis.—London and North-Western, 153—Ditto,
401. Shares (L. and M.), 161,/, p.—Ditto, Quarters, New, 64
p. Midland, 114—Ditto, 40/. Shares, 44—Ditto, New
Halves, 1 dis.— North Staffordshire, par c.—Shrewsbury
and Chester, 10/. Preference, 2% p.—South-Eastern and
Dover, No. 4, Thirds, 1% dis.—York, Newcastle, and Ber-
wick (N. and B. Extensions), No. 2, 23/4 p.—York and
North Midland (East and West Riding Extension), 3444.
MANCHESTER, JAN. 14.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Ambergate, Notting-
ham, and Boston, 24 dis.—Birkenhead, Lancashire, and
Cheshire Junction, 6% dis. ex int.—Ditto (late C. and B.),
16'%—East Lancashire, New, 35/ dis.—Ditto, New Quarters,
13-16 dis.—Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal,
271/2—Lancashire and Yorkshire (West Riding Union), 2%
dis.—Leeds and Thirsk, Preferential, 1% dis.—London and
North-Western (Manchester and Birmingham), Quarters (A),
4 p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Preference, par
—Ditto (Sheffield and Lincolnshire), 4% c. dis.—North Staf-
fordshire, IA dis.—Shropshire Union, 2N dis.—South-Eastern
and Dover, No. 4, 13/4 dis.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick,
Extensions, No. 2, p.
LEEDS, JAN. 14.
STOCK EXCHANOE.—Tbe sales :are—Ambergate, Notting-
ham, and Boston, 214 rt. dis.—Glasgow and Dumfries, 6%—
Great Northern, 6 n. dis. ex int.—Lancashire and Yorkshire,
Fifths, 2s. 6d. dis.—Ditto (West Riding Union), 565. 6d.
dis.— Leeds and Thirsk, 161 dis. ex int.—Malton and Drif-
field Junction, 43/4 dis.— Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln-
shire, Preference, ls. 3d. p.— North British, Thirds, Is. p.—
York, Newcastle, and Berwick, Extension, No. 1,4% p.—
Ditto, No. 2 (New Berwicks), 535. 9d. p.
BIRMINGHAM, JAN. 14.
STOCK EXCITANGE.—The sales are—Ambergate, Notting-
ham, and Boston, 435. '9d. dis.—North Staffordshire, %
—Shropshire Union, 48s. 9d. dis. ex iut.
YORK, JAN. 13.
STOCK Excn ANGE.— The sales are— Great Northern, 41. 6s.
ex int. Sheffield, Rotherham, and Goole, 15s. 6d.— York,
Newcastle, and Berwick, No. 2 (New Berwick), 12/. 1 Is. 3d.
—Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), 9/. lls. 3d. ex int.

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DEATH OF A MILITARY KNIGHT OF WINDSOR.—
Lieutenant George Sicker, who was appointed one •f
the Military Knights of Windsor in February, 1838, ex-
pired yesterday morning, after a short illness, at-his
residence in the Upper Foundation, in the 81st year of
his age. The deceased Knight, who had seen much ser-
vice, during a period of upwards of sixty years, was the
Adjutant of the 11th Light Dragoons at the battle of
Waterloo, and accompanied Lord Macartney in his em-
bassy to the Emperor of China in 1792. There are up-
wards of 150 names on the list of applicants for the
vacant appointment.

BIRTHS. •
On the ith inst., in Curzon-street, Mrs. Dickinson, of a
son, who survived its birth but a few days.
On the Bth inst., at Coltishall, Norfolk, the lady of the Rev.
T'nomas G. P. Hough, incumbent of Ham, Surrey, of a son.
On the 11th inst., at Kensington, the wife of Arthur War-
burton, Esq., of a son.
On the 12th inst., at New-terrace, Islington, Mrs. Edward
Berger, of a daughter.
On the 12th inst., at Kiddington, the lady of Mortimer
Ricardo, Esq., of a son.
On the 18th inst., the lady of Alfred Wilson, Esq., of
Stamford-hill, of a daughter.
On the 13th inst., Mrs. Teevan, of Kennington, of a son.