The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, MORNING, JUNE 25, 1846.

M4L-ANCHOLY SUICIDE OF B. 11.
HAirDON._ESQ.,._THE HISTORICAL PAINTER.
The demise of this extraordinary and talented man was
announced in a few brief words in our yesterday's impression.
We have now a duty to perform in narrating the circum-
stances of his death, which, as many of our readers may
probably have imagined, arose from his own act and deed,
and was effected in a manner, the record of which is as
afflicting as it is terrible.

Mr. Haydon's misfortunes and disappointments in the
profession of which he was so distinguished a member, have
not been altogether hidden from the public. His occa-
sional appeals against the acts of injustice of which (truly
or not) he undoubtedly believed himself the victim, have
given to his name a melancholy celebrity which his last
fatal act (arising, as it will be seen to have done,
from his latest disappointment) cannot fail to in-
crease in if very remarkable degree. Without dwelling
further on this subject, it may be briefly stated that Mr.
Haydon's pecuniary circumstances have been for some time
past in a very embarrassed condition. A short time since, a
valued ,frieno, to whcm Mr. Haydon had made known
the state of his affairs, offered to advance the sum necessary
to relieve him from some pressing liabilities. On this cir-
cumstance (inasmuch as hie liability to meet the liabilities
alluded to, had thrown him into a very desponding state),
Mr. Haydon built strong hopes, which were, alas ! destined
only to meet a more cruel disappointment on his friend dis-
covering that the property from which he intended to ad-
vance Mr. Haydon the means of liquidating his responsibili-
ties, was so " locked up,". that he could not release it for the
desired purpose.
There can be no doubt that the melancholy termination of
deceased's life must be attributed to a series of disappoint..
meats, and, so to speak, persecutions, of which he has, per-
haps unfairly, imagined himself the object for many years
past, and not to any one isolated circumstance. There is,
however, enough already ascertained to justify the conclusion
that the disappointment consequent on the knowledge of his
friend's inability to serve him in the matter above detailed
has been the immediate cause of the rash act which has at
once deprived the unhappy man of life, and left an exem-
plary widow and family of four children to mourn the loss of
one of the most indulgent husbands and kind fathers who
ever existed. The mode in which Mr. Haydon effected his
death shows that the unhappy man had coolly and delibe-
rately considered everything in connexion with his dreadful
purpose before putting the same into execution.
On Sunday evening, while sitting with his family, he sug-
gested to Mrs. Haydon, that she should, on the following
morning, proceed to Brixton, for the purpose of visiting Mr.
Coulton, a friend of the family, who resided there. Although
the suggestion appeared somewhat strange, Mrs. Haydon
promised to accede to it, and in due course Mr. Haydon re-
tired to rest in Lis usual health and spirits.
On Monday morning Mr. Haydon rose early, and after
walking out, returned apparently-fatigued. He subsequently
passed some time in his studio, writing. At half-pasteight
o'clock he rung fer his messenger, and desired him to be in
attendance at hue 'o'clock. to convey a letter (as the man
de-cribes) to the Duke of :"utherland. As the messenger
was leaving the room Mr. Haydon desired_ him not to wait
an answer to the communication.

The unhappy, man shortly before ten o'clock appears to
have entered his painting-room (the principal apartment on
the first flo.)r of his residence), and here it was that he
committed the dreadful act. It was usual for Mr. Haydon
to lock himself 'in this apartment when engaged in painting,
and no seems to have done so on. Monday morning. At a
few minutes after ten o'clock Mrs. Haydon passed upstairs
on her way to her own room. As she passed the door of
the painting•room she tried the lock, upon which Mr.
Haydon called out, rather loudly and hurriedly, " who's
that." Mrs. Haydon replied "it was only herself, and that
she was proceeding upstairs to dress, before going to Brix-
ton." Mr. Ihydon rejoined " Oh, very well ;" adding, as
she left the door, " God b:ess you, I will see you presently."
Within a few minutes Mr. Haydon followed his wife up-
stairs, and in her bed•room repeated a message he had pre-
viously charged her to deliver to Mr. Coulton, the gentleman
she was about to visit at Brixton. Having done so, Mr.
Haydon kissed his wife very fervently, and returned to his
studio.

Ia her bed-room Mrs. Haydon was joined by her eldest
daughter, who remained with her until she completed her
toilette. Shortly before this (about a quarter to eleven
o'clock) both ladies were, for the moment, alarmed by what
appeared to be the stifled report of a gun or pistol. The
troops were exercising in the Park, close at hand, at the
time, and, as nothing particular succeeded the report, both
Mrs. Haydon and her daughter imagined that their alarm
had originated from the firing of the soldiers. Within five
minutes a heavy fall on the floor of the room beneath was
heard; but as Mr. Haydon was frequently in the habit of
moving his heavy pictures, and in so doing allowing the cor-
ners to fall heavy on the ground, the noise was attributed to
that circumstance, and no notice was taken of it.
Shortly after eleven o'clock Mrs. Haydon left the house,
and proceeded to Brixton.

At a quarter-past twelve Miss Haydon, who is only
sixteen years of age, prompted by filial affection and know-
ing the desponding state of mind in which her father had
been for some time, went down stairs and knocked at the
door of the painting-room. Not hearing her father's usual
prompt reply, she tried the lock, which opened at her touch,
and a moment's glance discovered the body of her un-
happy parent, crouched up together on the floor. Her first
impression was that her father had fallen down in a tit.
This illusion was, however, soon dispelled, and the fright-
ful reality made manifest. Miss Hay don immediately
rushed out of the house, and ran across the way to the residence
of Messrs. Bryant and White, surgeons, in Burwood-place,
the former of whom has for a long time been the family me-
dical attendant. Mr., Bryant was unfortunately from home
at the time, and a neighbouring surgeon was sent for. With-
out waiting, however, Miss Haydon, throwing herself into a
cab, directed the man to drive to Brixton, intending to pro-
ceed to Mr. Coulton's, where her mother had previously gone.
Mr. Coulton and Mrs. Haydon crossed the unhappy young
lady on her way, and arrived together in Burwood-place
shortly after one o'clock. Mr. Coulton's visit merely arising
from some matters of business he wished to transact with
Mr. Haydon. On entering the house they learned the
dreadful tidings. Mr. Coulton, who was a most intimate
friend of the unhappy artist; immediately proceeded up stairs,
where he found the body of the deceased, in the state de-
scribed, and on the table several sealed packets. The first
Ha,don_ Neatest love."
It contained several letters, one to herselt, imploring her
forgiveness for the additional pang his last act would
add to the many he had already given her, and ex-
pressing a -hope that Sir Robert Peel would consider he
(the deceased) had earned a pension for her. He also
alluded to the receipt of a cheque for 501. from the private
purse of the same Right Hon. Baronet, on the previous Fri-
day, 101. of which he directed should be given to his daugh-
ter, 101. to his son Frank, and the remainder to be appro-
priated to her own purposes. The packet also contained a
letter to each of his children, enjoining them to lead a pious
life, and live affectionately with each other. Another packet
contained the deceased's will, in which he appointed as his
executors, Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, Mr. Coulton, and Dr. Dor-
ling. The document is of a most extraordinary and elaborate
character, and gives the full details of the unhappy man's
life and difficulties. It also wills his various pictures to dif-
ferent individuals. A third packet contained three letters,
adoressed respectively to the Right Hon. t-ir R. Peel, Sir G.
ockburn, and Mr. Sergeant Talfourd. These Mr. Coulton
took possession of, and immediately delivered in person. No
trace was discovered of any letter addressed to the Duke of
Sutherland.
Within two hours of the receipt of Mr. Haydon's letter,
Sir Robert Peel replied to Mr. Coulton, as the principal
executor of the unhappy deceased. His letter, atter express •
ing how painfully he was shocked at the intelligence Mr.
Haydon's letter had communicated, went on to state that as
he feared the family might be in need of some immediate
assistance, he bad thought it right to inclose a cheque for
2001. from the Royal Bounty Fund, as a temporary relief.
The Right Hon. Baronet further stated, that he supposed a
permanent provision for the family would be immediately
suggested, and if so, he begged to add that so far as his own
private purse and personal influence were concerned, both
might be commanded.
There was another paper found, headed "The last
thoughts of Haydon at half-past ten o'clock," one of the
principal points in which was a comparison of the characters
of the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Buonaparte.
An examination of the body proves that the deceased
must have first fired a pistol into his bead, a perforated but.
let-wound being visible in the parietal bone, This appears
not to have had a fatal effect ; and there are traces of blood
about the room where deceased appears to have subse-
quently walked to obtain possession of a razor with which
he afterwards inflicted two severe gashes in his throat, and
thus caused death.

DREADFUD DEPIMCIATION Or

LANDEIS--PROPERTY.

The -following very clever artiele on Land and 'Lord
..Craven we- copy from the Sussel Advertiser and Surrey
,Gazette, a paper quite after our own heart:—
, A few weeks ago we took occasion to comment upon a
remark made by Mr. George. Robins, that both 'the
landed interest and the agricultural community had been
" more frightened than hurt!" Mr. Robins's assertion
has been fully borne out by the result of a sale which
took place last week under his own auspices,. as we.
learn from a paragraph in the. Times, which runs as
follows:

" The great Willenhall estate, in Warwickshire, with
a rental of 1,550/. a year, was sold by Mr. Robins, at
the Auction Mart, on Tuesday, for 48,100 guineas.
Lord 'Craven is the purchaser. Mr. Jones Loyd and.
Mr. Mellor (ono of the tenants) wEre the highest of the
unsuccessful competitors. This sum, it will be seen, is
33i years' purchase, and upon a rack 'rental. So much
for the supposed decrease in the value of land through
Sir Robert Peel's corn measures."

The noble purchaser of the Willenhall estate has re-
cently been giving utterance to some vehement protect
tionist auguries, in which the " setting of the sun of
England's glory," the annihilation of rents and the de-
struction of tenant-farmers were duly prominent. The
Country will rejoice to perceive that his Lordship has
recovered from .his alarm, and that, although a Craven
by name, he has proved far otherwise in his biddinga at
the Aucticn Mart last week. There could have ex-
isted no doubt in his Lordship's mind as to the passing
of the Corn Bill on Tuesday last ; and we can, therefore,
only conclude that the destruction of the landed interest
—the conversion of fertile fields into barren wastes—the
pauperisation of the entire race of labourers, and such
like results, are not matters causing any real alarm in
Lord Craven's mind, but are simply dreaded in " a
Parliamentary sense." It is by no means an uncommon,
though not very successful practice, for persons who are
anxious to be buyers at an auction, to endeavour to " run
down" the value of the property to be sold. Perhaps
Lord Craven may have had a hankering for the Wil-
lenhall domain for some time past, and upon that
assumption, it is not impossible that his Lordship
may have deemed it good policy to magnify the evil
effects of free trade upon landed property, with an eye
to getting a cheap bargain on the present occasion. Be
that as it may, his Lordship's purchase entirely knocks
on the head his Lordship's prophecies. His purse and
his predictions run directly counter to each other. The
former should needs be full, but the latter are evidently
empty enough. What with Lord George Bentinck.
seeking to dig land out of the ocean, and Lord Craven buy-
ing an estate at 33i years' purchase, the Protectionists
who are sincere in their apprehensions of free-trade
must feel themselves sorely puzzled. To clear their
mind, we would suggest a regular " course" of George
Robins. Three days a week at the Auction Mart, with
Doctor Robins as physician, and we have no doubt that
the " nervousness,' tremulousness, lowness of spirits,"
with those " other distressing symptoms" recently ob-
servable in Protectionist patients will be speedily dis-
sipated. The scenes now enacted in George Robins's
auction-room remind us of the old song yclept the Bay
of Biscay—not on account of the evidences of " wreck'
therein exhibited, but because, in the room, as in
the song, the moment " a sale in sight appears,"
it is " hailed " if net " with three cheers," at least
with alacrity equal to that of the unfortunate tars,
whose fears of " a watery pillow " imbued them with
such a natural longing for " land." We earnestly trust
that the future course of the Protectionists may be as
cheering as the final career of the mariners we have
mentioned, and that
"Now we shall sail
With a fresh gale"
from the bay of Protection, which has so well nigh
proved fatal to the crew of the good ship Agriculture.

DISCOVERY IN LIVERPOOL OF

WOMEN IN SAILORS' ATTIRE.
On Monday very considerable curiosity and interest
were excited in the neighbourhood of Fenwick-street, in
consequence of two female servants from Hull having
been found dressed in sailors' attire, and having their
sex discovered just as they were about to undergo an
examination by a medical gentleman, preparatory to their
going on board a man-of-war. The females who had in
this instance taken it into their heads to ship as
seamen in her Majesty's service, and who,
but for their own confession, obtained from
them uncle r the circumstances mentioned, would
have carried their intention into effect, are two
very fine young women, the one seventeen and
the other eighteen years of age. Both are extremely
well-looking, intelligent, and about the middle stature.
They can read and write well, and upon the subject of
their freak they were exceedingly communicative, but
apparently very sorry that they had been prevented
from doing maritime service. They are both the daugh-
ters of small farmers, and their parents are still living.
The name of the girl aged eighteen is Harriet Palmer.
She was born at a place called Barton, in Lin-
colnshire, and is the eldest of six children. She has
latterly been cook at the Blue Bell Inn, situated in the
market-placeof that town, and at the inn, a situation she
only held about a month, she first assumed the male attire.
The name of the other girl is Caroline Sarah Abbey.
She was born inYorkshire, and has 13 brothers and sisters.
She went to service at an early age, and, after being
in a variety of places, went to Hull, and was im-
mediately engaged as barmaid at the Blue Bell in that
town. We have now brought the parties together at the
Blue Bell Inn, where, though previously strangers to each
other, they speedily formed a strong attachment for
vaeh nthPr_ .2 those enn,nr.t.a their _plans in__ n fortnieht
after meeting together. Caroline seemed to have first
suggested to, Harriet that it would be a capital
hit upon their parts if they left their places, dressed
themselves in sailors' clothes, went off to Liver-
pool, and shipped as apprentices or seamen ; they
cared not in what capacity, in what vessel, or to
what part of the world they might be bound. Harriet
listened to the tale, and concurred heartily in the
plot. Their sweethearts were sailors, and had sent home
glorious accounts from distant lands of the scenes they
hal witnessed ; and the girls, inspired with a love of
following their career, seemed to have some idea floating
in their minds, that by going to sea, they would sooner
or later fall in with their friends abroad. On reaching
Manchester, their funds became so low that they were
compelled to walk to Livernool. On Thursday night
they slept at Warrington, and at 11 o'clock on Friday
morning they arrived in Liverpool. They have ever since
then been constantly in the company of sailors, eating and
drinking and sleeping in the same room with them. They
applied at several shipping offices for situations, and the
captain of one of the merchant vessels in the Prince's
Dock offered to take Caroline on board at once, but
she refused to
go, as she would be separated from
Harriet. They visited the Sailors' Home several times,
and at length a y oung man, whom they accidentally met,
advised them to enter themselves as apprentices on board
a man-of-war. They repaired with that view to the Naval
Office, in Water-street yesterday morning, and the captain
immediately accepted them, subject to the approval of the
examining surgeon, Mr. Craig. The captain said they
were strapping lads, and that they would answer ad-
infinite astonishment, that
ad-
mirably. On being taken to Mr. Craig's surgery,they
took oil their coats, vests, caps, and shoes, and then an-
nounced, to the surgeon'sthey were not what they seemed to be—boys. They
urged him strongly, however, to pass over that insu-
perable obstacle, and to let them serve her Majesty, but
of course he was unable to comply with their request.
From the surgeon's they were taken to Mr. Dowling's
office, and subsequently to the parish office, where they
received the kindest treatment from Mr. ray and Mr.
Rowladda, the overseers. They were lodged last night
at a respectable house, and this morning they will be
clothed once more in female attire, and will then be sent
back to Hull.—Liverpool Times.

HOP INTELLIGENCE.
MAIDSTONE.—Within the last few days there have
been very few fresh fly, and the old ones are nearly all
rubakidead—butlity ftoheglricoewainrge bleeding the bine to such an ex-
tent, even on the burr now coming out, that there is no
p
half remarks
iein
the d o
not apply to the favoured college crop.
ground, which,
middle, is still clear of vermin. The operations of the
p!anters with a view to stay the plague are very various
---the result remains to be Aeon.
theFreeiiiLsEetvGeariprTobe hops
specto
f areour y very much improved,
hetterero pthand
an
most other districts.

Bunrtisr,, 13oxx.nr, ArLEsronD.—There appears to be
a slight improvement in these parishes, but the hops are
still loaded with vermin, and the prospects of the crops
are most unpromising.
MEREWORTH, WATERINGBURY, &c.—There is DO
change to notice in the hops at present.. The vermin
are, however, dying away, and the bine continues to
grow very fast.
BRENCHLEY.--..- Our weak grounds are decidedly worse';
in other grounds, though,tbe branches come out vigor-
ously, they are followed up to thevery tips by vermin.
Our prospect is bad.
TUNBRIDGE.—The hops in this neighbourhood are in
much the same state with regard to vermin as they were
last week ; some think there are less lice, but all agreo
that the strength of the bine is fast going. The bine
in some places begins to assume a sickly hue, and the
general opinion is that a blight must ensue; but still, re-
membering the great uncertainty, the growers will hope
on a little longer.

The_hops at Cranbrook, Rawkhurst, Goudhurst, Frit-
iendeft, Biddenden and &menden are decidedly fast im-
proving,.many grounds are almost free from vermin, and
It ditty.3ietlics
eodrh
called,te
planters, 1.13150 a nOtatOhCiailot. 11 likely
hoplt pickingi is etmoaprt
hrkoiedsduycbee a
by agaono
willd p'
beecir Po ere-
markably early: • .
StvENoAKEs.---There is a,deeidedly perceptible
provement in tho -hops this week, but in the
plantations - below,- where-.'the bine is not strong, the
honey-dew and filth are cot plettly getting the mastery
of—the plant; we have noticed some gardens were the
leaves are cOmpletely shut, having an appearance as if
.struck with lightning. . We are exceedingly fearful the
growth will bet very -short ; as we have before
stated, the. hops on the "Great Sandstone" and "Rag
Ridge," from. strength and contour of bine, despite the
abundance. of filth, predict -an over average crop. So
far as regards these plantations, we wish we could say
as much of the." below hill" hopS.
From the_other districts our reports give no change
in the condition of the plantations.—Maidstone Journal.

ROBBERY OF PLATE.—On Tuesday information was
received by the police of a most daring robbery of plate hav-
ing been committed on the night of Saturday last, at the
house of Mr. Morgan, hosier and glover, No. 173, Strand.
Amongst the articles stolen, which were taken from different
rooms in the house, were 12 large silver tablespoons, 12
s, 8 silver table forks, 2 sauce
6 salt spoons, 2 silver castors,
sl2amdpalair el ro2soup ditto,
f sugar
tongs,laodldees a fish
se dessert
slice,bpuoon
butter
eknife,
mustard-pot, marrow.!
spoon, &c., also a quantity of valuable wearing apparel. It
not glum Ji the thirfel effected an entrance.

LITERATURE.
THE ELEVATION OFTHE PEOPLE. By the

Rev. T. Milner, M.A.
The title of this work at once arrests our sympathy,
and excites our interest. The elevation of the people !
what varied thoughts are conjured up by that ,brief
wbp
theiral iesraes
esoeie
innf
ate
the
emt We
grandeur
aias
ones
n,edai
enlbuersefoodarrinrefidoewue
actual s: ttnhhese dfmightysuffering,
groirtna,gd:ahtmaieonu multitude,
odiut;vcdee: ,
ts
the
shame.nee
causeT beforehe
bareo u f s
all
term
eh retmhpeoo
greatness
re,eiraft
tuhnleesinews of the social frame ; the
i
erionpdleg”lorreymoinf
reminds
sur
us
souonf country—irand
.
limitable power; the thought of their "Elevation" recalls
their sad position : it tells ns of what they should be,
and painfully contrasts what they are ; but alas, in the
gentle voice of hope, it whispers, what they may, and
what a strong conviction assures us, they shall be. This
moment is peculiarly appropriate for such thoughts—
this moment, when the beams of morning are dispelling
the darkness of night ; when hope is being merged in
certainty, and the fulfilment of some of our most
anxious expectations bids us anticipate the realisation of
the whole. In all human affairs there is an inevitable ten-
dency to advance, and not only to advance, but to improve;
for the apparent increase of evil only tends to its own
ultimate destruction. The pent-up waters, restrained
for a time, acquire new force in their accumulation, and
rising at last, overthrow all bonds ;• and so has all
tyranny, temporarily triumphant, succumbed eventually
to the power of the oppressed. Hence all the revolu-
tions of old, and hence ours of the present day. Hence
our rebellion, not with Sre and sword against some seep-
tred despot, but a social rebellion against social tyranny
—a revolution operating in our hearts. Let those, if
any there are, who doubt this, but earnestly regard the
signs of the times ; the sorrows of the poor, once turned
from with contempt—the wrongs of the many, once re-
garded with indifference, are now the objects of general
investigation—are now the objects of an attention almost
" universal as its theme." We hear of them in the gen—
tle voice from the throne,- in the earnest language of the
minister, in the animated debates in the Parliament-
house, or the impassioned eloquence of the multitude.
We read of them on every• page, whether the poli-
tician's or the poet's, portrayed with the terrible realities
of truth, or clothed in the varied adornments of ro-
mance. We learn them in various ways, but we do
learn them ; and all these ways, however differing in
themselves, are only parts of one great movement—of
one simultaneous endeavour, Their object is to expose
evil, and thereby to remedy it ; to make us feel for the
suffering and think how to alleviate it ; and of such a
bless is the work before us. To recommend it to atten-
tion deems almost a work of supererogation. Its aim is
to promote the elevation of the people, " moral, instruc-
tional, and social," and it does so in a most simple and
effective manner, alike free from enthusiasm and preju-
dice. The greater portion is devoted to education ;
various systems are analysed, and various examples
cited. Commencing with a "glance at bygone times,"
it furnishes us with a brief sketch of the condition of the
country, or rather of the people, down to the present
day. In the chapter emphatically named " The Strife
for Life" we have a heart-rending picture of the terrible
struggles, daily and hourly endured by many thousands,
in every part of the kingdom ; struggles of which their
happier brethren, who " live at home in ease" can hardly
form an adequate conception. Not decked out in
plausible probabilities, but, as learned by Commis..
sioners and other inquirers on the spot, the plain un-
varnished truth is here made manifest to us. We read
of the lace maker's children, not four years old, work-
ing twelve hours a day ; we hear the mother of six
children declaring "we never see such a thing as
butcher's meat—we never know what it is to get enough
to eat." We read of the " morality of dens and wig-
warns" (names more appropriate than cottages for our
wretched habitations) where many persons of all ages,
and both sexes sleep together in the same room, some-
times in the same bed. How terrible, how awful is the
following paragraph, if it be true, which we will
ardently hope it is not:—" Some years ago, Mr. Walms-
ley estimated the amount annually realised as the wages
of crime (in Liverpool) at seven hundred thousand
pounds. A subcommittee of the Town Council was ap-
pointed to examine this statement, and they reported
the conviction that the immense sum was not exaggerated!"
The concluding chapter of this work enumerates the
" social improvements already projected and commenced,
and dissipates the gloom inspired by a retrospect of the
past in contemplating the better things which are at
hand, or which are even now being realised. For all
persons of all ages, and of all clases, this volume should,
and will, be deeply interesting. The young will have
more true wisdom and more practical knowledge, from
studying the present state of their own countrymen,
than from contemplating the deeds of the heroes of old,
however vividly or nervously depicted. And the very
impartial and general character of the work will prevent
it from clashing with political opinions, save in a few
instances, and its moderate and straightforward tone
must preserve it from offending any, save the selfish or
the prejudiced, whose censure will be preferable to com-
mendation.

THORNBERRY ABBEY. A Tale of the Estab-

lished Church.

" Rasselas " sprang from the well of pure English
fiction, so did the " Vicar of Wakefield," so did the
" Christmas Carol." Theft is nothing meretricious in
the composition or the conception of either of them ;
of each might most truly be declared that "none but
itself could be its parallel" Of the first the principal
characteristic is thoughtfulness ; the' second is essen-
tially domestic ; the last is a combin;tion of wit, medi-
tation, pathos, domesticity,_and drollery, the chief
charm of which is its spontaneousness ; every sentiment
is, as it were, the cushla ma chree, " the pulse of my
heart." But beyond the idealism of each story, ono of
the rarest beauties of these three is the remarkable
purity of the language in which they are couched ;
they smack in every sentence of our insular literature ;
they could alone have been produced by an inhabitant of
"la perfide Albion." For this same purity and nation-
ality of style, the little volume called " Thornberry
Abbey " can put in a very fair claim ; and however
much the imaginativeness of the narrative may be ham-
pered and suppressed by its professedly polemical ten-
dency, we cannot but acknowledge that as a literary
composition alone it possesses singular attributes of
attraction. We have not, undoubtedly, the temerity to
classify the writer. with a Johnson, a Goldsmith, or a
Dickens ; the thing would be a. flagrant rebellion
against judicious taste and classical propriety ; but we
are assured that as a composition the present volume
would not have been disdained by those fine intellects.
The tale is plainly but honestly told ; it is simple, but its
diction rings well even upon the accustomed ear. Nor
is the purpose of the whole a deterioration of this
merit ; it is consonant with it for its gentleness, •its
earnestness, and its truthfulness. There are none of
the hackneyed commonplaces of the habitual contro-
versialist ; there are no gleams of acerbity, indicative
of the bigot ; no deprecations of this beautiful world,
or of society at large, such as furnish matter for vitupe-
ration to the fanatical mind. The doctrines are ad-
vanced, not dogmatically, but meekly ; the controversy
is unaffectedly and gracefully written. Many of the
characters introduced are singularly life-like and real,
ex. gr. Lady Martin and Mrs. Hardy. The first inter•
view between these two redoubtable ladies is capitally
told. James Eynon, again, is a faithful transcript from
an original ; his lamentations over imaginary troubles
form a good representation of a half-misanthrope, half--
hippocondriac. It would be rather ungracious to define
the plot of the story, as by so doing we should deprive
the book of much of its attraction ; in other words we
should be destroying its interest. However much may
be our difference of opinion, wo can commend this
" Tale of the Established Church" as a pleasant, en-
tertaining, and thoroughly Anglican fiction.

LAMENT4BLE MISTAKE.—WINDSOR, TUESDAY EVEN-
ING.—An unfortunate occurrence took place yesterday after-
noon at St. Leonard's-place, near Windsor, which, it is
feared, may prove. fatal, to La Marquise d'Harcourt,
who is on a visit to Mr. W. B. Harcourt, at his resi-
dence at St. Leonard's. It appears that' La Marquise had
been attended for some time past by. Messrs. Brown and
Andrews, of this town, surgeons to the royal house-
hold. By a lamentable oversight on the part of a domes-
tic, a bottle containing an -.ounce and a half of a very
strong preparation of. laudanum was administered to
the unfortunate lady in mistake for a draught of medi-
cine. Shortly afterwards the error was discovered,, and a
messenger instantly dispatched to Windsor for medical aid..
Within forty minutes of the discovery being made Mr.
Andrews was in attendance, and administered the proper
remedies to neutralise the effects of the poison; but from
the advanced age of the sufferer (who is in her 76th year)
the greatest fears were entertained of her not being enabled
to recover from the severe shock she has experienced. At 6
o'clock this evening La Marquise was considered to be in the
most imminent danger. Her medical attendants, however,
have still hopes that she may be restored, should inflamma-
tion, from the strong remedies which it was necessary to re-
sort to, not take place. La Marquise d'Harcourt is the relict
of Major-General Charles Amedee Harcourt Marquis d'Har-
court, a peer of France, who was killed by a fall from his
horse in 1831, at St. Leonard's, and was buried at Albury
Church, Hertfordshire, in the family vault of the late Sir
Richard Harcourt.

DANGER OF BATHING IN THE THADIES.-011 Sunday
morning, two young lads, the one about sixteen, and the
other about twenty years of age, tailors, in the employ-
ment of Mr. Harris, Hare-street, and Mr: Flide, Fowls-
street, Woolwich, were drowned while bathing in the River
Thames, near Charlton Pier, and their bodies have not been
found. On Monday evening another lad, about sixteen
years of age, named Lyne, was drowned while bathing
nearly opposite Warren-lane, Woolwich, and his body was
found about an hour afterwards, by employing a net, after
the use of the drags had been tried for some time. A report
was prevalent that two otheryouths had been drowned while
bathing at Plumstead Marshes. The general impression is,
that these numerous fatal accidents While bathing in the
Thames arises from the swell in the river on the passing of
largo steam vessels, which causes an action in
the water
contrary to the tidal current of the river, and is described
by bathers as throwing them off their legs into deeper
water, and drowning those who are not good swimmers.
PATRIOTIC DRINKING.—" Now I ax you fellers who's
the best citterzen, him as supports Guverment, or him as
doesn't? Why,him as does, in course. We supports Gover-
ment, we fellers—every man as drinks grog supports the
Guverment—that is, if he lickers at a licenced house. Every
blessed drop of licker he swallers there is taxed to pay the
salary of some of them ere great big wigs. 'Spose wasto
quit drinkinff, why, Goverment must fall—it coalda.'tirde
it
no how. That's the worry reason I drinks.
.uclernation,
I don't
grog—l mom telly hates it. if I follerodmy )
I'd rather drink buttermilk, or ginger oi)(wa '
, o
r soda water.
goo 3 of my country, to
But 1 lickers for theeneration."
set an' example
of patriotism and wirtus self-denial to the rising generation."
—American paper.
TUE BANKRUPT-LAW.—"Sambo,- what your 'pinion
"Tink him fuss-rate, Pompey ; I
ob dat bankrupt-law ;",Just explain him imply for the application.
nmo3wse.l;
st"lend me dat half-dollar
prin-
ciples." " Why, you se-a (Pompey bands him the money,
yo got for whitewashing•
and Sambo deliberately puts it into his pocket.) "Dere,
den," says Sambo, " n
ow I owes de shoemaker tree shillings,
and you half a dollar, besides de grocer's bill ; now dis half-
dollar is all de property I got; I diwides him according
to my debts."
Pompey—"_l_take dat half-dollar back."
Sambo (with amazement)—" Do you tink dis child green?
1113 a bankrupt; you Oa pm iihar9 yficl de prier

• EXTRAORDINARY ROBBERY.
On Monday morning last, it was discovered that the
offices of Messrs. Harrison and Gell, land and commis-
sion agents, No. 5, Red Lion-street, St. Ann's-square,
had been broken open, an iron safe therein blown open
with gunpowder, and a considerable sum of money taken
therefrom. Suspicion alighted upon William Gaskell,
whose father, a machine ruler, occupies an office under
the same roof, and almost immediately over Mr. Har-
rison's office, and George Lear, a companion of the
younger Gaski'l, who resides:with his mother in Lloyd-
street, Hulme ; and they were apprehended and brought
up at the Borough Court yesterday, on this charge. The
prisoners are both young men, under 20. Mr. Sowler,
barrister, defended the prisoner Gaskell.
It appeared that on Monday morning, when Mr. Har-
rison went to his office, he found that the door had been
broken open. On going to an iron safe, in which he
kept money, he found that, too, had been forced open,
and three 101. bank notes, a half sovereign, an Ameri-
can coin, and some silver and copper taken away. On
Saturday last, about half-past one o'clock in the after-
noon, he put money into a cash-box, which he locked,
and deposited securely in the iron safe, and then left
the premises, to which be did not return until Mon-
day. Access was had to Mr. Harrison's office by a
street-door, which was common to himself, the pri-
soner Gaskell's father, Messrs. White and Jones, Mr.
Varey, a letter- press printer, and a person named Knowles,
all of whom had offices there. The street door was
fastened at night by a padlock, of which each of the oc-
cupants had a key. The prisoner Gaskell had been in
possession of the street door key latterly, though he does
not appear to have been entitled to one ; but his father,
having lost his key some time since, procured another ;
the lost key, however, having been afterwards found,
the prisoner possessed himself of it. The party
by whom the robbery had been committed had effected
an entrance by the street door, the padlock of which
had been opened by a key. Mr. Harrison's office was
secured by a padlock outside, and a stock-lock inside
the door ; the former had been opened apparently
without violence, and in the ordinary way ; and the
door, as it would seem from certain appearances which
it presented, had then been wrenched open by means
of a crow-bar, or some iron instrument. The iron safe
bore marks of having been forcibly opened, by exploding
gunpowder in the key-hole ; the lock was smashed in
pieces, and the appearance of some of the fragments
confirmed this surmise.

A girl in the service of Mr. Parsons, St.
Ann's-square, the back part of whose house runs
into Red Linn-street, and is immediately opposite
the premises where the robbery was committed,
heard a report like that of the explosion of powder,
while she was in a bed-room in the back part of the
house, between eleven and twelve o'clock on Sunday
morning last, during the time of divine service ; and on
looking out of the window, immediately after the re-
port, she observed smoke issuing out of the window of
Mr. Harrison's office, and some one standing near the
window. She knew the two prisoners very well, par-
ticularly Gaskell, both of whcm she bad often before
seen entering and going out of the door leading to the
elder Gaskell's office; but she could not state whether or
not Gaskell the prisoner was the person whom she saw
at the office window whence the smoke issued.

Another of Mr. Parson's servant girls, to whom the
former shortly afterwards related what she had seen
and heard, saw the prisoner Gaskell on Sunday morn-
ing, between eleven and twelve o'clock, standing
about four or five minutes near the outer door
leading to the office. He asked her for a drink of water,
and she gave him one. She had seen Gaskell at
the door before her fellow-servant told her of the explo-
sion. She did not see in what direction he went after
she gave him the water ; nor did she notice any thing
remarkable about his clothes.

Police-officer A 22 went on duty at nine o'clock
on Sunday night at the coroner of St. Ann's-square.
A quarter of an hour afterwards he tried the street door
leading to Mr. Harrison's office, and it was secure.
About ten minutes past eleven, on the same night,
he tried it again, when he found the hang-
lock was open ; ho entered the door and proceeded
up stairs, but found no person in any of the
offices, which were all fast. He then informed the in-
spector on duty, who sent him to inform Mr. Varey,
the occupant of one of the offices, of the circumstance.
Mr. Varey accompanied him to the premises, and find-
ing the offices all fast, locked the street door. They
fouud, however, that the hang-lock on Mr. Harrison's
office door was unlocked, though the door itself was
still held fast by a stock-lock inside. About half-past
ten o'clock on Sunday night, as the police-officer was
turning out of Red Lion-street into Back-square, he saw
the prisoner Gaskell cross over the square and sit down
on the step of Mr. Armstrong's warehouse. A young
woman, between whom and the prisoner Gaskell an at-
tachment existed; parted with him, a few minutes after
ten o'clock, on Sunday night, at the corner of Byrom-
street, near Hardman-street, when he went towards
St. John's Church, in the direction of Hulme. The
prisoner Gaskell was apprehended on Monday morn-
ing, in Red Lion-street, near his father's office,
when on being informed of the charge against him,
he said he had been to the office on Sunday morning,
but that he knew nothing about the robbery. Among
other things found in his pocket, was a key which
fitted the padlock of the street door in Red Lion-street;
an iron bar was also found at the office of his father.
Lear was apprehended at his mother's house, in Lloyd-
street, Hulme. On being charged with being concerned in
the robbery, he stated he was :at the office in Red Lion-
street, with Gaskell, on Sunday morning, for a pair
of trousers belonging to the latter ; that they
_afterwards went to bathe together, and, after bathing,
came homewards, when Gaskell left him between
twelve and one, near St. Matthew's Church, and
he (Lear) went home. From the elder Gaskell'sl
account it appeared his son left home between seven and
eight o'clock on Sunday morning ; returned home to
dinner at one o'clock ; went out again about two ; re-
turned to tea between five and six ; went away again
after tea; returned a little after ten at night ; and then
went to bed. His father described him as a steady boy,
and stated that he was a teacher in the Sunday School
at St. Matthew's Church. On Sunday, after dinner,
he asked his mother for ls. 6d., which she did not
give to him. On Monday morning he went to his
work as usual. When he heard of Mr. Harrison's
office having been broken open, he was anxious to go
down stairs and see the office, but his father
prevented him. The father, who was examined
by Mr. Sowler, as a witness on behalf of his
son, said Mr. Harrison had been in the habit of
leaving his office on a Saturday afternoon in charge
of a woman to be cleaned, and he thought there would
be opportunity for a person to secrete himself in the office
between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. He
also said that Mr. Harrison's premises had, some years
before, been attempted to be broken open, and an in-
strument had been carried out of his (Gaskell's) office
to effect airentrance. Of this, however, Mr. Harrison
denied all knowledge. _ _

Thomas Danielrs, a boy who attends the Sunday
school at St. Matthew's Church, said he saw the pri-
soner Gaskell at the school at about half-past two o'clock
on Sunday afternoon ; he did not see him at church in
the morning.

No part of the money abstracted from Mr. Harrison's
safe has yet been found. The prisoners were remanded
to Saturday.—Manchester Guardian.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
was gratified to observe in your journal of
yesterday a letter signed " Bon Sent," calling attention
to the polluted state of the atmosphere on the shore of
the river opposite Millbank. If you can afford but an
inch of space in which I may bear testimony to the
truth of this I shall be much obliged; for on Sunday
evening I passed this spot in a boat, and really the
stench was abominable. That I was not stifled I have
to thank a sound constitution, but I think it might prove
serious to some. Inhaling the effluvia of decomposed
flesh (for I think it is caused by such) is most injurious
and destructive to life, and I shall take care not to pass
up the Thames so far again until the nuisance is re-
moved. I trust that the attention of the proper autho-
rities may be directed to this subject, for at this remark-
ably hot season in particular it is sufficient to produce
a general infectious disease.—l am, Sir, your obedient
servant, W. S.
Queen-square, June 24, 1846.

ROYAL ARTILLERY FOR NEW ZEALAND.—A ue-
tachment of the Royal Artillery, selected from Captain
Turner's company, 6th battalion, left Woolwich last year,
under the command of Captain Henderson, for service in
New Zealand. The remainder of the company were me-
dically inspected on Friday last, at the Ordnance Hospital,
at Woolwich, and are to proceed in about eight days for New
Zealand. Previous to their departure, it is said, the
strength of the company will be augmented to a hundred
men. Another company is shortly expected to proceed to
North Australia, and a field officer is to be appointed to a
command in that quarter of the world.

The Baron Rothschild, the llonoure.hieliri.)bßelll,ooami:d
field, Ambassador from Russia, Sir George cam
Captain Bear, were among the passengers that landed at
Blackwell yesterday, from Ostend, by the Gener
Navigation Company's steam-ship Triton. al
Steam
At Maynooth the improvements under the new Par-
liamentary grant are surprising. Grand walks are now to be seen
where a few - months ago stagnant pools emited their fetid smell ;
dell ware has been substituted for the " pewter plotter," by the in-
spectors, and the new wings are to be commenced next month. The
porters, c. ,_zave
exercise-ground has been also improved ; the ball courts, &C.'
ine-
cellent order. All the & 1 livery now for the
brat
time.—lrish paper.
SERIOUS VAN ACCIDENT.—Yesterday
eaebnoe eus,
about
seven o'clock, an accident, attended with veil
serious
took place to several persons while return from Hampton Court.
iv.
named Goodwin, a
It appears that a van belonging to aPe oeusvencoinnsgeq,
Plash) and female, for a day's excur-
yesterday, with twenty persona, ion;
carman, residing in Wellington- ee, Blaesfriars-road, left London
atonod whilst on the way home the
Metres snapped in the centre,
fast down a steep hill near
excur-
sion
driver
re
iHncaamutpitoountiCyothur.otyPoatb_la.;
the
oeeettrc.
with great violence to the ground.
Wimbledon-common, wiihjfrve on one side, whereby the driver and
causing the vehicle to ve
persons were carried to a neighbouring public-house,
The injured
ds wore dressed by a surgeon. One young woman,
where their wounds .
e Franklin, had her left arm and two ribs broken. The
injured. After a short time the van was
nfoalredoti
jlearnpersons were thrown
were severely injured.
able to proceed o their • '
n journey.
SUSPECTED INFANTICIDE.—TtIeSday morning, at all
early- hoar, the body of a newly-born male child was discovered
floating in the canal near St. John's Church, Paddington. The body
motehnedrsed, when they
was conveyed to the nearest public-honse, where the summoning
officer took charge of it. Information Was forwarded to Mr. Wakley,
the coroner, but th inquiry has not yet been fixed. There were
several marks of violence on the boty, and the general impres.,ilon
is that the child has come by its death by some unfair moans,
ACCIDENT ON THE BRIGHTON AND CHICHESTER
RAILWAT.-01t Monday evening the in-train from Chichester, which
should have arrived at Brighton at half-past eight o'clock, did not
reach the terminus till ten. On inquiry we ascertained that the
train had run off the line near Littleliamptcn, but that none of the
passengers, although considerably inconvenienced by the delay, sue.
tanned any injury.
PRICE OF GOLD.—The premium on gold at Paris is
16 per mills, which at the English Mint price of 31. 17s. 103.0.
per oz. for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25 55 ; and the ex-
change at Paris on London at short being 25 70, it follows that
gold is 0.58 per cent. dearer in London than in Paris. By advices
from llamburgh, the price of gold is 435 per mark, which at the
English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 10j4d, per oz. for standard gold, gives
an exchange of 13s. 10d. ; and the exchange at liamburgh on Lon-
don at short being 13s. 11;4d., it followS that gold is 0.65 por cent.
dearer In Imam than In ligutluill.