The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-14 00:00:00

prospect of profit, but they are sufficiently high to
cause the Baltic shippers to give the Dutch markets a
preference.

From the Mediterranean the reports are of much the
same character as before;, prices of both wheat and
Indian corn were rapidly rising at all the leading ports,
owing as much to the fear of local distress in conse.
quence of the scarcity of provisions as to the exciting
nature of the English advices.
. .

Since writing the above, the Hamburgh mail of Tues-
day has arrived, bringing advices of corresponding dates
from the Baltic, by which it appears that a further ad-
vance has taken place in the price of wheat at all the
principal markets.—Mark-lane Express.

DESTRUCTION OF A LARGE
COTTON-MILL.
ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, OCT. 11.—During the night of
Saturday and Sunday morning the town of Staley bridge
was thrown into the greatest consternation and alarm, in
consequence of a report that the extensive cotton-mill of
Messrs. W. Bayley and Brothers, whose firm employs
upwards of 1,000 persons, was on fire. The report was
also speedily circulated in Ashton, from which town,
about a mile and a quarter distant, many persons went at
midnight to view the scene of destruction.
On our arriving at the spot we found that the fire had
broken out in the second story of the large warehouse
adjoining the factory, in which was from 9,000 to 10,000
pieces of calico, besides a large quantity of twist, waste,
&c. The fire was first observed about 11 o'clock, P.m., by
the watchman connected with the mill, who but a few
minutes before had removed what is termed the watch peg
attached to the clock, this being done every half hour to
show that he was not neglecting his duty. The peg was
shifted about half-past ten, and although the clock is
placed in the building where the fire originated, he at
that time did not perceive the least symptom
of fire ; shortly after, however, he noticed a light in the
warehouse, and on examination found that that part of
it in which the waste is kept was all in a blaze. He im-
mediately gave an alarm, the fire bell was rung, the
people got up out of their beds, and in the course of a
short time thousands of persons were congregated in the
factory yard and around the building. Two of the town
fire-engines were speedily on the spot, along with a num-
ber of firemen, but such was the throng and confusion
that it was some time before they could be got into play.
The pipes from the Dukinfield Waterworks were also
fixed, but the pressure not being sufficient, it was some
time before they were of much service. The desire of
all preaeuirseemed to be to render assistance, but this
tended much to hinder those whose services in reality
would have been of some effect. Mr. Hickey, superinten-
dent of police, with the few officers he has at his com-
mand, after a time succeeded in keeping the people back,
when a number of men entered the building, and al-
though in much danger from the falling materials, they
carried out a goodly number of the burning pieces, andthrew them into the yard, which, although of con-
siderable extent, was strewn with the burnt goods
in every direction. Such was the rapidity of the fire,
that the building, which is three stories high, and seven
windows in length, was, in the course of about two hours
from the time of the fire being found out, completely
gutted, the whole of the interior being destroyed. Near
to the warehouso was placed about twenty hogsheads of
oil, which were expected to have taken fire ; fortunately
they were saved by being rolled into the streets. Great
difficulty was experienced in keeping the devouring ele-
ment from the adjoining mill. It frequently happened
that a strong wooden passage or bridge leading from
the warehouse into the factory was enveloped in flames.
This fixture the firemen endeavoured to cut down, but
finding it impracticable they gave up the attempt, and
kept pouring a continual stream of water upon it, which
had the desired effect. To the left of the warehouse
stands, within a few yards, the cotton-mill of Messrs.
Thackreys. This mill was also considered to be in much
danger. They, however, took the precaution to place
a number of men on the top of the mill during the night,
each being supplied with a large bucket of water. Their
services, however, were not brought into requisition.
It is generally supposed that the fire must have
originated from spontaneous combustion, although every
precaution was taken by the firm to exclude any greasy
or oily wastb from that taken into the warehouse, a
separate place in the yard being appointed to receive all
waste of that description. The whole of the 10,000
pieces, together with every other article, was destroyed,
save the rning remnants of the cloth, which was carried
out by the men who daringly ventured their lives for
the purpose. We believe no person was very seriously
injured, which is somewhat surprising when we consider
the manner in which some conducted themselves. The
estimated damage of the stock is 2,500 L, which, with the
destruction of the building, will be between 3,0001. and
4,0001. Both the building and stock is insured in the
Phcenix fire-office, but the insurance will scarcely cover
this amount. It is gratifying to state that the hands
(with the exception of a few) will be able to commence
work on Monday. During the whole of Sunday the
place was visited by many thousand persons, who came
from a distance to view the ruins.

POST-OFFICE IMPRO VEMENTS.
The 10th inst., being what is known as the official
quarter in most of the public departments, the altera-
tions which are said to have been in progress for some
time in the General Post-office, with reference to the
classificatioa and salaries of the sub-sorters and letter-
carriers, were expected to have been so far matured as
to come into operation from and after the above-named
period. It is in thosa two multitudinous branches of the
establishment, viz., the sub-sorters and `letter-carriers
department, where the greatest discontent has pre-
vailed, where the prospects have been disheartening, and
where justice, or aught like a fair and equitable remu-
neration for toilsome duties performed have been so
long withheld. According to a return of the names,
salaries, Bco., of all persons employed in the General
Post-office, ordered some time ago by the House of
Commons, it appears, that the maximum amount of
salary, which the sub-sorter can—it may be after forty
or fifty years' services—attain, is 110/ per annum ; nor
may he even reack this, upon the average, until after a
service of twenty-five years. By the new scale, which
is aow said to have been determined upon, and which is,
in one respect at least, an improvement upon the
old, it is proposed that there shall be twenty sub-
sorters at no/. per annum ; 20 at 1001., 40 at 90/.,
40 at 80L, 20 at 67/. 125., and 20 juniors at 651. Thus
1101. is still to be the maximum salary, but then you
have a considerable numerical augmentation of the
higher classifications, and, consequently, better pros-
pects of speedy promotion. With reference to the
letter-carriers, it has been known for some time that the
" Christmas gratuity" system was to be abolished. Ac-
cording to the Parliamentary return above alluded to,
some of the senior letter-carriers receive in salary from
the revenue only 361 Bs. per annum, or 145. a-week (it
was not until 1832 that the salary was increased to U.
a-week), whilst in some instances the gratuities average
upwards of 100/ a-year. The new arrangements, it is
understood, abolish in foto this most objectionable prin-
ciple of paying a public servant, and in consideration of
the deprivation of thesegratuities, fix the scale of salary at
from 601., the minimum, to 110/, per annum. Great im-
provements are in progress in the money-order depart-
ment of the Charing-cross branch. From the progres-
sive increased oaf
nb
nu inb ensrsntfh ewrner,
ki talheans
are" b enenngfaoguendd
inne ceensi
sary to afford the public greater accommodation and
office, so That the public may
as to the counter in banking houses;
have
aaarcvgi
ntt igne
es ,a
thea m
eac c
money-orderaccess
indeed, this department of the Post-office may be,*not
inaptly, perhaps, termed a sort of Bank of Exchange."

When the Lord Mayor arid the deputation from the
Corporation of London visited the City estate (Lady
Dacre's bequest), at Brandsburton, in Yorkshire, they
found the property in the most flourishing condition, and
the tenants all contented and happy. His Lordship and
Aldermen Farebrother and Sir Peter Laurie having
learned that Puseyism was the order of the Sunday in a
great part of the district, sent to ascertain whether the
clergyman of the parochial church of the place was in the
habit of preaching in a white surplice or a black gown.
Upon being informed that he mounted the pulpit in
white, they intimated that they were most desirous to;at-
tend Divine worship, but that they could not sanction
any innovation upon the religious observance of their
forefathers, and could not think of being present except
the curate would exchange the white for black upon the
occasion. There was no hesitation upon the subject. The
officiating clergyman, notwithstanding the establishment
of the surplice as a preaching dress by Archdeacon Wil •
berforce, sent word to the deputation that they should
see nothing to be cavilled at in any part of the service,
and accordingly the Londoners had it all their own way.
The church was crowded on the day the deputation at
tended, and they departed, without having in any respect
compromised their consciences. It is said that some
considered this interference of the deputation as a proof
of great liberality, and calculated to operate as a lecture
upon the new system, while others thought that it might
just as well have been let alone.
FINE ARTS IN SCOTLAND.--A correspondence
betwixt the Honourable Baird of Scottish Manufacturers
and the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture,
and Architecture, relating to the accommodation of the
latter in the Royal Institution buildings,Edinburgh,has re-
avnivdedsetehme unnaturalaeed contest between these national bodies.
The former announce that it will cut off the accommo-
dations of the latter for annual exhibitions after 1847,
cylinder
L weighingDE —
beidraOwNnST, a Rnd C
!)f
nutY determined
destroy, temploybe
cultivation
the
sbe
i
fine arts in Scotland.--Literary Gazette.
Ang Mt
can to depress,
nasb
yasixteen n
im-
mense iron
horses, was passing up King-street, Coventry, it was
suddenly thrown from the carriage upon which it was
in frontof Mr. S. Hammerton's house, which were dashed
in pieces. Most fortunately no persons were passing the
spot at the time, or precipitated
theyita ted
must
have been instantly
18 tons, l'riddaray;
ripagainst the iron-railings
killed. The accident arose from the giving way of a
private sewer which passes under the road at that spot.
The whole of Mr. Hammerton's gateway was blocked up
by the enormous mass, and continued so from Friday,
when the aecident occurred, till Tuesday, when it was
moved into the road, and from thence, on the following
day, to a carriage
at the top of Bishop-street, from
whence it was drawn towards Nuneaton on Thursday
morning. The process of removing the cylinder from
the place where it fell to the top of the carriage was a
work of great care and labour, and was watched with
anxiety by a large concourse of spectators, who were at-
tracted to the spot by the novelty of the spectacle. We
understand the cylinder is part of a steam-engine in-
tended for the Wash-lane colliery at Nuneaton. It ap-
pears to have been brought all the way from the Coal-
brook Dale district by land.—Coventry Herald.
AN EXTRAORDINARY CURE OF A BAD LEG AT
Hostrcasms, BY HOLLOWAY'S rn.i.s AND OINTMENT.—A few days
since Mr. John Simpson, a highly respectable bookseller in that town,
states that a gentleman of his acquaintance had been suffering for
many years from one of the worst description of bad legs, frequently
enduring the most excruciating, pain. Ile had been under the care
of several medical men, without obtaining the least benefit. This
gentleman, however, has just been cured by these invaluable medi-
cines, after every other treatment failed. The Ointment will cure
hdilblains and chapped hands in a few hours. Sold by all druggists,
can at Professor kiolloway'ei 344, Strand, London.