The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-27 00:00:00

THE FRENCH NAVY.

The Constitutionnel contains some interesting facts
relative to the French navy. It sets out by reciting the
Royal ordinance of the 22d of November, 1846, which
fixed the naval peace establishment at 40 ships of the
line (24 afloat and 16 on the stocks), 50 frigates (40
afloat and 10 on the stocks), 136 vessels of an inferior
class afloat, 100 steam-vessels (all afloat), and two float-
ing batteries with from 40 to 50 guns.—Total, 328 ships.
In November, 1846, the Navy board, in order to com-
plete the projected establishment, had to construct about
17 ships of the line, 27 frigates, 85 inferior vessels, 32
steamboats, arid 2 floating batteries. It demanded seven
years and 93,000,000 f, (3.700.0001) to eaeouta the
works. The delay and the money were granted. The
year 1847 passed away in preparatory measures. The
works in the arsena!s was conducted slowly and con-
fusedly. The expenses were ill calculated, and the sum
voted fur the wages of the operatives was exhausted
before the conclusion of the works which those wages
were intended to represent. The money allotted for the
purchase of materials was consequently applied to the
payment of wages. In 1848 the naval administration
appeared disposed to display more activity and more
order. A statement of the constructions to be executed
during the present year, to make up fur lost time, was
laid before the public. It was satisfactory, but events
prevented its accomplishment. The revolution of Feb-
ruary took place, and the new Government lost sight of
the navy in the midst of the difficulties which surrounded
them. The Constitutionnel then goes on to show that
none of the measures adopted by the Government of the
Republic have tended to the advantage of the navy. The
abolition of slavery in the French colonies has forced
4,000 French seamen previously employed in the colonial
trade to emigrate to the United States. Corporal
punishment has been abolished in the French navy, and
the comforts of the men have been increased at a cost of

1,900,000 f. (76,0001.), for the year 1848, but that measure
has not added a ship nor a seaman to the French navy.
The French navy now consists of 24 sail of the line
afloat, 38 frigates, and 86 steam-vessels. Of those 24
ships of the line, 12 require to be replaced in conse-
quence of their age. Ot the 38 frigates there are 19
condemned, and of the 86 steam-boats not more than 70
are effective. The situation of the French fleet is, in
fact, such as it was on the Ist of January, 1846. As
compared with the fleet of Great Britain that of France
is comparatively insignificant. As compared with the
other maritime powers it comes after Russia; and if
the 12 ships of the line and the 19 frigates arc deducted,
the French fleet falls short of those of Sweden and llol-
land. The Constitationnel next observes, that it is im-
possible the French fleet can be improved during the
present year, inasmuch as the ➢Minister of Finance re-
quires a diminution of 30,000,000'. (1,200,0001.) to be
saved in the Navy budget. That announcement has
caused the utmost consternation amongst the operatives
employed in the French dockyards.

SERIOUS FIRE IN LIVERPOOL.—A little before six
o'clock yesterday morning smoke was discovered issuing
from the premises of Mr. Wright (late Rigby and
Wright), timber-merchant, of Nelson-street, immediately
contiguous to and in the rear of Dr. Raffles's chapel.
The fire, the origin of which is unknown, broke out in
the lath-room, whence, from the extrcme dryness of the
materials, it rapidly spread to the surrounding timber;
the store-room in the yard, forming one side of Grif
fiths-street, was completely destroyed, and its valuable
contents, chiefly mahogany and furniture woods, fell a
prey to the flames. The engines of the West of Eng-
Ltrurpuul Mu-pollee wire
quickly on the spot, but, from a total absence of water
from the mains for a considerable time after their arri-
val, they were rendered inoperative. At the time we
are writing (9 A.m.), the fire is burning vigorously on
the site of the store-room, but all danger of its extending
is happily past. The premises and stock, we learn,
were insured, but whether so as to cover the damage,
which must necessarily be very great, we do not know,
Mr. Wright being absent from town. Had the flames
extended in the opposite direction to which they did, in
all probability that beautiful structure, Great George-
street Chapel, would ere this have been again in ruins.—
Liverpool Standard.

CITY COMMISSION or SEWERS.—Yesterday a pub-
lic court of the Commissioners of Sewers for the city o
London was held at their council chamber in the Guild.
hall; Mr. Deputy Peacock in the chair. The statement
of Mr. Heywood, the surveyor, who had been specially
appointed to report upon the practicability of emptying
the cesspools in the City by night instead of by day,was
read. It recommended in general terms, as these ope-
rations were to a great extent inoffensive, that they
should be carried on as much as possible in the daytime,
particularly where the traffic was not likely to be much
interfered with.—Mr. Kemp said if this recommendation
were acted upon they should render themselves liable to
a penalty under the Act, which expressly provided that
these operations should not be carried on between
the hours of five in the morning and eleven at night.
—Mr. Heywood skid that the Act referred to the empty-
ing of cesspools by night carts. Tho present process,
vewas wholly inoffensive.—Mr. Blake and other
hCoowmemisrs'iuners concurred in this view of the case.—Mr.
Deputy Cornet' inquired whether this sewage matter,
as it was all deodorised, would not be extremely
valuable as a manure, sod whether persons might not
be found who would be glad to take it away at their
own expense. This would be much preferable to car-
rying it all into the Thames.—Mr. Heywood said that, no
doubt, when this matter was prepared and redueed to a
highly concentrated state it became extremely useful as
manure; but, in its present condition, it was not so valu-
able that any one would remove it without being paid.—
The report was at length received and ordered to be
entered on the minutes. The various accounts were
then audited and agreed to, and the Court adjourned.
THE INTEREST ON TIIE GREEK LOAN —A further
instalment of interest due to British creditors to the
amount, as is reported, of 8,0001., reached Malta on the
7th September, in five-franc pieces, by her Majesty's
steamer Meteor, from the Phone of Athens, to the con-
signment of the Governor of Malta, who immediately
paid same into the commissariat or military chest, autho%
rised to receive same under orders from the Right lion.
piece H-o
the Lords of the Briti,ll Treasury. The fiv - •
is now worth four shillings British currency.c.f

)it+oo,4o,o*-101,7*ti
\t,
pro • AoiLzyliilvta e 4404
place yesterday, on the bra -ti' eiteletiilhajg
Vv'oking, a waiter party, at t •-e.lie' --tet_Cli. ly
season of the year, being wiselebeeeheeeeeL, etidefeerail
of the South-western patronisel- Vlie`-le;Te'reet Which
the match gave birth to was manifest by the attendance
of between three and four hundred of the London divi-
sion, recruited by a tolerable gathering of the nausea of
the parts adjacent to the scene of action. Martin has
been long before the public as a pugilist ,• his game
battles with 0. Attenbury and Williams, at the outset of
his career, arid his snore skilful, though less fortunate
ones with Tom Lane, Phelps, of Brighton (twice), to-
gether with his defeat of Barnash, cn this very
ground, bear testimony to high skill and good eou-
faience on the part of his limiters. True it is, that
there mete not wanting those aho insinuated that
Mertin's went of success in his remarkehle heal, a
with Phelps and L.,ne was attributable ;either to a
leek of game and per,everanee than to physi -al
tneapacity. e'uili, however, as witnessed to-clav'a con-
test %sill con 'ess their error, for, though def., feed. Martin's
conduct e ae c urageous in the extreme, end! life stmegt h
left him, which it always appeare to do after a certain
p• rind, ehatever Lad or advantage he may have ac-
quired by his skill and science. Hayes is, in comparison
eith Alar:in, a fresh youth, as yet in his novitiate, and a
I Ivey plant if not brought too rapidly forward, against a
first-rater, apt as he has shown himself, at each succeed-
ing appearance in the roped arcs;, first with Finn; se-
condly with Cooper; and now with the accomplished Mar-
tin, he has much to learn before it will be safe to match
him with the top of the light weights, as was yesterday
talked of among his more sanguine admirers. The inner
and outer rings being duly formed by the veteran
commissary, at twenty-five minutes before twelve, the
men advanced from their corners and shook hands
manfully, and threw themselves into position. Martin
enquired by Turner and young Samba, while Maley
and Barnash waited on Hayes. The weights were
—Martin, 9st. 71b., Hayes 9st. 6ib. Hayes having the
advantage of length of reach, Martin his balance
of weight in muscularity of build. The sparring, feints,
and stops were numerous and skilful, and elicited loud
applause from the critics in this branch of the arts of
attack and defences. Hayes at length got in a trifling
tap on Martin's left eye, which flushed the skin a little;
Martin returned heavily with the right on the body;
pretty mutual stops of left-handed counters, at length
brought them to a rally, when Martin got home over
Ilayes's left eye. The second round was similar in cha-
racter, Ilayes.undermost in close. In the. third Hayes
got the first event, . by drawing trio purple fhiltrellg,fitly—
from Martin's olfactory organ, and threw him in the
close. Thenceforth, the battle progressed until the 20th
round with much equality of skill, courage, and merit,
Hayes appearing the fresher and stronger man, while
Martin was • the more skilful in the use of
both hands. Ile frequently visited Hayes's side
with his right, in a style that appeared considerably to
embarrass the young one's left, and deprive it of much
of its hitting power. About this point Martin, who
had for 62 minutes, boldly faced his man with a pros-
pect of victory (several times, after slipping down, leap-
ing up, and courageously renewing the round), visibly
and remarkably fell off. Ile b -came slow, and after
being thrown in the 21st round, was ineffective, and
completely out in his distance, throwing away both hands
widely. We cannot say that Hayes became confident,
for from the outset he fought with excellent temper,
coolness, good humour, and determined courage. In the
27th and 28th rounds Martin, after a random attempt at
a rally to turn the tide in his favour, went down, and
his last chance was out. Turner threw up the sponge,
and at 93 minutes from the time of first crossing hande,
Hayes stepped across the ring once more to shake hands
with his defeated antagonist. Martin has thus been de-
feated in four battles out of the last five, a proof that
mere skill, unless seconded by a due quantum of
lasting qualities, cannot successfully oppose youth,
coolness, strength, and resolve. Shortly after the battle
the. victor was seen walking the. common enjoying a
cigar, the outward signs of his recent affray being by no
means prominently remarkable.—Advertiser.

ROYAL EXCHANGE CHIMES.
TO THE EDITOR OF TILE SUN.
SlR,—Allow us, in justice to ourselves, to state
that the ill effect of the tune " Goo' sive the Queen,"
as now played, is caused by its injudicious arrange-
ment. We have the written testimony of Mr. T.
Cooke and other high musical authorities as to this
fact, and as the Gresham Committee referred the
matter to Mr. Cooke, he arranged the four tunes
intended to be played in such a way as to bring out
the best points and effects that can be'produced on
bells. Two of these tunes were completed and
played to his satisfaction, but for some reason, never
explained to us, they were taken off the barrel imme-
diately after his death, and the public were never
allowed to hear them. The present miserable affair
was then set after a similar fashion to that of 'which
Mr. Cooke complained:

Four tunes were contracted for to he played upon
the bells ; at present, however, the monotonous chime
brings into action every three hours the six smallest
bells, out of a set of fifteen. We have plenty of tes-
timony from high authorities as to the merits of the
bells, and when justice is done to them, and they are
properly treated after the suggestion of Mr. Cooke,
we will guarantee such a set as will give general
satisfaction. We are merely doing our duty to
the public and ourselves in explaining the matter, and
if no better arrangement is made, and no other tunes
are played, we must absolve ourselves from any
blame.

We bare spared no pains, and will spare none, to
render the chimes excellent in every particular.
We can refer to the numerous peals and sets of
bells we have made, and are constantly making, as to
our capabilities, and it is somewhat singular tliat,
with a reputation of a century and daily increasing
experience and practice, we should incur so much
obloquy in a solitary instance.
We are, Sir, your respectful servants,
CHARLES and GEORGE MEARS.
Bell Foundry, Whitechapel, Sept., 1848.

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE YACHT MAUD.—The
beautiful schooner-yacht Maud, Leigh, Esq., of the
Royal Yacht Club, from Cherbourg, in running for our
roads on Friday evening, about five o'clock, struck on the
Musco rock, one of the Lower Heads, where she hung
nearly a quarter of an hour. Captain Sadler, of shla Sir
Francis Drake, ran close to her, and offered to render
any assistance, which, however, was declined. It was
discovered soon atter the Sir Francis Drake had left her
that she was filling fast; the wind, however, being fair,
she fortunately got into the harbour about seven o'clock.
They were then compelled to engage a number of hands
to bale out the water to keep her from sinking, the
water being above the cabin deck. On the tide leaving
her it was discovered that her fore foot was split, the
deadwecd and garbourd streaks started about twelve
feet, and her false keel a little rubbed. The whole of the
repairs were finished in a werkmanlike manner. We
were happy to liter the owner, Squire Lt igh, tell the
captain of her, that he did not blame him in the least
for the accident occurring. We strongly advise our
harbour master, Captain Collis, to have these sunken
dangers buoyed on, which would evidently be of service
to our pilots as well as other nautical men, as the glare
of the setting sun sometimes makes it difficult to see the
leading marks; at the same time we strongly recommend
oar yachting gentry never to attempt our roadstead
Sun, Sept. 20.
wilth,oorutexatipnguishing Fires, the apparatus should beilot.— Guernsey
readily distinguishable night and day, and alwa) s ready
for use without any appliances which may be mislaid or
forgotten at the very instant they are needed. With
this view, Mr. Newlands says—" I propose that several
lamp-posts in each street should he made receptacles for
the water apparatus, the pedestal being made of a size
sufffient to contain it. In each limp-pedestal I propose
that an upright hydrant be fixed, with a coil of hose,
sufficient for washing the streets, or filling the watering
carts, constantly attached. The cock box I would fix
in the footway. alwes— dee -We arc ei ins lamp-
posts, and at a constant distance from them. In the
event of a fire, the firemen's hose would be instantly at-
tached to the hose of the standpipe by a coupling screw.
The pedestals for the water apparatus being square, and
those for the common lamps being round, would point
out at once the place of the water apparatus; and, if
necessary, the panes of such lamps might be of coloured
glass, as a still greater distinctive mark by night. Every
superintendent of scavengers and every fireman would
tbne
tphreovpieddeedstsavli tthh
ea
kkeeyy
etfo
tthheeedLookr
wo?f
ntlhde
epnendsetasntatlly, arned.
ythpunsrptnhseer.e wlonulptadbeeesnowhd,erleayleinmpu-sipnegstathearweanteert
might be used as guard posts at the entrance to narrow
rfthoeraqivaninr;ed, the pedestals merely might be used, and these
streets." The lamp irons thus made prominent, might,
he thinks, bo rendered still more useful by a label at-
tached to their tops. On these would be cast the names
of the streets (as at Edinburgh, we may add), and on
the centre panel the distance in miles and furlongs from
the Exchange. Coach and car fares might be thus regu-
lated.—Builder.
REDCAR.—NARROW ESCAPE OF A CLERGYMAN
FROM DROWNING.—On IVedneiday morning an event
occurred at this fashionable sea-bathing place which
created an immense sensation, and which had, unfortu-
,waastill bathing (Inb yW thei ned therireturn-
ing eaa3
nately, well nigh terminated fatally. The Rev. W. Sin-
clair, of So George's,
.Leeds, and family, have been re-
sidinggfeenwtlewmeeakns
att. oyin bear
nuisp
criesa ai against
wt
hliee ntsitdur
eon,nf unfortunately
utcudunrar foundteenl
ty \ 1%1,
which
assehldarrdauVti
Inaebnit lesWe'
o Ini morning theßCar reverendfr a
distress were heard by a gentleman of the' name of Ray,
of Yalm, who hastily threw off his coat and
shoes,
hoes and
mounting one of the bathing-machine horses, gallantly
swam towards
uwa rd
s neartle
drowning enough,
dashed into the sea; but finding the animal was unable
to approach
he
lee
rg yplungedutun. b intout thethe
u scear current
t
proved too strong, and Mr. Ray's life Was also placed in
great jeopardy. In the meatimo Mr. Stam, owner of the
bathing-machines, having observed the painful occur-
rence, promptly gave notice to some boatmen, who pro-
videntially succeeded in rescuing the reverend gentle-
man from a watery grave. He was much exhausted
when taken out of the water, but by the application of
proper remedies he speedily recovered.—Halifax Guar-
dian •

BAIL IN CASES or TREASON.—Under the Act
11 and 12 Vict., cap. 42, sec. 23, justices of the peace
may at their discretion accept bail in cases of felony and;
misdemeanour, but not in cases of treason, " nor shall
such persons be admitted to bail, except by order of
one of her Majesty's Secretaries of State or by her
Majesty's Court of Queen's Bench at Westminster, nr a
Judge thereof in vacation." The Act will take effect on
Monday next.

~:,, ~.~

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TIIIS DAY.
Morning .. 47 'min. after I Evening .. 5 min. after 9