The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-30 00:00:00

THURSDAY
_EVENING, NOVEMBER 30, 184 g,

Falkland Islands (within miles) the weather became
en boi..terous that u e were driven off ninety miles, and
obliged to reduce our water to a pint a man per day;
h,pi,ever. hy carrying on, we at last arrived, on the Gth
or May, after a tedious passage of eighty days, without
seeing any laud. The establishment does not appear to
improve, although the colony is increasing in numbers.
We left the Falklands on the 13th of May, and arrived
at Callao on the 4th of July, after a good passage of
forty-six days, and found the Asia, with -a flag of Ad •
miral Hornby. We remained here a few days for the
arrival of the Panama mail, expecting Lieutenant Pullen
to join us; we sail to•day (10th of July) direct for
Baring's Straits, as the Herald is gone before us with
our interpreter and boats. We are all very happy and
comfortable on board; the old craft won't sail, although
the leak is stopped at last. The captain does all he can
to ensure the health and comfort of every one, and with
the pleasing anticipation of falling in with Sir John
Franklin and his party, we hope to be home again some
time next year. _ .

\VOOLWICH, Nov. 29.—The Arrogant steam frigate,
46 guns, was taken into the basin here yesterday. to
receive her guns on hoard, and is now under the shears
for that purpose. Her armament will consist of six
8 inch guns of 65 cwt. each, and nine feet long, and 22
32-pounders of 56 cwt. each, and nine feet six inches
long, on the main-deck; two 68-pounder guns of 95 cwt.
each, and ten feet long, and 16 32-pounders of 32 cwt.
ach, and six feet six inches long, on the quarter-deck
and forecastle, with a crew of 450 men. She is to be
takyn round to Portsmouth, to be commissioned by Capt.
Fitzroy at that pert.
Commodore Henry Eden, Superintendent; Mr. Ward,
M.P.; and Captain Sir Baldwin Walker, K.C.13., visited
Woolwich dockyard yesterday, .and were present with
Captain Fitzroy when the Arrogant was taken into the
basin. The members of the Dockyard Committee of
Revision have concluded their examination of this dock-
yard, and visited Deptford dockyard to-day, to enter
upon the examination of that naval port. The result of
their labours here is not yet known, but there is no
doubt their recommendations will have a beneficial tea-
dency and prove of advantage to the public. It would
appear that all the perquisites, such as logs of wood for
the fires of the residents in the dockyard, will not be al-
lowed in future, and the principleof paying certain stated
salaries adopted without any extras whatever. This ar-
rungs 'went must be more satisfactory to, all parties, and
prevent many abuses and deatruction of public property
by careless servants who were aware their masters had
not to pay for it.
Convicts for Van Diemen's Laud-114 convicts, re•
moved from Wakefield House of Correction, were put
on board the Hashmemy hired convict ship yesterday,
opposite the Woolwich dockyard, for conveyance to Van
Dierneu's Land. Captain. Ranisbettom, of the 99th Re-
giment, and an ensign of the 85th Regiment, proceed in
her, having the charge of a convict guard, consisting of
one sergeant, one corporal, and thirteen privates of the
11th Foot, and two sergeants, two corporals, and twenty-
six privates of the 99th Regiment.
TIIE CAPE OF GOOD HOPN STATION.—Her Majesty's
ships President, 50, Captain Stanley, bearing the flag of
Vice-Admiral Dacres, was in Simon's Bay on the 28th
of September; with the Nimrod, 20, Commander Bel-
grave; and the store ship Seringapatam, Mr. Russell,
master, R.N., in command. The Arab, 12-gun sloop,
Commander Morris, sailed out of the bay for Singapore,
to join the squadron of Rear-Admiral Collier, on the
26th of September. The Southampton, 50 gun frigate,
bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Reynolds, on his way
to the Cape to relieve Admiral Dacres in the command,
was spoken with on the 9th ult., in lat. 10.38, long. 25.1,
W., all well. The Geyser steam-sloop, Commander
Brown, was at the Mauritius. The Brilliant, 26-gun
corvette, was at the Mozambique; and the Dee steamer
transport was at Algoa Bay.
NAVAL STATISTICS.

The following is a return of screw steamers which have
had alterations made since the first plan approved of
by the Board, with cost in materials, labour, and loss
of time:—
The itattler.—Launched, April 13, 1843. Expense
when launched on the hull, 13,5261. Expense since in-
curred for alterations, repairs, &C., up to March 31,
1848—(Hull) 7,505/. repair and altering to screw in
1845 and 1846.
The Phoenix (late paddle-wheel steamer, altered to a
screw vessel in 1845, with new engines, &c.: it is impc,a-
sible to state the expense or cost of such alterations, as
the eccounts are not kept distinct from the charges
during the building, repairing, or fitting).—Launched,
Sept. 25, 1832. Expense when launched on the hull,
14,714/. Expense since incurred for alterations, repairs,
&e., up to March 31, 1848, 6,9g61.
The Dwarf.— Purchased, 1843. Expense when
launched on the hull, 5,866/. Expense since incurred for
alterations, repairs, &c., up to March 31, 1848, 1,5531.
The Fairy.—Launched, March, 1845. Expense when
launched on the hull, 12,3631 Expense since incurred
for alterations, repairs, &c., up to March 31, 1848, 9,510.
The Amphion.—Launched, Jati. 14, 1846. Expense
when launched on the hull, 36,115/. Expense since in-
curred fur alterations, repairs, &c., up to March 31, 1848,
13,2111.
The Conflict.—Launched, Aug. 5, 1846. Expense
when launched on the hull, 20,4961. Expense since in-
curred for alterations, repairs, &c., up to March 31,
1848-6,3451., not complete.
The Encounter.—Launched, Sept. 5, 1846. Expense
when launched on the hull: 19,7341. Expense since in-
curred for' alterations, repair,s, &c., up to March 31, 1848,
5,5781., not oomph te.
The Niger.—Launched, Nov. 18, 1846. Expense
wht n launched on the hull, 1,1440/. Expense since in-
curred for alterations, rericas; &c., up to MairCh 31,
1848. 4,9331., not complete. I
The Itifleman.-I.aunchett Aim. 10, 1846. Expense
when launched on the hull,i 8,8851 Expense since in-
curred for alterations, repairs',' 'B6c., up to March 31,
1848-2,3941., not complete.
The Teaser.—Launched, June 25, 1846. Expense
when launched on the hull, 5,9741. Expt nse since in-
curred for alterations, repairs, &c., up to March 31,
1848-4951., not complete.
The Dauntless.—Launched, Jan. 5, 1847. Expense
when launched on the hull, 28,907/. Expense since in-
curred for alterations, repairs, &c., up to March 31,
1848-3,1501., not complete.
The Termagant.—Launched, Sept. 25, 1847. Expense
when launched on the hull, 34,2631.; to March 31, 1848.
Expense since incurred for alterations, repairs, &c., up
to March 31, 1848-3,0921., not oomplete.
The Arrogant.—Launched, April 4, 1848. Expense
when launched on the hull, 39,573/.
The Simoom.—Building.
The Vulcan.—Buildie,y,
The Greenock.—Building.
The Megmra.—Building,
Admiralty, July, 1848.

THE RUMOURED ATTEMPT AT
MURDER AT WALWORTII.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Stn,—You will oblige me by correcting a report in
your paper of an attempted murder of a wile by her hus-
band, as the whole is void of foundation, no cries of mur-
der being heard, no distirct blows, nor threat to murder;
neither was Mr. White obliged to force open any door,
nor was I found calmly looking on. Mr. White did not
find his sister lying under any table, nor any wound on
the right temple or other parts of the head.
Unli ss the same be corrected immediately steps
will be taken to prove the libel.
Yours, Ste.,
GEORGE CROME.
126, Hill-street, Walworth.
[We received the report from a casual reporter,
from whom wo have occasionally received information;
but we shuil never again permit any of his reports to
appear in The Sun.—ED.]

SEIZURE OF AN ILLICIT DISTILLERT.—Yesterday
Mr. E. Thomas and Mr. J. Vanstone, excise officers,
went to a house in Water lane, Hackney, and having
gain, d admittance at the front door, they procecdod to
make an examination of the premises. and in the back
room on the ground floor found a large copper still, set
in brickwork, which had been recently worked off, with
a small quantity of illicitly-made spirits. The rest of
the working had been removed by the men belonging to
the place. There were about 100 gallons of molasses
wash prepared for distillation, a number of tubs, pipes,
and the general stock in trade of a contraband distillery.
Two females were found in the house, who gave, the
names of Phccbe West and Ann Brown, the latter of
whom was recognised as an old .offender, having been
detected in a similar transaction in 1847, when she suf-
fered three months' imprisonment. Both women were
given into custody. While the excise officers were in
Louse, preparing to dispatch their seizure to the excise
warehouses, a gentle tap was given at the door, which
was opened, and a man bearing a bag of molasses en-
tered, who was also given in charge.
INFLUENCE OF LEVEL ON ASIATIC CHOLERA.—Let
us now ask ourselves this question—Why is it that there
was such an immense majority of cases on the south side
of the river? I answer—On account of the low level
and the warm, damp atmosphere, and the scandalously
bad drainage resulting therefrom; to whieh I might also
add the filthy riser water consumed by the inhabitants.
A river's bank implies a low level; and if that low level
be increased in extent, it augments the difficulty of proper
drainage, and encourages that stagnant, clsise, and moist
atmosphere which diminishes the vital energies of the
system, and predisposes to disease. I have ascot tamed
the levels of most of the parishes ravaged by the ch,,lera,
and find that in all,
except St. Giles's and Marylebone,
the level is low, and is generally corresponding with
the diffusion of the epidemic. Extensive districts
on the other side of the water are under high water
mark; the Bricklayers Arms is six inches below that
lsvel, and the Obelisk in Blackfriars-road is only 5
inches chose it. Lambeth is built upon a marsh. The
parishes on the north bank are generally on a higher
level than those on the south bank, though still very
low. Chelsea Hospital is only 11 feet 7 inches above
the level ; other situations aro much lower : the watt r
in the park at St. James's is 5 feet 1 inch below
the level ; Westminster, next the river, is univer-
sally low. Limehouse, Shadwell, Eatcliff, all are low ;
the highest measurement that I have obtained, that of
St. George's-ie-V e-East, being 30 feet. Even the London
Ilo.pital, Whitechapel, nearly 1 mile from the river, is
only 36 feet 4 inches above the level. The exempted
arishes are on a high level and pour the filth of their
sewers into the low level districts where it is kept in a
state of suspensicn by the flow of the tide, and poisons
the health of the inhabitants.-111edical Times.
THE REV. FATHER MATIIEW.—The members of
the North Star Temperance Society have received a
letter from the " Apostle of Temperance," which con-
tains the following gratifying announcement—" fly
health is tow, thank God, completely restored, and 1
anxiously look forward to the fulfilment of my ardent
desires in the ensuing spriult. I have already commu-
nicated with the high-minded people of America on the
subject."

THE ANNUALS FOR 1849.

THE KEEPSAKE. Edited by the Countess of Dies-

sington.
Adorned like its predecessors with a gorgeous
binding of crimson and gold, and graced like them
with a profusion of admirable engravings, miscella-
neous tales, and graceful verses, " The Keepsake" for
1849 has made its appearance. The names of its
accomplished editress and of her distinguished colla-
borateurs are sufficient evidences of its literary at-
tractions. Lady Blessington has contributed an
interesting, but somewhat improbable " Tale of the
late French Revolution"—the revolution of February.
Mr. Bernal, M.P., has written a yet more improbable
chapter on "Conrad, or Fatalities." Thackeray has
told us in his own humorous way of "An Interesting
Event," by the instrumentality of which Mr. Smith
lost bis dinner at Budgeon's after having arrayed,
himself in his very best attire and given three-and •
sixpence for a pair of white kid gloves, and moreover
after having refused an invitation to the Topham
Sawyers, and thereby lost all chance of Miss Henrica
Haie and her six thousand a-year. " Cyane" is a
graceful fairy tale by Mrs. Owen, based on
a foundation somewhat similar to that of
the inimitable " Undine." Mrs. Romer's " Scene on
the Shannon," which relates to an Irish murder, and
the extraordinary manner in which it was brought
to light, is, as may naturally be inferred, a tale of
interest and horror; nor is the story of " Madeline
Cape!, and her scheming Guardians," possessed of in-
ferior attraction for the lovers of the horrible. Among
the many light tales:which fill the pages of the " Keep-
sake," are contributions by Mrs. S. C. Hall, Miss
Power, Mrs. Newton Crosland (better known by her
popular maiden name Camilla Toulmin), Mrs. Abdy,
and Isabella and Georgian& Munro. Of the poems
scattered over the pages of the " Keepsake," among
which are verses by Mr. Milnes, by Albert Smith,
by Lord John Manners, by Mr. Denison, M.P.,
and others, the best, without doubt, are the
lines by Dr. Beattie, on the " Fountains of
the Place de la Concorde " fountains erected
on the very spot where the guillotine once stood—and
some exquisite verses by Sir E. Bulwer Lytton,
" The First Violets." After eulogising the peculiar
and perhaps, somewhat ideal beauty of the first
violets when newly discovered, when at their sight
and scent

" All June seems golden in the April shies."
the poet, concludes his panegyric upon the violet,
in the following sad, sweet lines—lines which re-
peat an " oft-told tale," a lamentation for the
evanescence of early dreams, but a lamentation never
before more delicately and exquisitely expressed : #
"Brief•lived first flowers, first-love. The hours steal on
To prank the world in summer's pomp of hue ;
But what shall flaunt beneath a fiercer sun,
Worth what we lose in you ?

" Oft, by a flower, a leaf, in some loy'd book,
We mark the lines that charm us most :—Retrace

Thy life—recal its loveliest passage ;—look,
Dead violets keep the place."

The engravings which adorn the " Keepsake " for
1849 are of very superior excellence. Among the
most attractive are the portraits of Lady
Constance Gower, Lady Elizabeth Lascelles,
Mrs. Maher, and Lady Georgians Coddring-
ton. The skill of the artist, the delicacy of the
engraver and the great beauty of the lady have in
each instance contributed to render these portraits
among the most pleasing content's of the " Keepsake."
" A Steamer entering Folkstone Harbour during a
heavy gale," will also excite great interest, albeit an
interest of a somewhat different character. Views of
Paris, and fancy pictures complete the pictorial con-
tents of the " Keepsake " for 1849, which will, we
doubt not, be kindly welcomed in the drawing-room
and boudoir.

I James Wilson is suspected and arrested. Mary Bar-
ton is subpcenaed to give evidence on the trial. On
her appearance in the witness-box, Wilson buries his
face in his hands, heartbroken, because he thinks that
she who never loved him, must hate him now,
believing him to be the murderer of her lover.
We will not spoil a most exquisite passage by giving
a fragment of Mary's evidence. It cannot fail to elicit
the admiration and the sympathy of all who read it.
" All her falser self
Slipt from her like a robe,
And left her woman."

All her coquettish vanity, all her ambitious dreams
forgotten, she avails herself of questions opportunely
put to her, and in a simple, artless, but unhesitating
language, tells the story of her love. The judge, the
jury, the eager listening crowd, are all forgotten, she
only sees the heart-broken prisoner, and hastens to
efface the memory of her former misconduct, and
afford him the only consolation in her power.
She who had refused James Wilson when
he was blessed with friends, and fortune,
and prosperity, stands forward in the open court of
justice to own her love for him when universally ex-
ecrated, and all but condemned to death. Said we not
rightly that the author of " Mary Barton" lays bare,
with a masterly hand, the secret movement of the
heart ? After what we have said, it is surely not ne-
cessary to co:nmend "Mary Barton" to the attention
of our readers.

- - -
GLIMPSES of the BEAUTIFUL, and other Poems.
By James Henderson.
Poetry is übiquity, and that übiquity both in the
actual and ideal universe. Wherever the grass grows
or the sunbeams glitter, wherever a life moves—be it
the life of a gnat or a leviathan—wherever a mind
thinks, or a heart throbs, there is poetry. The chil-
dren of the frozen north and of the sultry south have
alike the blessing and solace of poetic faculties, they
have their scops and their scalds, their bards and
their troubadours. The influence of Apollo is felt in
either extremity of the hemisphere, like the palpita-
tions of the ocean—

" - icing the pole,
Or, in the torrid zone, dark heaving."
We have here a book of verses, filling 192 pages,
from the hand of a citizen of Glasgow. Must of the
contents have already appeared, according to a
statement made in the author's brief and modest pre-
face, in the columns of the public journals ; but, as
they will doubtless prove new to the majority of the
readers in England, that circumstance cannot
militate against the book as a novelty. Several of
the verses have struck us as being characterised by an
odd vigour, such, for example, as the " Theme of the
Thoughtless," at page 26, in which the writer reveals
a surprising facility both in the trickeries of rhyme
and rhythm. Others of the effusions, such as
" The Clouds" (p. 92), " The Dream of my Heart "
(p. 145), and " The Ocean Graves " (p. 161),
evince considerable powers, both of pathetic feeling
and graceful composition. A want of space, at the
present moment, alone prevents us from affording, by
a lengthened quotation, some notion of the poetical
abilities of Mr. Henderson.

SOMETHING FOR THE CHILDLEN ; a Gift
Book for all Occasions. By J. W. Green, with Il-
lustrations by George Meesom.

Mr. Green is already favourably known to the
juvenile public as the author of many excellent
works. The present is, perhaps, the best that he has
yet produced ; it might well be entitled something of
everything—moral tales—natural history—tales of
travel—accounts of various cities and water-
ing places both in England and on the
continent, all are to be found in this admirable
little work, and all written in a plain understand-
able yet most captivating style, which cannot fail
to make the work popular with children.
Mr. Green is the Peter Parley of the old world. The
book is beautifully illustrated by Meesom, and is one
of the nicest presents that those who like "to take
something for the children" ca❑ make to them.

THE COMIC ALMANAC for 1849. Edited by
Horace Mayhew. Illustrated by George CruUshank.
This is the oldest, and still continues to be one of
the very best comic annuals. The robe of Rigdurn
Funnidos hath fallen worthily on the shoulders of
Horace Mayhew, who hath here dished up a rare
banquet of fun, for which George Cruikshank has
provided the plates.

FUNERAL or SIR JOHN !BARROW, BART.—The
funeral of the venerable Sir John Barrow, Bart., took
place yesterday forenoon, when his mortal remains were
removed from New-street, Spring-gardens, for interment
in the Camden Cemetery, belonging to the parish of St.
Martin-in-the Fields. The funeral cortege consisted of
a; hearse and four, and two mourning coaches. The
mourners were Sir George Barrow, Bart., Mr. J. Bar-
row, Mr. P. Barrow, sons, and Mr. R. B. Batty, grand-
son of the deceased, the Right Hon. John Wilson
Croker, Sir George Staunton, Bart., M.P., and Sir Ben-
jamin Brodie.'
KING'S COLLEGE, ABERDERN.—The Senate of this
college have unanimously re-elected the Earl of Elles-
mere Lord Rector of the university.
CAFTAIN AIARRTAT AS A MIDSHIPMAN.—On the
23,1 of September, 1506, he entered the navy a; a first-
class boy, on board the Imillrieuse, 44 guns, commanded
by the illustrious Lord Cochrane. During his service
urnler this gallant officer, which lasted until the 18th of
October, 1809, he took part in more than fifty engage-
ments, in which many ships of war and merchant-
men were cut out, off the coast of France and
in the Mediterranean. Iliving chastd a ship in the
Bay of Arcupon, which sought safety under the guns
of a battery, Lord Cochrane resolved to cut her out,
and young Marryat was one of the boarding party.
He followed closely the first lieutenant «iho headed the
expedition, and who at length, after his party had sus-
tained a severe loss, succeeded in gaining the deck of the
enemy. He had scarcely done so when, struck by
thirteen musket balls, he fell back a corpse, knocking
down his follower in his fall, who was trampled on
and almost suffocated by his shipmates, who, burning
to revenge their leader, rushed forward with im-
p( tuous bravery. The vessel captured, an examination
took place of the bodies of the killed and wounded.
Marryat numbered among the former, and being in a
state of stupor, was unable to deny the doom assigned
to him. But soon arrived the surgeon and his assist-
ants, and with them came a midshipman who bore no
goodwill to Marryat. This worthy youth, seeing the
supposed lifeless body of his comrade, gave it a slight
kick, saying, " Here is a young cock that has done
crowing! NVell, for a wonder, this chap has cheated
the gallows!" This salutation, with its comment, re-
vived the almost expiring energies of the other, who
faintly exclaimed, " You are a liar!" a retort which,
notwithstanding the melancholy scene around, produced
a roar of laughter.—Bentley's Miscellany.

HERRING AND SPRATS.—Wednesday morning,
three Avoch boats sent to the Inverness market a large
quantity of young herring and sprats, caught during the
night off Bunchrew, in the Beauly Firth. The former
were sold at ten for a penny, and the latter were still
cheaper. In a very few hours the market was cleared—
the cheapness and novelty of the article induced many of
the visitors to make small investments. The boats had
also a few grown herring, which were early disposed of.
This is the first capture this season of young herring
and sprats in that neighbourhood. Yesterday several
boats had successful takes in the Moray Firth, between
Munloehy Bay and Cbanonry Point, some of which
were brought to the Dingwall market today, and sold at
twenty for 6d.—Rcss-shire Advertiser.
THE OIL FISIIERIES.—The vessel Truelove, ar-
rived from Davis' Straits, has brought 74 tuns of oil and
three and three• quarters tons weight of whalefins ; and
the vessel Abram, also arrived from Davis' Straits, has
brought 35 tuns of oil and two tons weight of whalefins,
the production of that northern region. The vessel
Herefordshire, errived from Newfoundland, has brought
387 casks of oil, 4,648 seal skins, and some packages of
other skins, furs, fish, caplin, berries, and cranberries;
the vessel Hazard, from the same place, 320 casks of cod
oil, one cask of seal oil, and some packages of cod sounds;
and the vessel Friendship, also from St. John's, New-
foundland, has brought 324 casks of oil and other mer-
chandize, the production of that coast of North America.
GUTTA PERCIIA.—This article continues to be kn•
ported in very large quantities, in order to meet the
numerous and extensive demands which are made for
it to be appropriated to the very many purposes to
which it is aow found to be applicable. A vessel just
arrived in the decks from Singapore has brought what
we believe to be the largest importation which has bees
made at one time, consisting of 3,294 packages, 710
lumps, and 10,441 blocks of the article.
BRISTOL A FREE PORT.—As a striking proof of
the good effect of the " free port " measure which has
been recently carried at Bristol, we may mention that
during the past week the foreign arrivals were quadrupled,
whilst it was intimated by the first American ship which
has arrived under the new tariff that several ships in the
different harbours of America are loading for that port.
Comment on these facts is scarcely necessary.
STEERING COMP/Mi.—Captain Sir Samuel Brown has
invented a reflecting, or we should say rather a reflected
compass for ships to steer by, and the Admiralty have
ordered its merits to be tested on board the St. Vincent,
120, flagship of Sir Charles Napier. Mr. Biddlecombe,
the master of that ship, is to have charge' of it, and to
report his opinions with respect to its use and applies
bility for service in the navy. We shall endeavour to
describe it. At the top of a metal staff some seven or
eight feet in height, placed on a stand (altogether some-
thing similar to the stand of a fire-screen) is a compass
slung as an overhead compass, with the face downward;
about five feet further down the staff (the same height
from the deck at which the binnacle compass usually
stands) is a projecting circular disc of looking-glass or
highly-poliahed steel, which being placed on the same
plane, and exactly opposite the card of the compass at the
top of the staff reflects it; and it is by this reflected card
that the man at the helm (or wheel) is to steer. The
principal object of the invention is to place the compass
clear of all local attraction, so that the needle may tra-
, verse in its true position. Captain Sir Thomas Brown
had it on the platform at the King' Stairs, in this dock-
yard, on Tuesday, and explained its properties and uses
to the Commander-in-Chief, Admiral the lion. Sir
Bladen Capel, and likewise to Rear Admiral Superinten-
dent Prescott.—Deeenport independent.
SUBSTITUTE FOR CREAM IN TEA OR COFFEE.—
Best the white of an egg to a froth—put to it a very
small lump of butter, and mix well; then turn the coffee
to it gradually so that it may not curdle. If perfectly
done it will be an excellent substitute for cream.—
' Sidney's Emigrant's Journal.