The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-05 00:00:00

!NAVIGATION COMMITTEE AND
THE WATEMLYN'S - STEAM-PACKET COM-
PANY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN,
SIR,—In the police report of proceedings at the Man-
sion-house in your journal of this day appears a letter
from Messrs. Clarke and Cooper, the respectable solicitors
of the Watermen's and Lightermen's Company, stating
that that Company was in no way connected with or
parties to the proceedings of the Waterman's Steam-
paoi.i.et Company ; and my Lord Mayor is also reported
to have stated, with all the weight attached to his ma-
gisterial office—first, that he thought it right to let the
public know that the poor watermen, in whose behalf
numerous appeals had been made to their sympathies as
being connected with and deriving profit from the Wa-
terman's Steam packet Company, had nothing to do
with that Company, and derived no advantage whatever
from it. Secondly, that nobody had any benefit from it
with the exception of the individuals who had been
able to purchase shares in the speculotion.
Without commenting on the serious charges involved
in these assertions, I beg to state, in answer to the last
statement of his Lordship, that the Waterman's Steam-
packet Company was established, in the first instance,
by free watermen at Woolwich, for the benefit of the
working watermen, assisted by the aid of philanthropic
parties, three of whom are still the trustees of, and
shin eholders in, the Company, and members of the Court
of the Watermen's and Lightermen's Company, and that
one-half the present shareholders in the Waterman's
Steam-packet Company are members of the Watermen's
and Lightermen's Company.
That the public may judge of the justice of his Lord-
ship's first assertion, and form its own opinion how far
his Lordship has been misled by information given to
him, I further beg to state that the Waterman's Steam-
packet Company has contributed towards the Water-
men's and Lightermen's Almshouses for decayed mem-
bers, of which Messrs. Clark and Cooper are secretaries, the sum of 1571. 10s., by votes at annual meetings.
That since the recent period of the formation of the
Company it has paid to the free working watermen at
the several public stairs undermentioned, for the accom-
modation of landing and embarking at floating piers
belonging to these poor men, the following sums :
To the free watermen at Garden-stairs, Greenwich, in
five years, 4,7001.
At Bellwater-gate-stairs, Woolwich, in five years,
4,6001.
At Blackwall-stairs, in three years, 4501.
At Limehouse-hole-stairs, in two years, 5001.
At Execution Dock-stairs, Wapping, in one year, 4301.
At the stairs, Blackfriars-bridge, in two years, 8001.
At the Adelphi-stairs, in five years, 1,8001.; and
At the stairs, Westminster-bridge, in two years,
500/., making together a total of 13,7891.
The Directors of the Waterman's Steam-packet Com-
pany are as anxious as any one that the Company should
not be identified with any Company under the authority
of the Corporation of London or the Navigation Com-
mittee. The title of the two Companies is entirely dis-
tinct, and the letter Messrs. Clarke and Cooper have
been instructed to write is uncalled for and ungenerous.
A crusade against the poor watermen at the various
public stairs for erecting floating piers has long, existed,
and had these poor men been assisted be the aid of the
Watermen's and Lightermen's Company in maintaining
their birthright of landing and embarking the public at
the ancient stairs, from the present improved mode of
conveyance on the river, it is apparent from the fore-
going facts that a revenue sufficient to maintain these
poor men would have been derived which would have
enabled them to live without resort to the workhouse or
appeals to the sympathy of the public, or at least would
materially have mitigated their present distress.
The erection of the Corporation Pier at Blackfriars-
bridge deprives the watermen at the public stairs of an
income of at lea 400.1. per annum from this Company
alone, and I trust the rights of these poor men will be
considered by her Majesty's Government in the next
session of Parliament.
Jan. 2, 1846.

J. S. NEWBON, Secretary.

THE LATE ANTI-CORN-LAW
MEETING AT HEREFORD.
TO THE .EDITOR OF THE W.N.
SlA,—Having read in your paper of the 2d inst. your
comments on the anti-corn-law meeting which took
place at Hereford, on Wednesday last, I observe it stated
that in my allusion to the wages of the agricultural la-
bourers in this vicinity, I was met by " indignant cries
of six shillings a week, and that I did not venture to as-
sert that the average rate of wages was more than six
shillings a week." During the time I was speaking the
noise was so great that although the remark may have
been made I did not notice it ; but when at the close of
the proceedings Mr. Nash, in his speech, made allusion
to it, I immediately stated that he was in error ; that
we pay Bs. a week and drink, and charge them 6s. per
bushel for their wheat. You will find that lam borne
out in'this statement, by referring to the report of the
proceedings which appeared in the Hereford Times of
Saturday last. I therefore trust you will allow this ex-
planation to appear in your next number, as I feel satis-
fied that upon your part the misrepresentation was un-
intentional, and I remain, Sir, your obedient humble
servant, JOHN TOMKINS.
Weir, near Hereford, Jan. 4, 1846.

SUPPOSED INFANTICIDE.-011 Saturday Mr. Bing-
ham, the sitting magistrate at Worship-street, was informed
by Inspector Pascoe, of the N division, that the body of an
infant had been found, under suspicious circumstances, at the
house of Mr. Carter, a linendraper, in the New North-road,
Iloxton, and that Harriet Gibbs, the servant, was in custody
as the mother, but was in such a state as precluded the pos-
sibility of her being at present brought forward for examina-
tion, although the charge was entered against her on the
police-sheet. On inquiry it appeared that she had for some
time been suspected of being enciente, but she strongly and
to the last denied it. On Friday night, however, she was
missed for upwards of an hour from the house, and it was
discovered that she had fastened herself into a privy. She
refused to open the door when required, and it was at length
forced open, when it became apparent that parturition had
recently taken place. No child was visible, however, but the
police being sent for, a search was made, and the body of a
tine male infant, dead, was found in the soil. The wretched
young woman, the mother, immediately received the profes-
sional aid requisite in her condition, but remains at her
master's house, under the surveillance of the police.
FAILURE OF YAAMS.—ID consequence of the failure
of the Yaam crop, several large orders have arrived in Lon-
don from the West Indies for supplies of potatoes, which it is
almost needless to say have been necessarily rejected.
" DEAD DRUNK."—Mr. Wakley, M.P., held an
inquest on Friday in the Marylebone workhouse, on the body
of Anne Pettyfor, aged forty-four, the wife of a sweep. Mr.
Boyd, house surgeon to the infirmary, stated, that last Mon-
day she was brought in " dead drunk" from the stables of
the Green Man, Edgware-road, where she had been, from the
preceding evening, in a state of drunkenness. She was cold,
insensible, and very rapidly sinking. Everything was done
to restore her, but in vain, as she expired next day. He ex-
amined the body after death. The brain and lungs were
congested, and the stomach was spotted like a leopard's skin.
Death ensued from excessive drinking. Deceased's husband
said that his wife had been an inveterate gin-drinker, and
that she was drunk for two successive days before her death.
Verdict—" Death from drunkenness."

ESCAPE AND CAPTURE OF A TIGER.—On Mon-
day, the 22d ult., as a caravan, belonging to the proprietor
(f a small collection of wild beasts, was passing through
Potter Heigham, on its way to Yarmouth, the driver, in
making room for a passing vehicle, incautiously overturned
the caravan. The bars of the tiger's den not being suffi-
ciently strong to support the weight suddenly thrown upon
them gave way, and the ferocious animal being thus unex-
pectedly liberated, after taking off an eagle's head as his first
exploit, betook himself to the neighbouring fields. Alarmed
at the probable consequences of the intrusion of so bold an
innovator upon the peace and safety of their flocks and herds,
Messrs. Rudd and T. R. Murrell, two resident farmers, held
a consultation with the proprietor of the menagerie, as to
the best means of capturing the formidable object of their
pursuit ; and armed with guns, and attended by the keeper,
as well as a large muster of labourers provided with pitch-
forks, they determined upon endeavouring to entangle him
in a sheep net. This, however, having failed, a large ham-
per, containing a piece of flesh, was placed in his way, and
upon his jumping in to seize the food the lid was drawn
down and soon secured, the animal uttering a hideouso:eq
which the stoutest of his captors could not bear nnmved.
the
Fortunately none of the party sustained any ill) IT! and
coldness of the weather, no doubt, greatly conutributed to
facilitate the capture, by inducing the animal to take shelter
under a fence.— Ziorjblk News.
CAPTUBB Or (ar AMBLBES.—Thirteen persons have
been taken into custody, charged with having been found in
a common gambling-house, known amongst " playmen" as
the "Little Nick," No. 17, Castle-street, Leicester-square.
Between Between eleven and twelve o'clock on Saturday
intendent Beresford, of the C division, with a strong party of
constables, proceeded to the house in question, and obtained
admission by stratagem. The defendants were found in dif-
ferent rooms, and about the house were found dice, dice-boxes,
and other implements of gaming.
BIDFORDSHIRE. INCOME-TAX. --- Tuesday, the
30th ult., was appointed for hearing appeals for the Great
Bardford division of Bedfordshire, at Bletsoe. A very great
number of persons were at the Falcon Inn, all day ; very
many could not obtain a hearing, and were told they might
attend again that day fortnight. This was very consoling to
some comparatively poor men, who had walked ton to fifteen
miles, and loud were their complaints. Surely some better
arrangement might be made for this division of the county.—
Cambridge Chronicle.
The Duke of Northumberland has distributed
coals and clothing to 800 poor families in the parish of
St. Martin's, an act of charity and munificence rarely
equalled ; but what is the miserable drawback attached?
—the recipients of his bounty must be members of the Church
of England—so the poor Roman Catholic and Dissenter may
starve if they do not conform to the creed of the Noble
Duke. The good Samaritan did not ask the faith of the
wounded Israelite, when he poured oil and wine upon his..
bruises.

SURPLUS REVENUE.—The forthcoming financial
statement of her Majesty's revenue will, as regards the sur •
plus in the Treasury, show a balance over the expenditure, it
is stated, of about three millions.

MINISTERIAL SCHEMES.—Amongst other official
projects for the ensuing session, we are told that a rumour
prevails in some of the Government departments to the effect
that in connexion with Sir R. Peel's talked-of scheme for
total repeal of the corn-laws, a proposal will be made for an
increase of the income tax to 7% per cent. ; and that a part
of the repeal plan will be to exempt the agriculturists from
the payment of all poor-rates.—Post.
THE RATING OF THE CITY OF LONDON LITERARY
INSTITUTION.—This case, which was adjourned from Satur-
day last, came on for hearing before Sir C. Marshall and Mr.
Alderman Challis, at Guildhall ; Mr. Clarkson appearing for
the parish, and Mr. Paucy for the Institution. The proceed-
ings lasted nearly two hours; the argument being the same
as advanced the previous hearing. Ultimately, it was again
postponed for a fortnight, to enable the parish officers to in-
spect the books and accounts of the institution.
CROMER, JAN. 1.----On the 25th ult., part of a
vessel's side (apparently a schooner's) came on shore at Sher-
ringham, and part of the deck at Overstrand, with two empty
port barrels, marked " Donaldson and Truman." A hands-
pike, marked " N. Pinder," has been picked up, supposed to
be from the same wreck, which also appears to be wheat
laden. On the 27th, a medicine chest was washed up at
Batton. The labels are from Liverpool and Elsineur, and a
prescription, written at Elsineur, by J. 0. Mullen, for Captain
Meanie in 1843.-11'orfolk Chronicle,

~'>- ; ~ Vii.

THE RUGBY, DERBY, AND MAN-
CHESTER RAILWAY.
Some curious disclosures on the subject cf railway
management have been made in the report of a meeting
of the shareholders in the Rugby, Derby, tied Manches-
ter Railway, which took place on the 17th ult., and of
which copies in print have since been pretty extensively.
distributed. From this report it appears that the pro-
ject was concocted by Mr. T. G. Smith, of the Stock-
Exchange, and Mr. Brewer, solicitor of Gray's Inn, who
became the registered promoters of the undertaking,
and in connexion with some other parties who are not
named, the prospectus was issued, an engineer and
secretaries engaged, surveys entered upon, and the
support of parties locally interested obtained• before the
Company as constituted at this meeting was formed.
On the 22d of September a meeting took place be-
tween the promoters and a number of gentlemen, who
were so satisfied with the representations made to
them, that they proceeded to establish the Company,
to settle the amount of capital, the apportionment
of shares, and other routine matters of the same
kind. Assurances were given on this occasion that the
surveys were in such a state of forwardness as to allow
the deposit of the plans as early as the 10th of Novem-
ber. A committee of management was appointed to
work the details of the undertaking, to whom a report
of progress was made by Mr. Blunt, in which it was
affirmed that " between Ashbourne and Leek (where it
was said that engineering difficulties existed) the tun-
nelling would be only one mile, the earthwork would
cost 3s. a yard, and the material procured in cutting
could be sold for Is. 2d. a yard, reducing the cost to
Is. 10d. a yard. There would be no curve with a radius
less than 14 miles, which could be increased to two
miles. The steepest gradient would be 1 in 240 ;
and therefore, so far from that part of the line
being difficult, it was remarkable for engineering faci-
lities." These and similar statements creating per-
fect confidence, the distribution of shares took place.
As time advanced, the committee, in order to
insure the material points of the timely deposit
of the plans and compliance with the standing
orders of Parliament, appointed Messrs. Humphrys,
Keightley, and Parkin. solicitors to the company, giving
them the sole direction and control of their Parliamen-
tary business. The plans were ultimately obtained, but
in e defective state, and they failed therefore in their
first stage. On the 2d of December, the new solicitors,
having had time to investigate the company's affairs,
sent a report to the committee that matters were alto-
gether different from what they had been led to expect,
that the engineering difficulties were very great, and
that another survey must be made before the policy of
going on with the projected line could be determined.
This led the committee to appoint another surveyor
(Mr. Hawkshaw), and to call the present meeting, to
whom his report, dated on the 15th of December, was
presented. It proved the reverse in nearly all respects
of that made in the first instance, stating the
engineering difficulties to be of the most formidable
kind, that the probable cost of the line between
Derby and Macclesfield would be 50,000 L a
mile, and that the tunnels and viaducts alone could not
be executed in all probability for less than 1,000,0001.
The plans and sections were full of blunders, assigning,
for example, a height to bridges under which the trains
could not pass, and in fine, Mr. Hawkshaw declared
that he could not undertake to support the line as at
present laid out. The committee could, therefore, only
recommend that the company should be dissolved, its
affairs wound up, and the assets divided among the
shareholders. They had received the deposit of
2!. 12s. 6d. on 30,600 shares, producing 80,325!., out of
which they had paid about 20,000 i, in which were in-
cluded 7,000 L to Mr. Blunt and near 6,0001. to Mr.
Brewer, who claimed further large sums for their
services. With regard to these claims, however, and
also " with regard to the power or right of the com-
mittee to require from the promoters a proportionate
part of the expenses incurred in respect of the shares
reserved for them, the committee will be guided by
professional advice." This report was received and
adopted by the meeting, the immediate payment of
1/. 13s. a share was ordered, and the balance, when the
accounts are wound up, is to be distributed rateably
among the shareholders. Thus a highly respectable
body of men, as the greater part of those who have ad-
vanced their money appear to be, through their credulity
in listening to parties who ought not to have been trusted
in so important a matter without more inquiry, have to
apportion this heavy loss among them. Of 87 gentle-
men on the provisional committee, to each of whom 100
shares were allotted, the whole, but a ith five exceptions,
are stated to have taken up their shares and paid the
deposits upon them. The "compensation " assigned to
the promoters was " the patronage of 15,000 shares " for
the time and attention given to the scheme, and pecu-
niary risk incurred in its concoction. These fine pros-
pects were spoiled by the interference of the Times,
and the "panic," which stopped the issue of shares, pre-
vent-d without doubt the greater part of this, now de-
clared worthless, scrip from being saddled on the public.
—Times.

WINDSOR, SUNDAY EVENING.—Her Majesty and
his Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by their
Royal highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal,
and the Princess Alice, will leave the Castle for Claremont
on Tuesday next, taking their departure from Windsor imme-
diately after an early luncheon. It is expected that the infant
Prince Alfred will also accompany his illustrious parents.
The Court, according to present arrangements, will remain
at Claremont until Friday week, the 16th instant, on which
day it will return to the Castle. Her Majesty, accompanied
by the Prince Consort, will take her departure from Windsor
for Buckingham Palace on the following Tuesday, the 20th,
two days before the opening of the session of Parliament.
The Court is shortly afterwards expected to return to the
Castle for about a month or six weeks.

The Duke of Wellington has had invitations issued
for his customary Parliamentary banquet on the 21st instant,
the eve preceding the assembling of both Houses of Parlia-
ment. Above sixty Conservative Peers are invited.
FUNERAL OF TIIE LATE COLONEL GURWOOD,
DE -
PUTY-LIEUTENANT OF THE TowEn.—The remains of this
lamented officer were brought into the Tower in a hearse on
Wednesday night; at half-past nine o'clock, and deposited in
the vault behind the church. The funeral, which was strictly
private, took place on Saturday, at half-past eleven o'clock.
The body, enclosed in a coffin covered with black cloth, was
brought into the church, when the burial service was per-
formed by the Rev. H. Dunnage, curate. A few of the de-
ceased's private friends attended, amongst whom were :
the Spanish Ambassador, Major-General Brown, Colonel
Grant, Colonel Home, Colonel Rowan, Major Shadwell
Clark, Sir Henry Webster, and Captain Lord Frederick
Paulet. The body was then carried back to the vault, where
it was finally deposited.
COLONEL Guawoon.—We have received the follow-
ing communication :—" On the point of quitting Paris
to pay the last sad duties to my lamented half-brother,
Colonel Gurwood, I read in the Messenger the re-
port of the Coroner's inquest, in which no notice
is taken of a serious wound he received in the head
in the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo, in which he led the
forlorn hope. How much this has from time to time affected
him is known to some of his friends, and particularly to Sir
Robert Chermside, late surgeon of the 10th Hussars, in
which my brother served for many years. On account of his
wound, he was obliged to abstain from wine for many years,
and to the last he had a habit of throwing back his head,
and the expression of his features showed that he was some-
times in great pain.—l remain, &c., C. OKEY.—Galignani.
Mr. O'Connell has addressed a letter to the Mayor
of Limerick, in which he states that he declines to attend the
repeal dinner in that city, fixed for the 21st instant, in con-
sequence of his determination to attend in his place in the
House of Commons on the opening of the session, in order to
give his support to a repeal of the corn-law.
The members of the Princess's orchestra have pre-
sented to Mr. F. Eames, the leader, a valuable snuff-box,
whereon the following testimonial is inscribed:—" Presented
orchestra
January
tthoeFprarninkceEsaems
eTsh eEa stq.,
byas at h
me
agrekn
of
lfe mt
heeni r
1846."—Dramatic and Musical Review. _
oefsttebeme
AN ARTFUL ROBBERY.—On Saturday information
was given that on Friday evening, between seven and eight,
a large quantity ofGt
Gresham-street,
et;
hsgi
aeomrols
tairnee
at
lnumberCarigty:oc\favnanysiessrtiotilleogn:dwrhie,seisineeisar,
shirts, ribands, and other property, belonging to Messrs.
nliTloanertveriwllebwoaasnwdcaase:rir'iinovgfing a country-looking cart offered to give
him a lift with his load, which appeared to be a rather heavy
one, and he, availing himself of the offer, placed
his bag in
the cart. In the Strand, however, when near Wellington-
street, he went into a public-house
to procure some drink,
and while he was so occupied the accommodating carter dis-
appeared with the horse and cart, and with them Messrs.
Neville and Co.'s bag of goods. The carter is described as
about forty years of age, rather stout, and of middling height,
with sandy hair and whiskers, and wearing a velveteen
jacket.

An incendiary fire broke out at Needingworth,
Hunts, on Wednesday evening last, about five o'clock, on the
premises of a person named Cave, jun. The destructive
element raged with considerable fury, and destroyed two
barns, &c., the property of Mr. Frank, postmaster, St. Ives.
Strong suspicion rests upon the tenant Cave, and we under-
stand he has been apprehended, and committed to take his
trial.—Cambridge Chronicle.

ELECTIONEERING ON DIT.—We are assured
that our county will be contested, on the first vacancy, by
either the Hon. H. A. Cole or Lord Henry Loftus.—Ennis-
killen Reporter.
The Church of Dei-Girolamini, at Naples, was last
month the theatre of a dreadful crime. One ecclesiastic
murdered another by cutting his throat with a razor. The
murderer was surprised in the fact, and arrested immediately.
The motive of this crime is not known.

A letter from Venice of the 26th ult. states that
the Emperor of Russia arrived thither on the 24th., and im-
mediately paid a visit to the Duchess de Berry, at the Van-
dramini Palace.

HARWICIL—The Liberal electors of this borough
aroused by the late events, appear to be casting their eyes
about them, and preparing for another elntion. A meeting
of electors was held at the Three Cups Tavern, on the 22d
ult., for the purpose of considering a requisition to John
r
Bagshaw, Esq., the High Steward of the borough, to.
eoffe
himself as a candidate, in the event of a vacancy in tn
and urged
re-
presentation. Mr. L. Cottingham took the chair,
bring about a
to use their most strenuous exertions t
that it was a matter of paramount importance with the elec-
torshonestv and
so favourable
more healthy state of things, and noth to
hmaidsso
an opportunity of showing that tev
of the borough' by
gentlemanin teret a at. .
patriotism sufficient to redeem creditthe
whheaorlitadmarn.
Ainli(iiisorrintaannt
Esq., took part in the proceed-
ings, iinngt;jos
tPoawrnii,ruanaedntitaa
the requisition to Mr. Bagshaw
iJohnsonngs,andaint duN,asV.
resolvedC . R and
thatfiel d ,
should be signed by those present, and
committee was ap-
pointed to wait upon the electors with it.—Chelmsford
Chronicle.
DARING ROBBERY.—In the night of Tuesday, the
23d ult.,- a most daring robbery was committed on the pre-
mises of Mr. Samuel Hardy, fanner and maltster, Eckington.
Admittance was gained to the malthouse by picking the lock ;
and about three cwt. of hops, which bad been put up in sacks
ready to be sent off the next day, were abstracted therefrom.
It is supposed that the hops must be concealed somewhere in
the vicinity, as, from their great bulk, they could
carried far. We understand that Mr. Hardy has ' tli:-_______c.t
handsome reward for the apprehension and coikvlFii -cttatOj'zi;:iN T..
guilty parties.—Derby Repo, ter.
,c,. -f.t.i..'-,—itti:. 41
ALARMING DISAPPEARANCE.-1 v e pvcrii"*. ,',(4:A-.... ~.1
Mr. T. D. Townsend, of Pond Hall, Felstcd, whoOt: iiiiiinfn ..*\-I',- r-:
disappearance from home was noticed in outriafiper-of tligt ,17-77;i
19th ult., has not yet been heard of by his frien , ' ir hn li aYtt 4=7 'i; •
___,
offered a reward of 501. for information respe g3'.:ltibi .0.44-:1-i,-\ !•44,. '.74
Essex Standard. ~-,-,... V,: :,0,....- ; r, .
..•• 1...,,, --',--"c
"111 01 11.,-;•--
'
a ra.