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

I taro parishes or districts might be rated at an over-esti-
mated amount of rental, and a parish might he at 1. to
show that such was the fact. The cate of St. James,
Westminster, was an rnstaoce. The amount of rental
assessed in that parish under the new us,essment was
much larger than under the old, and the parish tvi-
thorities, in their duty to the ratepayers, p.°-
tested against the new rate. Inquiries had been
instituted, the result of which was, that though
the parish still contended they were cverrated,
they admitted that they were not rated before in a de-
gree equal to the real rental. Now, under these circum-
stances, the Court had no piwer to make any alteration
in the assessment of that parish without making a new
gen,Tal assessment. The obj, et of his remarks now
was, to show the Court the necessity that existed for
its possessing such a power, ang he hoped that a com-
mittee would be appointed to consider whether it would
be proper to ask the Legislature for as Act to enable
them to amend the assessment upon certain places
without interfering with the general assessment of the
county.
Sir. Y. LAURIE said his honourable friend was out of
order in going into these details now.
Mr. FRESHFIFLD said that the subject was so im-
portant to the magistrates and the rate-payers tha; he
had hoped for the indulgence of the Court.
, Subsequently a notice of motion on the subject was
given by Mr. B. HALL.
The mortgage was then executed.
Mr. ROTCH moved, " That the 106th standing order
of the court, which directs that no person shall be put
on trial as warder after the age of 35 years, unless a com-
missioned or non-commissioned officer, and then not ex-
ceeding 45 years, be amended with respect to the age of
persons who may have been commissioned or non-com-
missioned officers, by substituting 40 fur 45 years."—
Carried.

Mr. RosE moved that an assistant-chaplai❑ be ap-
pointed at the Westminster House of Correction, at a
salary of 2001. per year.
Captain BA.GUE seconded the motion. This subject
has on several occasions been before the Court. Oa the
first, Mr. Hind, the chaplain, applied for an increase of
his present salary (4001. a year) on account of the very
heavy duties he had to perform; but the Court rejected
the memorial on the ground that an additional salary
was not required, and that if the duty was too much, it
would bo preferable to give Mr. Hind an assistant, rather
than grant him the increase of salary which he asked for.
Mr. ROSE here stated that in 1842, the daily average
of prisoners attended by the chaplain was 339, while now
the average was 750.
Mr. Inucx supported the motion, as did several other
magistrates. _ _

Mr. ROTCH opposed it on the ground that Mr. Hind
had not in the first instance complained that the duties
were more than he could discharge, but had merely ap-
plied for an increased salary. 400/ a year was quite
enough for a gaol chaplain, and if Mr. Hind could per
form the duty with an increased salary he could do so
with his present one. The learned gentleman concluded
his remarks by alluding to prisondiscipline, and urging
the adoption of separate cells as the best means of re-
forming criminals.
Sir PETER LAURIE said he felt bound to offer a word
or two with reference to his honourable friend's recom-
mendation for more solitary cells. Solitary confinement
was the nurse of lunacy, as the following figures would
show. In five years, from 1843 to 1848, th,re had been
sent from the Millbank Penitentiary to Bedlam 19 lu
natics; from the Model Prison at Pentonville, 10; from
the hulks, 20; and one from the Westminster House of
Correction—making a total of 50. Not one had been
sent from Coldbath-fields, and all the other gaols in En-
gland had sent only six in the same time. So much for
the solitary system.
Several magistrates then spoke upon the motion, when
Mr. Weir urged Mr. Rose to withdraw it.
Mr. ROSE consented to do so, but Captain BacuE, as
the seconder, insisted that it could not be withdrawn
without his consent, and he was determined to bring it
to the vote.

A long discussion ensued, and eventually the motion
was carried by a majority of four, and the situation or-
dered to be advertised.

The committees were then re appointed, and after some
other routine matters had been disposed of the Court
adjourned.

THE HARVEST.

The weather having been uniformly dry and
favourable since Thursday last, an immense breadth
of grain has been cut, and a much larger quantity
placed under " thack and rape" than could have been
anticipated. Up till Tuesday the weather had been
dry and bright, with just enough of wind to
prepare the sheaves for the stack-yard. The mercury
in the barometer then fell rapidly ; the wind ble w un-
steadily from point to point with increasing force till
yesterday, when it blew quite a gale, which no doubt
has shaken to a considerable extent the ripe crop.
There was no cessation of labour, however,
reaping and leading having been carried on
without interruption. In this neighbourhood,
and in other early districts, from a half to
two-thirds of the whole white crop was cut, and fully
a third placed in the stack. The bulk is less equal,
and less on the whole than was calculated on, but as
the yield on the barn floor is expected to be good, the
general result will be at least a full average. The
quality is unexceptionable. The potato disease has
made no progress during the past week, having been
arrested by the dry weather, and until there be a fall
of rain, which seems at hand, will no doubt remain
stationary. That the seeds of it exist, although in an in-
cipient state, it were vain todeny—but the extent of its
ravages will most probably depend on the weather.
If the atmosphere be dry, mild, and breezy, the loss
will be comparatively small. If we shall have a track
of rainy weather, or if frost set in before the tubers
are thoroughly ripened, the loss will be considerable.
It should not be forgotten, however, that even in the
most favourable year, and before the disease was heard
of, the loss from rot was seldom less than from 10 to 15
per cent. Looking to the great breadth which has
been planted, a loss of double that amount would not
be felt as a very serious matter, and, indeed, may al-
most be looked for. There is little probability that they
shall be so cheap during the winter as to admit of
being extensively used, as in past times, as a substitute
for bread; nor ought this result to be a matter of ganeral
regret. While used as a mere vegetable along
with butcher meat or fish, they serve their highest
ind best purpose, but when substituted for bread, and
lepended on as an article of food, they are clearly
iiisemployed, and both as regards their perishable
nature, and innutritious quality, the cultivation of
them for any other purpose than that of an excellent
and delicious vegetable, and as a wholesome and
valuable accompaniment to animal food, ought to be
discouraged.—Caledonian Mercury.
Yesterday (Tuesday) was a delightful day, and
must have cheered the heart of the farmer, but the
warmth would bring the sweat to the brow of the
reaper. The week has been dry, and the only draw-
backs were the heavy winds and cold nights. " The
wind that shakes the barley" is not always the friend
of the husbandman ; and both wheat and barley have
suffered from the severe shaking which the ripened
grain received. Indeed, we believe we are correct in
saying, that this cause has materially affected the re-
turns of these kinds of grain ; and that in Nairnshire
and parts at least of this county the crop will turn out
less profitable than was expected a week or two ago.
Oats, not so far advanced, have not been injured, and
promise to be a splendid crop. The opinion of several
agricultural gentlemen with whom we have spoken
is, that although the crop may not equal that of last
year, it will still be fully an average. Less is said of
the potato disease. It undoubtedly appeared three or
four weeks ago, but whether checked by the frost,
which itself blackened many fields, or from some other
causes, it does not appear to have spread. Ihe crop,
too, is unusually large and fine.—lnverness Courier.
SAFFRON Watanoaa—The weather has continued
delightfully fine throughout the week, acting most
beneficially on the late barley, and bringing
perfection sooner than appearances at one tune war-
ranted. It has now mostly fallen before the scythe,
and been carried in good condition, though probably
the sample will not turn out so fine for malting pur-
poses as could have been desired. Our farmers have
ample cause for satisfaction in the produce of their
fields; a few more fine days will see them cleared of
their precious produce. The green crops are luxuri-
antly rich, affording plenty of grazing for the cattle,
and a good prospect of winter food. The rain has
not been excessive in this district during any part of
the season, and followed by dry winds, has proved
exceedingly refreshing and beneficial to the ripening
corn and green crops in particular, potatoes unfortu-
nately excepted. In our market on Saturday, the
finest samples of wheat (old and new) suffered a
decline of 25., and the inferior and damp descriptions
from ss. to 6s.—Essex Standard.
DEVIZES.—During the past week we have had
several very fine days ; indeed, from Thursday t
. o
Tuesday not a drop of rain fell in this immediate
a
neighbourhood. Of course great progress was d
that
in
t
the harvest work, and we believe we may state
in this county all the wheat is now secured, and in
very decent condition. The barley, too,
cad ; and
is
carried
nearly
all cut, and a large proportion of it
although the sample
will be coarse and dark, the
crop is not very materially injured._ Wiltshire Lade-

pendent.
STOURBRIDGE.—The last few days of fine weather,
so long desired, have not been suffered to pass away
unimproved by the farmers in this district, large
quantities of grain, both wheat and barley, having
been safely housed in very tolerable condition ; in-
deed very few crops of wheat remain in the fields,
either cut or standing. The crop of barley is far
better than was anticipated during the period of the
last unpropitious weather. On the whole, the har-
vest prospects in this district have assumed a much
more satisfactory appearance than, under late circum-
stances, might reasonably have been expected.—Ten
Towns Messenger.
GAiNsi3oaouGn.—The continued fine weather per-
mits the latter harvest to be gathered in, in excellent
condition. The reports respecting the potato disease
are of an extremely conflicting character; on the
, whole we may predict, as we did last year (and
which the result verified), that the damage dune to
the crop is not near'y so serious as has been repre-
sented.—Lincoln Mercury.
CAISTOL—For the last week the weather has bean
all that the farmer could wish. Nearly the whole of