The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-08 00:00:00

trz.,
ED. eJ Ei SEPTEMBER 8, 1846.

THE KAFIR WAR.

The South African Commercial Advertiser of the 20th
of June contains the following official dispatches relative
to the late engagements with the Kafirs on the frontier.
This paper, which is five days later than previous ad-
vices, gives no other intelligence of consequence:—

" OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.

"Head-quarters, Graham's-town, June 12, 1846.

"His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief publishes
the following dispatch from Colonel Somerset, for
general information:—

"Fort Peddle, June 8, 1846.

"' Sir,—l have the honour to acquaint you, for the
information of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief,
that having directed sixty waggons to proceed this
morning to Trompetter's Post, under an escort of two
aundred and fifty men, I felt it necessary to make a di-
version with the troops in the direction of the kraals of
the chief Stock. I accordingly detached a force of 300
Native Infantry under Captsin Size, 100 Fingoes under
Field-Captain Symons, accompanied by a dy of -the
Fort Peddie Fingoes under the chief Tambu, into the
Blue river last night, with orders to move at daylight
up the valleys of Toeka and Mancazana streams,between
rrompetter's and Committus. I moved with two guns
under Captain Brown, Royal Artillery, one troop 7th
Dragoon Guards, under Captain Sir Harry Darien, 100
Cape Mounted Rifles, under Captain Napier, Field-
Captain Lucas, free troop, and 100 of Commandant
Miller's Burghers, to the head of the Tocka stream,
in the direction of Stock's kraal, at six, A.sr. This
morning, at half-past seven o'clock, I observed a large
body of the enemy at a short distance below us, having
horses and cattle with them. I immediately advanced
the guns and Cape Mounted Rifles to the attack, sup-
ported by the troop of the 7th Dragoon Guards, detach-
ing the Burghers to my left flank ; and having thrown
out a strong body of skirmishers of the Cape Mounted
Rifles, Captain Brown opened his guns on the enemy
with effect. The enemy commenced a sharp fire against
the advance, which was returned by the Cape Mounted
Rifles, and the attack was continued for some time.
Observing the enemy endeavouring to escape to our
right, I moved, with one gun of the 50th Cape Mounted
Rifles, and one division of the 7th Dragoon Guards,
towards the kraal of the chief Stock, to inter-
cept them, and about one hundred and fifty of the
enemy, who were posted there, retired into the bushy
kloofs in the rear. I destroyed the chief's kraal, leav-
ing the burial-hut of the late chief Eno untouched. At
half-past seven o'clock the infantry I had detached to the
Mancazana kloofs made their -appearance on the heights
and passed over into the Tocka valley. Whilst the
movement was going on, Captain Doeovan:headed a gal-
lant attack on the enemy with the small body of the Cape
Mounted Rifles and some or the Free Troop; rushing
on the enemy, ho was immediately surrounded, but,
being well supported, he cut hit way out, killing five of
the enemy and taking all their guns.
" The Native Intantry and Fingoes, having got into
the valley, attacked the enemy in the most spirited
manner, killing several and capturing 12 horses. The
enemy, made several attempts to escape to the right, but
were immediately driven back by the George Burghers,
who behaved with great spirit, taking four horses and
two guns from them.
" At half-past twelve o'clock. finding the fire slack-
ening and the enemy beaten and retit ing, I assembled
the force, and proceeded up the Tocka, crossing the
small neck of land which separates the Tocka from the
Gwanga stream, in order to off saddle and refresh the
horses. Immediately on rising the ridge, the flanktrs
observed some of the enemy running across the flats,
and on moving rapidly with the troops I came suddenly
on a large body of Kafirs, at least 500 strong, who were
evidently proceeding to join the others in the Tocka
valley. I immediately advanced with the whole of the
troops. Major Gibson, 7th Dragoon Guards, who com-
manded the cavalry force, with Sir Harry Darrel& a
troop, made a brilliant charge upon the enemy's
column, the Cape Mounted Rifles, under Captain
Napier, flanking them, and riding in amongst the
enemy. The troop was so mixed with the enemy
that the gun could only open once upon them
effectually. The enemy retired across the flat as fast
as they could, endeavouring to seek shelter among the
think thorns of the Gwanga, at Buck-kraal, but the at-
tack of the troop was so vigorous and well-directed, that
it was impossible they could escape,'and the enemy were
defeated with great loss, leaving upwards of 200 dead
on the field. About 100 stand of arms, 20 horses, and a
very large number of bundles of assagais, were captured.
" The troop of the 7th Dragoon Guards. under Capt.
Hogg, and a party of the Cape Mounted Rifles, under
Ensign Philpotts, who were sent out from the Fort by
Lieutenant-Colonel Lindsay, made a diversion on our
flank, and turned that of the enemy who were endea-
vouring to escape by the Kieskamma, killing six strag-
glers, and taking four horses.
" The loss on our side has been 3 officers wounded,
7 privates of the 7th Dragoon Guards wounded, 1 cor-
poral of the Cape Mounted Rifles killed, 1 Free Troop
wounded, 1 Fingo killed and 3 wounded. Total, 16
wounded and 2 killed. _ _ _

" Officers wounded—Captain Walpole, Royal Engi-
neers, severely in two places ; Captain Sir H. Darrell,
7th Dragoon Guards, severely in two places ; Lieutenant
Bunbury, 7th Dragoon Guards, slightly. Several horses
killed and wounded, but I have not been able to collect
the exact number yet.
"' I have to express my entire satisfaction at the con-
duct of all the troops and forces engaged this day under
my command, and to express my obligation to Major
Gibson; coinmanding the cavalry, and to the officers
commanding corps, and the officers of the staffs, Lieu-
tenants Armstrong and Bisset, for the assistance they
afforded me on this occasion.
" Surgeon Eddie, of the Cafe Mounted Rifles, ren-
dered every assistance to the wounded on the field,
"6 I find it quite impossible to give a more detailed
account of the very extended movement of this day. I
therefore send this dispatch by Lieutenant Bisset, Act-
ing-Deputy-Quartermaster-General, who will be able
to give his Excellency the Commander-in Chief every
information.
"' I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient
servant,

" H. SOMERSET,
" Colonel Commanding the Second Division o
Field Force.
Lieutenant-Colonel Cloete, K.H., Deputy-Quarter-
maste-General, Graham's-town.
" Since the receipt of the above dispatch, Col. Somerset
has reported that the enemy attacked by him o❑ the Bth
inst. in the Fish River bush has evacuated it, and retired
across the Kieskamma. Our patrols had captured a few
head of cattle and two horses. It appears from the in-
formation obtained from a prisoner that there were in the
defeated force warriors selected from the tribes of Um-
hala, Seyola, and Botman, and that a chosen band of
Pato's people was proceeding from thence by way of
Trompetter's Drirt to intercept our convoys. The inten-
tion of the enemy was to starvo out Fort Peddle, and
having captured it, to move with an overwhelming force
into the colony. The prisoner further states that all
Creili's people along the coast have crossed the Kei, and
joined the war, except Boco, Creili's uncle.
"Dispatches have been received from his Honour Col.
Hare, reporting that an extensive patrol was made in the
eountry between Block Drift and the Amatola during the
4th, sth, and 6th inst., by a combined force- of regular
troops, Burghers, and Fingoes. A flock of sheep,
amounting to 5,300, with nine horses, were recaptured
from the Kafirs, by Field-Commandants Enslin and Du
Toit, of the Graaff-Reinet and Beaufort Burgher forces.
Thirteen Kafirs are reported as killed OR the occasion.
By Field• Captain Bovey four horses were recovered.
He reports having met with fifteen Kafir women, who
were suffered to pass unmolested. Major Campbell, of
the 91st, who commanded the patrol, reports that the
Kafirs are occupying the Amatola fastnesses in great
numbers, and, have collected their cattle there. llis
Honour Colonel Hare regrets to state that a Kafir
woman, covered with a kaross, was fired at by mistake,
and it is feared was wounded. His Honour has accord-
ingly sent back to the chief two Kafir women, brought
in as spies, with a message that the women should not
wear karosses, or fly from the troops, and that then they
would not be injured.
"From Commando kraal, Commandant Niekerk re-
ports he proceeded into the Zuurberg in pursuit of
Kafirs, with thirty mon, from Commando kraal, and
being joined on the night of the sth inst. by Field-Cornet
Gent, Niekerk's party of sixty men advanced till, on the
7th, he fell in with a party of the enemy near Slagkamer
kraal. After an hour and a half's fighting he recaptured
166 head of cattle and five horses, killing, he states,
eight Kafirs. Three of his best men were wounded.
" Assistant Field-Cornet T. C.:Buckner reports having
met with some Kafirs on the 2d instant, and recovered
:roan them two horses.
"CHARLES LENNOX MAITLAND,
" Grenadier Guards, Assistant Military Secrets ry'

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUI
MR. EDITOR,—The navy has not had fair play in the
different promotions that have occurred, for those that
were too old ought to have had their retirement long ago.
I do not want to see renewed the rank of yellow admiral,
by giving those captains less than those that get their
flag on accepting the retirement. It ought to be done
by seniority, and not in the way proposed, which is an
act of injustice, for long and faithful service last war,
has claims to the gratitude of this country, and not
in the breasts of those who are devoid of feeling,
but to provide for their relatives by such acts of
injustice. They fished last year, but did not succeed,
and Pshould think that they will have the same chance
this year, unless they give them all alike, subject to the
class they belong, which is but reasonable.
As this country is somewhat indebted to her navy for
protection by sea, they ought to take care they do not
destroy that efficiency by a mistaken parsimony, for if
they have not money enough to complete the retirement,
asll for more, or retire-fewer, and fill the vacancies up
as they occur, but do not be unjust to the defenders o'
your country.—l am, Sir,
London, sth September, 1846.

ONE OF THEM.

QUICK PASSAGE.—The Little Western steamer
landed her passengers at Blackwall yesterday, shortly
after 2 o'clock, having made the passage from Ramsgate
in four hours and a half, and from Gravesend in one
hour and five minutes, passing every steamer in her
wuy up•

PRICE SD.

RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY AT
MADEIRA.
MADEIRA, AUG. 17.—The religious agitation which
has been carried on in this island for some years has at
length led to the committal of the most serious outrages
on British persons and property. On Sunday, August 2,
a body of Portuguese subjects being assembled for reli-
gious purposes in the house of Miss Rutherford, a crowd
collected and demanded that their countrymen (the Cal-
vinistas) should be given up to them. This, of course,
was refused; the mob maintained their position, and at
length, at eleven o'clock at night, broke into the house,
searched it thoroughly, and having found their country-
men in the kitchen, violently assaulted them. At this
moment the police and soldiery appeared, and at once
dispersed the rioters, taking several of them into cus-
tody. These men were, however, discharged from con-
finement the next morning, on the pretext that no one
had appeared to make a complaint against them.
During the following week is became generally known
that mere serious attacks on British residences were
meditated; and on Sunday, August 9, at mid-day, a
crowd collected round Dr. Kaley's house. The Go-
vernor, the Administrador do Concilho, and the British
Consul, were on the spot with a guard of soldiers, but no
opposition appears to hare been effered to the entrance of
the rioters, who, having searched the house in vain for Dr.
Kalley, proceeded to burn and destroy his-books, prints.
medicines, &c. Dr. Kalley, who had been much alarmed
during the previous night by various occurrences, had
left the house at three A.m., and was, during the early
part of these disturbances, concealed in the house of a
friend; but on the arrival of the royal mail steamer in
the bay, escaped to it disguised as a female. The mob
having missed their prey, threatened to search the Bri-
tish consulate, but desisted from this on the Consul con-
senting to go off in his boat at their head, and show them
that Dr. Kalley was actually on board the steamer.
That gentleman was shortly joined by his family, and
proceeded in the ship to the West Indies. Numerous
other British families have been threatened. The Misses
Rutherford, Dr. Miller, and Mr. Tate, with their famil es,
are living on board a British vessel in the bay, the Consul
having declined to answer for their safety, even in his
own house. Mr. Oyster and Mrs. Freeman and families
are living at the consulate.
I purposely abstain from giving any of the very con-
flicting statements as to the proceedings of Dr. Kelley
and others in this island. These matters, as well as the
conduct of all the authorities, both British and Portu-
guese, will of course be made the subject of a rigorous
inquiry by both Governments. A letter, numerously
signed, has been presented to the Consul, requesting him
to apply for a British man-of-war to protect British per-
sons and property in the island during the present state
of anarchy and avowed powerlessness of the local Go-
vernment. We can confidently expect security for our
selves from the prompt assistance of the British Govern-
ment, but I much fear that a long and bitter persecution
of the poor native followers of Dr. Kalley is commencing.
I am neither directly nor indirectly an advocate of
Dr. Kelley as a religious teacher, but naturally feel in-
dignant at seeing a countryman abandoned to the mercy
of a mob.
For your private information I subjoin my name and
address in England.
Artc. 12.—At the same time with this the news will
reach you of a most atrocious attack lately perpetrated
here against Dr. Kalley. As no doubt many and vary-
ing accounts will be given of the matter from hence, ac-
cording to the passions, prejudices, or interest of the
narrators, I thought it would perhaps not be altogether
unicteresting to you to have a fair and impartial account
of what really did take place.
On the afternoon of the 2d of August, the Canon
Carlos Telles, accompanied by a mob of the lowest
rabble in the town, assaulted several individuals, men
and women, who were said to have been in the house of
the Misses Rutherford (two English ladies residing here
for their health), for the purpose of reading the Bible
and praying. The priest, with a crucifix in his hand,
commenced the affray by beating one of those persons
who was quietly walking home. At night the same
mob broke into the house of the Misses Rutherford, and
under the pretence of searching for heretics rummaged
all the premises, even to the chamber where one of
the ladies was lying dangerously ill. The police,
on being called to interfere, entered the ',house, and
pretended to endeavour to restore order, but it
was evident that it was their intention rather
to encourage than to quell the riot ; three men only out
of an immense crowd who filled the house, were taken
up, and even these were allowed to escape under the plea
that they were quietly passing by at the moment, and
were only accidental spectators. The authorities took
no steps either to punish the priest or any of the rabble,
or to prevent the recurrence of similar outrages, beyond
an attempt to cover their connivance by calling witnesses_
before the police magistrate to depose what they knew
of the matter, but only such were called as they knew
would misrepresent the affair and not criminate the
priest or any of the rioters. It was a most shameful and
impudent farce.
On the Monday and subsequent days it was publicly
talked of in town that a larger mob intended on the Sun-
day following to attack the house of Dr. Kalley, destroy
and burn his property, and put the doctor forcibly on
board the English steamer, which was expected to arrive
on that day, and thus expel him from the island ; the
signal for the gathering of the mob to be a rocket fired
from a certain house in town, To the astonishment and
terror of every respectable person in town, no measure:.
were taken by the authorities to prevent the commission
of this piece of barbarism, beyond placing a guard of only
sixteen soldiers at Dr. Kalley's door.
Sunday noon the expected rocket was fired, and an
immense mob, armed with clubs, began to gather on the
Praca Constitucional, and very soon afterwards com-
menced their march to Dr. Kalley's house ; it is hardly
credible, but not the less a fact, that they were accom-
panied in their march by the civil governor and police-
master, the brother of the latter being one of the prin.
cipal rioters I Arrived at Dr. Kalley's house they
forced open his doors, broke into the house, destroyed
his furniture, opened every chest, drawer, and closet in
the house, threw all his library and papers into the
street, and set fire to them ! The soldiers offered no
resistance—the mob had everything their own way (the
civil governor and policemaster being present, and in
the house all the time) ; and such a scene of outrage
ensued as would dinrace the darkest age of monkish
persecution ! Fortunately, the doctor had left the pre-
mises some time before, and had, while they were en-
gaged in the destruction of his house, effected his escape
on board the English packet steamer. When the mob
were informed that he was already safe on board,
they compelled the English Consul to proceed on board
and produce the Doctor, that they might be convinced
of the fact, threatening violence to his (the Consul's)
person and property if be refused ; the Consul, thus
compelled, accordingly did go on board, and induced
Doctor Kalley to appear to those who had gone off in
boats. Since then no inquiry has been made, no pro-
ceedings have taken place against the authors and per-
petrators of this most infamous act ; and such is the
panic, in consequence of the shameful apathy and con-
nivance of the authorities, that several'English families
have already gone on board the vessels in the roadstead,
in order to be secure from insult.
There will be, doubtless, much official misrepresenta-
tion ; but this, I assure you, is a true statement of the
matter. It will be alleged by the authorities that they had
not a sufficient military force to maintain the law; but such
is not the fact. The garrison here musters upwards of 200
bayonets, besides two companies of artillery and several
field-pieces. One of these field-pieces and 50 bayonets
would have been more than amply sufficient to disperse the
mob, and such a mob as that which committed the out-
rage., composed, as it was, of the very dregs of the rabble;
but no attempt was made by the civil governor or police-
master, who accompanied the mob, to make them dis-
perse, or stop them in their insane violence ; on the con-
trary, when the rioters approached the doctor's door, the
small guard of 16 men presented bayonets, but the above
authorities commanded them "to remain passive and
not to hurt the people !" The military governor had
the troops in barracks, and under arms during the riot,
ready to march when required by the civil authorities ;
but no demand was made for military interference ; it
was not, therefore, want of necessary force, it was want
of will. They had some time back, you well know, in-
stituted a legal prosecution against Dr. Kalley, in which
they failed. They now determined to get rid of him by
violence, and succeeded.—Chronicle.

STEAM WHISTLE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR.— A thought struck me, after the fearful accident
at Defford twelve months ago (which would have been
avoided if the guard had had a whistle), that a whistle
might be contrived fur the use of railway guards ; and
as the subject is being again mooted, I will, if you
please, crave room for a word of explanation, in the
hope that, if my proposal is deemed too simple, others
will improve upon it, and so meet the present defect.
The great difficulty seems to be in maintaining an un-
broken connexion, if a signal line or rope is used, be•
tween the guard and the driver, in consequence of the
frequent " remaking" of a train; so I would suggest that
each guard's carriage should be furnished with a small
but strong steam boiler, to which should be attached a
powerful whistle, the sound of which couldbe distinctly
heard by the driver, and which the guard should never
use saving when it was absolutely necessary. The ex-
pense would be little more than the first cost of the
boiler, as the whistle would be so seldom sounded that
there would be scarcely any expenditure of steam
beyond that which blew off from the safety-valve ; con-
sequantly, when the water was once raised to the boil-
ing-point, the confined steam might be readily kept at
a very high pressure by the mere flame of a lamp.
Thus the whole apparatus, while powerful enough to
make a great noise when required, would be so portable
that the boiler might be placed over a furnace at each
terminus, to generate the steam previous to the starting
of the trains, and then be removed to their respective
situations close to the guards' seats, where their efficiency
would be maintained by a trifling degree of heat.
A CONSTANT READER.
Wolverhampton, Sept. 7, 1846.

The potato disease continues to extend its ravages ;
but, judging from the accounts received from other dis-
tricts, there is reason to think that it has been as little
destructive hitherto in this immediate neighbourhood as
in any other part. That there will be a great deficiency
there can be no doubt.—Newcastle Paper.

TITE MARRIAGE.,IitTIVEEN TYT
INFANTA OF SPAIN AND THE DUKE DE
MONTPENSIER.
(From.the Chronicle.)
We have to calleg*tion..te an ,etreneOs supposition
of the Journal des%gailaiwith, refenee to eview
taken by England of the driti uction of the In-
fanta of Spain by the Duke de Mon_ $ osier, new in_cou-
templation. We do not think that the time is arrived
for entering at length into the question as between -
France and England ; we do not think it becoming the
dignity of this country to put forward the pretension of
settling at London an affair which should find its proper
solution at Madrid. England is ready to pay that
deference and that respect to every foreign nation which
she exacts from others in her own case, and which sNe-
does well to exact. We never supposed for a moment
tbat'England had a right to intervene in Spanish affairs
to the detriment of Spain, or to shackle the free play of
the wishes of the Spanish people. But at the same time,
until we find it declared through the legitimate chan-
nels of public opinion in Spain, that the Spanish nation
give a free, unbiassed, and intelligible assent to the future
subordination of their country to France, we must pro-
tast against the gratuitous supposition of the Journal des
nehats, that this nation is either a party to,. or looks
with indifference at, the intended union between the
Infanta and the Duke de Montpensier.
In the meanwhile we refrain from any discussion of
the subject as between France and England. Such a
discussion would be premature• and needlt ss. For we
believe we shall be borne nut by the result in saying,
either that the marriage between the Infanta of Spain
and the Duke de Montpensier will never take place, for
reasons purely Spanish; or, if the Marriage be forced on,
that the Peninsula will once more become the scene of a
bloody and protracted war.
Let us, then, look at this question as though England
were for the moment struck out of the list of nations.
What is the feeling of Spain upon the subject? Where
does the strength of France in that country lie? What
are the means of resistance that Spaniards have at their
disposal? What is likely to be the result of this coup de
main as between France and Spain?
Are we wrong in giving credit to the statement of our
Madrid correspondent, that never at any period, not
even during the Peninsular war, was the name of
Frenchman held in such deep execration in Spain as 'at
the present moment ? The rash attempt of M. de
Bresson, we are assured, has kindled a dime in the
Peninsula which is likely to lay the country waste far
and wide, from San Sebastian to Gibraltar, from the
frontiers of Portugal to the Mediterranean. But one
feeling seems to prevail upon the subject—there is a
coalition of every political party in Spain to thwart the
views of France. In whatever other points disagreeing,
l'rogressistas, Carlists, the most important section of
rho Moderadoes (all of them, indeed, who are removed
from Camarillo influence), appear determined to oppose
this intended marriage to the death.
A large branch of the Moderado party, have already
openly, expressed their dissatisfaction—that party of
which M. Pacheco is the leader ; and the opposition of
that party is the more formidable because it has a consi-
derable number of adherents in the Cortes. We have,
besides, received unquestionable evidence of the strong
disposition of the Carlist party to unite in this oppo-
sition.'
With regard to the popular feeling throughout-Spain,
it has already found its expression in an article in El
Espectador. We believe that the representatives of the
Spanish nation, who are to meet in the Cortes on the
14th of this month, will be able to oppose a successful
resistance to this intrigue ; or, if it be carried out—but
we shrink from contemplating what the result in that
case must be.
Spaniards are busy asking each other what line of
policy this ill-omened union would impose upon Spain.
Nor can they anticipate anything but the continuance of
that faction in power by whom it has been brought about,
and, as a necessary consequence, a systematic opposition
to the development of constitutional liberty in Spain, an
opposition no longer maintained by the debile and un-
certain hand of the Queen-Mother, but openly sup-
ported by all the formidable power of France. Had
Louis Philippe—such is their language—intended fairly
by Spain, had he not sunk every consideration in the
one selfish and overpowering consideration of the ag-
grandisement of his own family, this marriage would
have been laid openly and fairly before the representa-
tives of the people, with all the solemnity and delibera-
tion such a subject deserves. The welfare of Spain,
they say, was, however, far from his thought ; Spain
must be used against France—France against Spain.
The real object of all this intrigue they consider to be
the securing of the Orleans dynasty at the Tuileries, let
them govern the French people as they-will.
Spaniards ask, how `was this match brought about ?
Without notice, in the Queen-Mother's Cabinet, by the
orders of the French Ambassador, and through the in-
strumentality of a few place-holders—the mere creatures
of the Court—the young Queen herself in tears, and
the nation absent. So nicely was the affair timed, that
the arrival of the Duke de Montpensier and the meeting
of the Cortes should be nearly simultaneous, in order to
forbid all opportunity of deliberation. A bridegroom,
and not a candidate, was to be presented to the Cortes ;
and lest, in the midst of this trickery and delusion, the
indignati,n of the people might manifest itself by an
uncontrollable impulse, we are told that the man whom
Spain has rejected as the oppressor of her liberties is to be
flung back upon the country—that Narvaez is to be sent
to dragoon the dissentients into submission. Those
whom M. de Bresson cannot beguile General Narvaez
will cause to be shot ; and so the wedding cortige of the
Duke de Montpsnsier will pass in peace along the streets
of Madrid. Such are the speculations upon the subject •
which are current at Madrid.
With such a feeling as -this in Spain—and we believe
our representation does not exaggerate it—what is to be
expected as to this marriage, even if the other Powers
of Europe stand by quietly, and permit French and
Spaniards to fight it out? Unless it takes place with
the full and free consent of the Spanish people, it Will ,
we repeat, be the cause of terrible misery to Spain, and
add a yet unwritten and a bloody page to her .history.
But, es we think that this consent will not be given, we
are still' of opire:on that the marriage between the In-
fanta of Spain and the Duke de Montpensier will'never
take place.

TEN THOUSAND A YEAR.—" Pray, Madame," said
a young romantic-looking gentleman, addressing the
daughter of a West-end bookseller, whom her father
had deputed to stop in the shop just while he went next
door—an amiable creature, about the age of sweet six-
teen—" Pray, Madame," he said, " May I ask you if
you have ten thousand a year?" "No, Sir," she sweetly
but simply replied, letting her finely-lashed eyelids fall
—" No, Sir, but father says he'll settle the house in
street on me ; that, though, aint worth more than two
hundred a year 1" The young book-buyer had like to
die a larfin, as Sam Slick says.
THE OLD PALACE OF BRIDEWELL.—A few days
since, as the workmen were excavating on the site of
Cogers' Hall, in Bride-lane, they came to a vault or
dungeon belonging to the Old Palace of Bridewell, which
in the reigns of William 1., John, and Henry 111., was
used for holding their courts. Stow, in his " Survey,"
makes mention of this place as extending from the
Thames nearly to Fleet-street. The portion laid open,
and now totally destroyed, consisted of a series of six
groins, of elegant construction, supporting the roof of
te apartment, 34 feet long and 17 feet broad, on the
west side of which was discovered a window, completely
blocked up with rubbish ; but, by the judicious sug-
gestions of the British Archaeological Association, the
work of removal proceeded with care, and, by their
well-organised plans, drawings were made of the more
interesting portions of the building. The window proved
to be of very early work, and retained portions of the
iron bars. In the rubbish was found a leaden bull of
Pope Nicholas V., a small jutton or abbey piece, besides
vast quantities of pottery, glass, and tiles, all of early
construction, with human bones, as well as those of
animals.
LETTER OF " THE DUKE." —On Saturday the
Mayor of Plymouth, Mr: B. Parham, summoned a
meeting of the members of the town council, who una-
nimously resolved to present an address to the Duke,
provided it were agreeable to his Grace. Messrs. G.
W. Soltau and N. Lockyer, the members of the corpo-
ration who waited on the Duke to ascertain his wishes,
were, however, courteously informed that he must de-
cline the proposed compliment, but that the reception of
an address would have been highly gratifying to his
Grace if his time had permitted. Subsequently his Grace
wrote a letter to the Mayor, of which the following is a
copy:—"Plymouth, August 29, •1846 (at night).—
Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents his
compliments to the Mayor of Plymouth. He has been
much flattered by the declaration of the mayor and cor-
poration to present him an address. Having been out
on horseback all the morning, he was changing his
clothes when the deputation reached the Royal Hotel to
announce that his worship intended thus to honour the
Duke, and he regrets that, being under the necessity of
returning to London to-morrow morning, he cannot have
the satisfaction of receiving in person the record intended
for him.—The worshipful the Mayor of Plymouth."
THE DEATH'S HEAD MOTH.—We have been fa-
voured by Mr. Denny, of Downing-terrace, the success-
ful breeder of this rare and interesting insect, with an
inspection of several of his magnificent specimens of she
fly. It will be in the recollection of our reader. that
about a month since we stated the singular fact that
above twenty of the full grown larvae were taken by Mr.
Denny from a tea tree growing over the top of a house
at the back of Downing-terrace. These have all been
successfully reared, and are now splendid samples of the
genus. An interest beyond its mere beauty of appear-
ance attaches to this insect ; it received its name of the
death's head from a figure on the back of the thorax
closely resembling a death's head and cross bones ;
and this circumstance, coupled with its power of pro-
ducing a shrill, squeaking noise, has long rendered it an
object of mysterious terror to the vulgar, by
whom its sound is regarded as the harbinger of
calamity or death. Entomologists have been long
puzzled to explain whence the cry of the insect
proceeded. The naturalist world has been divided on
the subject-116.amur, Johet, Lorey, end other eminent
entomologists each advancing a different theory, but
none of them have succeeded in explaining the mystery.
The credit of the discovery we think we can now assert
belongs to Mr. Denny. lie has ascertained, beyond a
doubt, the organ of the sound—viz., a large moveable
horny scale at the base of each of the upper pair of
wings, fixed on the thorax and covering a small aperture,
which is also of a horny substance. The vibration of
this scale is the cause of the sound, as is incontestably
proved by all other parts of the insect being perfectly
at rest when the noise proceeds from it, while these
valves are in a state of strong vibration. It remains,
however, to discover how this valve acts, and to accom-
plish that requires a minute dissection of the insect, and
it is much to be desired that the subject should engage
the attention of Mr. Owen, of London, the celebrated b
insect anatomist, by whose skill the mystery may e
fully developed,—Cambridge Chronicle.