The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-22 00:00:00

THE- SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 22, 1846

must be left to imagination. Owen Swift, the referee,
was saved all question as to the winner.
DAY AND METCALF.—The 120 yards race, for 5/.
aside, between Metcalf (the St. John's-wood Novice) and
Day, was run yesterday, near the Wellington Inn,
Highgate. It was nearly four o'clock before the men
started, which they did well and level. After twenty
yards Day got the lead, kept it, and after a well run
race, came in a winner by a yard.
H. ORANGE AND T. Mim—The six-mile walking
match between these xaen depending upon a double
event, was lost by Dance, although ho gave Orange
one minute start, and overtook him in three miles,
beating his man by one minute and a half. He
had, according to articles, to walk a second competitor
the like distance, or forfeit the stake. This he failed in,
giving up at the second mile.

• BANK OF AUSTRALASIA.
Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of this company
was held at the establishment in Austin Friars, and was
largely attended. Oliver Ferrer, Esq., presided.
Mr. MILLIKEN, the secretary, read the advertisement
calling the meeting.
The Caninstex;said:they were aware this meeting was
called in consequence of a resolution passed, and for en-
abling the directors to communicate anything of im-
portance to the shareholders as to the progress of the
bank. In this case the directors had nothing particular
to communicate ; it would therefore be his duty to give
a general outline of their progress since June. At
Sydney the affairs on the whole were in a satisfactory
state, and any loss there would be on the old transactions.
As to Launceston the directors were still in a state of
anxiety, and were sorry to say that one considerable
failure had taken place which might involve the bank in
a loss they did not anticipate. At Melbourne the bu,i-
ness had considerably improved, and if the other branches
had progressed in the same way, he should have had
to congratulate them on their prosperity. At Adelaide
there had also been a great improvement. The
branch at Hobart Town had done more business than in
the year before, neither was there a fear of any increased
loss in that quarter. He again repeated that the great
source of anxiety for the directors was the unfortunate
state of things in Launceston, but he hoped that, by the
attention of the directors, and a little more forbearance
on the part of the shareholders, affairs would right them
selves in that quarter, as well as elsewhere. There
was one fact of importance he would mention in respect
to the Bank of Australia, which was, that the papers
sent for had now arrived, and he hoped there was no
obstacle to their proceeding rapidly with the appeal be-
fore the Privy Council, in which case he had no doubt
of the judgment being favourable to the shareholders.—
(Hear, hear.) Should this be the case, and they only
got over the affair of Launceston, there would be the
commencement of the prosperity of this company.
Mr. NEvrsom said a report was going about that their
loss just mentioned was about 60,0001.—(No, no.)
The CHAIRMAN replied, that the debts of the firm
were about 26,000/., the loss upon which might be
10,0001.
Mr. NEwsost said he understood the Bank of Aus-
tralia had made an offer to compromise the claim of this
establishment; if so, would it not be better than going
to law?—(Hear, hear, and " No, no.")
The CHAIRMAN observed that it would be very unwise
to stop now they were on the very threshold of a favour-
able judgment.—(Hear, hear.)
A SHAREHOLDER asked what guarantee they would
obtain for any compromise with the Bank of Australia?
He thought they should leave the matter to the discre-
tion of the directors.

I THE 'TRIAL TRIPS WITH THE
OVERLAND INDIAN MAIL.
(From the Augsburgh Gazette.)
The first moiety of the six trial journeys arranged by
the British Government for the conveyance of the Indian
dispatches through Germany is now completed ; and it
will not be considered inapposite to take a comprehen-
sive survey of the events of those journeys, and to
glance at the further consequences that may result
from them. The ordinary consideration of this snbject,
as an interesting competition for the honour of the
greatest celebrity, as an adventurous neck-or-nothing
" steeple-chase," is equally absurd and incorrect. As
regards England, the object is nothing less than the
securing of a second route—one at least equal in point
of celerity to that through France, in the event cf
a political quarrel with the latter country ; as regards
Germany, the restoration of the old, middle-aged Vene-
tian-Hanseatic commercial road—the construction of a
new public road along the banks of the Rhine, over the
Alps, to the Adriatic Sea and the East, and also the
freedom from useless intermediate traders ; and as re-
gards Holland, a more direct and rapid connexion with
its East Indian colonies ; and as regards Belgium and
the western and southerly parts of Germany, in particular,
a most important conveyance of goods, passengers, and
letters, which is already increasing in importance. We
can assure our readers, from the best sources, that the
English Government and the East India Company are
perfectly satisfied with the results of the trial trips
hitherto undertaken with reference to Germany ; and
their zeal for this line is far more increasing than
diminishing.
The Cracow affair, far from restoring the entente cor-
diale, has only served to show that a fissure has been
rent between the two Cabinets by the Spanish marriages,
which cannot be filled up again by all the opposite argu-
ments of the public organs on both sides.
The English statesmen are determined to command a
second continental postal line " at any price," and they
will assuredly call it into existence, no matter whether
via Trieste, Ancona, or Brindisi. Hitherto, all the facts
have told in favour of Trieste, where the Austrian
Lloyd has so powerfully united its efforts to those of
Waghorn, and is, moreover, perfectly prepared to offer
all the pledges of a regular service.
Unfortunatdly, however, the unhappy idea seems to
be cherished in Vienna of conducting the overland route
through the capital, and the construction of the Bruck
and Salzburg road seems to be rejected altogether (?)
The establishment of the Trieste route may be wrecked
in this opposition alone, but on no other obstacles.
Switzerland and Naples receive the project with open
arms, and the railroads just decreed by the Pope will
help the undertaking amazingly. Austria would then
have once more to regret that she had not embraced it
at the right time, but opposed to the unalterable geo-
graphical features of the country a centralisation mania
in this case utterly impracticable.
We hope, however, that the energy and tact which
have hitherto been manifested in the execution of the
great state roads by the genial Baron Kiibeck will not
abandon him on this occasion, and will point out to him
right speedily the only way in which the carrying into
effect of the beautiful idea of an Austro-Indian com-
mercial road is possible. Here we will lay before our
readers a correct summary of the three trial trips
hitherto attempted, together with the preliminary trials,
from which it is clearly to be seen how the sea and land
journeys of the French and the Waghorn couriers were
effected:—

TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD JOHN
RUSSELL, M.P.
LETTER NO. 111.

My Lord,—Having satisfactorily disposed of Mr.
Scrope's plan for the reclamation of waste lands in Ire-
land, by showing that its principle is fraught with the
very evil under which that country at present lab.)urs,
and, even supposing his plan were not operi to such in-
superable objection, that it rould be impossible to bring
it into practical working, I now propose to lay before
your Lordship and the public the plan which I suggest
should be adopted, with the mode in which it might be
safely, and, considering its importance, easily carried
into execution, and which is, in fact, the very plan which
I have successfully pursued here for the last ten years.
I trust neither your Lordship nor anyperson will fancy
that I hold out the reclamation of waste lands as the
only panacea for Irish grievances. No! I only believe
it to be one of the most effectual. Equal laws—a strin-
gent poor-law enforcing the claims of industrious labour
to support from the land—an extension of the fisheries,
and a well-arranged plan of voluntary emigration are
all excellent, perhaps necessary remedies, and should
assuredly receive the best attention of the Government.
Before stating my plan, I would observe that another
great advantage it bas over that of Mr. Scrope's is its
comparative simplicity and cheapness. That gentle-
man's Bill proposed that there should be an entirely new
board, with commissioners in chief, assistant-commis-
sioners, engineers, surveyors, clerks, collectors, re-
ceivers, and other necessary officers. But even this is
not all. The commissioners were to have model farms,
and appoint bailiffs and superintendents thereof, and to
establish schools, and to plant and cultivate any of the
lands, and to execute such roads and drainings, and erect
such houses, cottages, buildings, and fences as shall be
deemed proper and expedient for the improvement of
such land. No person in the slightest degree acquainted
with the public or private character of Mr. Scrope could
for a moment imagine that he wished to perpetrate a
great job, entailing upon the country enormous ex-
penses, and those who have not the honour of knowing
him, and who, from reading his life, might be led to form
a different conclusion, would feel relieved by the 17th
clause, which limits the expense to a sum not exceeding
two millions; and for this amount the Honourable Gen-
tleman seriously proposed not only to perform the above-
mentioned work, but also to purchase the fee-simple of
the lands! Yet stern Cocker declares that 2,000,0001. of
money divided among 3,000,000 of acres would give
exactly 13s. 4d. per acre for these objects, a sum which
would not enclose the land.

Mr. J. WILSON was for leaving things in the hands
of the directors, in whom he had every confidence—
(Hear, hear)—or he was willing to break up the com-
pany.—(No, no.)

- After some observations from Mr. BROWNRICG, Mr.
NEwsom, and other gentlemen,
Mr. WOOTTON moved a vote of thanks to the chairman
and directors, which was seconded, and passed without
opposition, when the meeting adjourned.

DEATH OF THE LANDGRAVE OF Hiss .—The
Frankfort Journa4 under the date of Carlsruhe, Dec. 10,
announces the death of the Landgrave of Hesse that
evening. He was born in 1779. He is succeeded by his
younger brother, Gustavus Adolphus Frederick, born in
1781.

My plan would only require the cost of commissioners-
in-chief, who, after personal inspection, would have to
report upon the several memorials which were presented.
These reports would be made to the present Board of
Works, who would require what further information or
explanation they might consider necessary. When they
were satisfied, the memorial and reports would go before
the Chief Secretary for his final decision. The com-
missioners would act perfectly independent of each other,
and, as the comparative success or failure of each recla-
mation would iu a great degree depend upon the cor-
rectness of their reports, Government would only ap-
point the must competent persons, whose several reports
annually laid before Parliament would secure an honour-
able rivalry between them.
The first step would be to lay down certain general
rules, upon compliance with which Government assist-
ance would be given.
The second, to divide the waste land in Ireland capable
of being profitably reclaimed into two classes.
Ist. Those belonging to proprietors who are willing
to take the reclamation upon themselves if assisted by
Government.

CAUTION TO COUNTRY INNKEEPERS.—lnnkeepers
in the country will do well to be on their guard against
the proceedings of a gang of fellows, members of the
London swell mob, who are supposed to be travelling
about the country committing plunder in all directions.
Various cases have come to the knowledge of the police,
and on Friday they succeeded in committing another
robbery of the same character at Esher, and to a very
considerable amount. Between four and five o'clock in-
the evening of that day four well-dressed men drove up
with a horse and cart to the Three Mariners public-
house in that village, kept by Mr. Shorter, and called for
some gin and water at the bar, and after a short time
two of the fellows said they had some busin iss to trans-
act in the neighbourhood, and wished the others to await
their return, and then left the house. The two who
remained contrived to divert the attention of the land-
lady while the other two were no doubt engaged in
committing the robbery, and, having effected their
object, they rejoined their companions, and all four got
into the cart and drove off towards town. The landlady,
upon going up stairs a few minutes afterwards, disco-
vered that the bedroom had been forced open, and the
drawers ransacked, and 451. in gold and silver and a
quantity of jewellery and plate had been stolen. A
mounted messenger was dispatched in pursuit of the
cart, and he traced it to Kingston, when, finding there
was no chance of his overtaking the men from the dis-
tance they had got in advance, he returned to Esher, and
the fellows con:equently escaped with their booty.
COAL WANTED AT NEWCASTLE.—One of the many
difficulties which have beset us since the storm set in is
a want of coal for the consumption of the town. The
Manors depot, at the railway terminus, was beseiged on
Monday with claimants for this necessary article ; but
such was the state of the line from whence the supply
should come, that no waggon could travel, and it was not
until four o'clock, P.M., that any could be procured, and
then only a small quantity arrived. It is understood,
however, that the colleries have plenty on hand.—
Local Paper.
SURVEYING NO JOKE.—PRESENTATION OF PISTOLS.
—A somewhat ludicrous occurrence took place the other
day at the fashionable town of Leamington' where, as is
usual in other places which have so rapidly progressed
in public estimation, the inhabitants look with a jealous
eye on any projected innovation at all calculated to
destroy existing advantages. It so bap9ened, however,
that a short time since a juvenile surveyor, employed on
the I?ugby and Leamington line, armed to the teeth
with the insignia of office—flags, chains, bill-hooks,
&e.—had the temerity, with two or three subordinate
officers, to march through the nursery gardens of Mr.
Cullis, an old and respected tradesman of the place ;
of course the damage done was considerable, and the
captain of the cross•staff and his gallant band having,
unguardedly, left their weapons on the enemy's plan-
tations, immediate possession of them was taken by Mr.
Cullis. Upon returning to the field of action the fact
was discovered by the aggressors, and an order to "stand
and deliver" was formally made to Mr. C., who, in his
turn, insisted upon " an interview" with the commander
of the men before he would consent to a surrender, and
ere long, having retired into his castle just by, he was
bearded by one of the group, who, with a regular
" North-Western " puff; demanded restoration of the
property. After a war of words, Mr. Cullis invited his
assailant into his strong-hold, and selecting from kis
armoury a brace of pistols, loaded ready for priming,
pliiced them before his antagonist, and requested him to
prime, and take his choice," so that their differences
might be speedily adjusted. Such treatment as this had
not been anticipated, and it is scarcely necessary to say
the adventurers precipitately retreated, leaving behind
them the spoils, which were not given up until an ami-
cable treaty was " signed, sealed, and delivered," at the
head-quarters of the company,
EXTENSIVE FIRE IN THE STRAND.—This morning
about one o'clock au extensive fire broke out in the
shop of Crow and Co., woollen-drapers, corner of
Bedford•t treet, Strand. For half an hour the firemen
used their utmost exertions, and finally succeeded in
arresting the progress of the flames by two o'clock, but
the interior of the house and a great deal of stock were
destroyed.
THE FORTIFICATIONS AT SHEERNESS.—DECEM-
BER 21.—Since we last reported progress these works
have continued to advance rapidly. Indeed, from the
nature of the works, being for the most part composed of
turf and clay, the winter months are quite favourable for
their construction, at least so long as such intense frosts
as we experienced during the last week, and which al-
meat entirely put a atop to further progress for the
time, keep away. The large and formidable battery
opposite the dockyard gate, facing seaward, is now com-
plete, with the exception of the curtain or parapet wall,
which will shortly be proceeded with, after which beds
for the platforms of from 40 to 50 guns will be laid
down. The musketry walls connecting the battery on
the one hand to the old works at Garrison-point, and
the other to the land defences, are also 'complete, and
present an excellent specimen of substantial workman-
ship. These land defences, which extend continuously
from the Thames to the Medway, interrupted only by
the drawbridge to Mile-town, are in course of being re-
paired and heightened by the soil procured in the
deepening of the moat which protects them. The ex-
cavations for the meat which surrounds the new bat-
tery, and which have been continued northward as far
the second angle of the old fortifications, and southward
into the moat surrounding the land defences, are very
nearly completed, and workmen are now engaged in some
parts banking it up with rubble stone. The greatest
number of men are, however, engaged in the construc-
tion of the ravelin on the Mile-town side of the draw-
bridge, round which the moat is to be conducted, thus
rendering a second drawbridge necessary. The excava-
tions for this extension of the moat intersect an old
convict burying-ground, in which, it is stated, repose
the remains of the notorious Parker, the mutineer. The
ravelin is calculated to be able to contain 3,000 men.
The repairs and alterations of the old works are corn •
pleted, the beds for the traversing platforms of the guns
are all laid down, and nothing now remains to hinder
the immediate mounting of the guns. The magazines
are in course of being filled with powder, large quanti-
ties having been ordered to be kept in store. New bar-
racks, capable of containing 1,000 men, are to be erected
in the neighbourhood of the present. The plans and
specifications are out, and we mistake if by this time the
contract is not taken, a party of Sappers and Miners
having been for some time employed over on the Isle of
Grain shore boring and sounding for a foundation for
three Martell° towers intended to be erected there.
HAZARD OF WEARING A GOLD RING.—A young
man last week appeared before the magistrates of Hali-
fax, under an affiliation summons, and while admitting
his liability pleaded poverty; but unfortunately for him,
he happened to raise his hand to smooth down his hair
from before his eyes, when one of the magistrates
espied, on the little finger of the defendant, a gold ring,
and an order for 2s. a week was made soon after, appa-
rently in consequence of the presence of the ring.—
Manchester paper.
REMARKABLE ARRIVAL.—A vessel arrived in the
West India Docks from Calcutta, had on board, in ad-
dition to an extensive cargo of East India produce, 71
eases of champagne,
improves 53cas:hse of
claret, and 25 cases of red wine. It is well known to
be a constant practice to ship wines for the round, as it
is termed, that is, for a vo wage to the East Indies and
back, which vastlysherry, 15 cases of
raises its value full 300 per cent., •
but this is generally
confined to sherries in casks, andthe produce of
.
st cognisant that
the Cape of Good Hope, and we are ne, -
quality, and frequently
cased wines, especially of the valuable dese:iptio men-
tioned, have been hitherto subjected to a siolil4‘'precesS
for the same purpose. . r

2d. Those which belong to proprietors who aro un-
willing, or too incapacitated persons, who are incapable
of undertaking the work, and these lands would have to
be purchased by Government, under authority of an Act
of Parliament, and resold or let to persons willing to
embark in the reclamation.

The most important engagements into which the
proprietor woulii have to enter, as a condition of receiv-
ing Government assistance, would be—

Ist. That the land should be mortgaged to Govern-
ment for repayment of the advances with fair interest ;
such repayments to be made at stated periods
2d. That the land should be divided into farms of such
size, and let upon such terms, as would induce men of
intelligence and capital to take leases, which ought not
to be for a shorter term than 30 years.
Supposing the necessary Act of Parliament obtained,
there would be two classes of memorials sent in--one
from persons in the neighbourhood of waste lands, the
owners of which were unwilling, or incapable, of enter-
ing into the undertaking; and these would simply state
the fact, and pray that the land might be purchasctd for
the purpose of reselling or letting—the other from pro
prietors desirous of entering into the undertaking upon
their own account ; and such memorial would set forth-
-Ist. The number of acres, and the value per acre, in
its present state.
2d. The probable value per acre when reclaimed.
3d. The cost of reclamation per acre during the first
course.

4th. The probable value of the crops per acre during
,he same period.

sth. The amount of assistance required.
Immediately upon receiving such memorial, Govern-
ment would send a commissioner to report thereon, and
if such report were satisfactory on all points, assistance
would be given, and the proprietor might immediately
begin. My next and concluding letter will enter into a
detail of the advantages which the country will receive
from the adoption of this plan.
I have the honour to remain,
Your Lordship's most obedient servant,
R. W.

DEATH OF SIR GEORGE H. BARLOW, G.C.B.—
We have to record the demise of Sir Geore Hilaro Bar-
low, Bart., who expired, after a lengthened illness, at
his seat, near Fareham, Hants, on Friday last, at the
advanced age of 82 years. He was fourth son of Mr.
William Barlow, of Bath, arid Miss Butcher, daughter
of Mr. Robert Butcher, of Walthamstow. He was, at
an early age, in Vae civil service of the East India Com-
pany, and in October, 1805, on the death of the Mar-
quis of Cornwallis, succeeded as Governor General of
India. After ret:7ining that appointment till May, 1807,
he was then selected to fill the office of Governor of the
Fort St. George, at Madras. In 1803, previ(.us to be-
coming Governor-General of India, he was created a
Baronet, and eventually, for his public services, had the
honour of the Civil Grand Cross of the Order of the
Bath. He married, in April, 1789, Elizabeth, daughter
of Mr. Burton Smith, county Wexford, by whom he had
a family of fourteen children, but he was divorced from
that lady in 1816. The deceased Baronet is succeeded
by his third son, Robert, now Sir Robert Barlow, Bart.
OrAn EITE.—Lord Palmerston has made the follow-
ing reply to the memorial from this 'city, respecting
this unhappy island, which was transmitted to his Lord-
ship:—

" Foreign Office, Dec. 5, 1846.
" Sir,—l am directed by Viscount Palmerston to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th ult.,
transmitting a memorial from the Bath Auxiliary to the
London Missionary Society, requesting that measures
may be adopted for ensuring the independence of the
Society Islands, and for procuring permission from the
French Government to allow those natives of Otaheite who
may be disposed to withdraw from that island, and to
seek an asylum elsewhere. And I am directed to ac-
quaint you, in reply, for the information of the memo-
rialists, that her Majesty's Government will pay due at-
tention to the subject of their memorial.--I am, Sir,
your most obedient humble servant,
" W. T. Blair, Esq."
—Bath Journal.
DEATH FROM THE LATE INTENSR COLD AND THE
WANT OF THE COMMON NECESSARIES OF LIFE.—On
Saturday afternoon, Mr. G. J. Mills, deputy coroner for
Middlesex, held an inquest at the Grapes-tavern, Ful-
ham-road, New Brompton, on the body of Anne Boace,
aged 56 years, whose death it was alleged had been
cansed by the want of the common necessaries of life.
It appeared from the evidence brought forward, that
deceased was the widow of a soldier in the Life Guards,
who died about two years ago, and that she usually ob-
tained her living by washing and charing. She had
latterly had Is. 6d. per week from the parish of St.
George's in the East. On Saturday, the sth instant,
she rented the back kitchen of the house, No. 3,
Yeoman's-row, Fulham-road, for which she agreed to
pay Is. 3d. per week, and it was in this apartment she
was found on Tuesday last, by her landlord, stretched
upon two boards placed across a couple of chairs, without
anything under her or over her, and in a state of com-
plete nudity. She appeared to be very cold and faint,
and nearly insensible. There was a bit of fire in the
grate, but not bigger than could be held in the hollow of
his band, and there was neither food nor a farthing of
money in the room. As soon as her wretched condition
was discovered, she was helped to a cup of tea and some
bread and butter, but she gradually sunk, and was found
lying dead on the floor on Wednesday morning, at 5
o'clock, having, it is. supposed fallen off the boards. The
deceased was never seen to have food all the time she
was in the lodging ; but she was a very close woman,
and was not in tive habit of speaking of her circum-
stances. She had often been asked to go into the work-
house, but she refused, saying, she would rather die in
the streets. Mr. Madden, the relieving officer of the
parish of Kensi Jgton, deposed that deceased had never
asked for more than the Is. 6d. she received. On a post
mortem examination of her body there was not the
slightest particl.i of food found in her stomach. The
surgeon (Mr. Moulls, 45, Brompton-row) could not ac-
count for deat)i from the appearance of the body ; but
from the histr,r,y- of the case, which he had heard, he
considered that death had been caused by exposure to
cold during the intense frost of Sunday, Monday, and
Tuesday last. The jury returned a verdict that the de-
ceased died from exposure to the intense cold and the
want of the common necessaries of life.
Du ALLEGED REMOVAL OF THE WELLINGTON
STATUE To THE PARADE, ST. JAMES'S PARlL—What-
ever mey be the ultimate destination of this statue, its
final resting place will seemingly not be here, the recent
excavations said to be for tbat purpose on the Parade,
fronting the Horse Guards, being yesterday filled up and
bastioned.

" E. J. STANLEY.