The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-12 00:00:00

PRICE OF SUGAR.

The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, the pro-
duce of the British possessions in America, computed from
the returns made in the week ending September 8, 1846, is
225. 7d. per cwt.

VAIIIIIALL-GARDENS.—On Thursday Mr. T. Holt,
the indefatigable treasurer of the "Royal Property,"
took his annual benefit, on which occasion a most attrac-
tive programme was put forth by the spirited entrepre-
neurs, as a testimonial of their respect and esteem for
Mr. Holt. The principal features of the evening were
the fireworks by Darby, and the equestrian scenes by
Tournaire's Troupe., After the first part of the concert
the company repaired to the Waterloo Ground to witness
the ascent of a monstre Montgolfier balloon, with an
aeriel discharge of fireworks. A noble vessel completely
rigged (the John o'Gaunt) and a steamer (the Fame)
were then seen, by means of coloured lights, in the dis-
tance, and in an instant, on a given signal from the
steamer, the vessel became a perfect wreck in a mass of
flame, the shell having exploded in her with a terrific
report. On Monday next, we are informed that the last
grand masquerade of the season will- take place, after
which the gardens will be opened to the " million" at a
" shilling," with a three days fete, in celebration of the
repeal of the corn-laws.
FOREIGN ICE.—It seems that we have not yet an-
nounced the last arrivals of ice for the season, from the
north of Europe, a vessel having arrived from Greenland
with a cargo of ice on board, which, according to the
size of the ship, may be computed as containing filom
150 to 200 tons weight of this singular article of mer-
chandise.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.—Some discussion has
occurred in the newspapers on a cargo of about 900 tons
taken home by the ship Colchester of a substance be-
lieved by her commander to be guano, but which, on
being submitted to examination, after her departure,
turned out to be volcanic ashes. Curiously enough,
considerable impertinence was used towards the party
who had taken the trouble to examine it--an officer of a
merchant ship coming forward to declare that the whole
thing was a hoax, and "a very good joke;" the Colches-
ter having false specimens on board, which the captain
gave away to mislead as to the nature of her cargo! It
was clearly shown that there was neither hoax nor joke
about the matter, the vessel having, through the igno-
rance of her commander, been filled with a substance
utterly valueless

I BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.
SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY.—The association opened
six of its lecture bazaars at eleven o'clock this morning ;
but the attendance wasin most instances very limited.
In fact, up to nine o'clock last night only 187 members
had arrived. It- is to be hoped that a great addition to
the numbef will be made in the course of the day. The
subjoined sketch will show .how the morning has been
occupied :
SECTION A.—MATILEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE.
The papers read here, as their titles will show; were of
a very technical and uninteresting character. They were
as fbllows :
Erman, Professor.—Report on Gauss's Magnetic
Constants.
Powell, Professor.—On the Bands formed by partial
Interception of the Prismatic Spectrum.
Laming, Mr. Richard.—On the Constitution and
Forces of the Molecules of Matter.
Hartley, 'Mr. J. G.—On the Variation of the Mag.
netic Needle.
Towler, Mr. G.—On Magnetic Causation and Intrinsic
Forces.
SECTION B.—CHYMICAL SCIENCE, INCLUDING ITS APPLI-
CATION TO AGRICULTURE AND THE ARTS.
The list here also was unpromising to the general
reader:—

Osborne, Mr. Henry.—On the Action of Water in the
Suburbs of Southampton on Lead.
West, Mr. Williams, F.R.S.--On
.the Use of stating,
with the results of Analyses, the nature of the Methods
employed.
Hunt, Mr. Robert.—Report on the Actinograpb.
Hunt, Mr. Robert.—Notices of the Progress of
Experiment on the Influence of Light on the Growth of
Plants.
SECTION C.—GEOLOGY AND PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.
The first paper read in this room was by Mr. R.
Keele, "on the Artesian Well on the Southampton-
common." This excited. some local. interest, and the
attendance was large. The Marquis of Northampton
took occasion to congratulate the Southampton members
on the advantage to be derived from the visit of the. Geo-
logical Section of the association. The lecture was short,
but a very long discussion ensued. It appeared that
nearly 20,0001. had been already expended, and without
penetrating through the chalk the work had been so
i'ar successful that 18,000 cubic feet' of water
per day had been obtained ; the town, however,
required 40,000 feet ; and the question is whether a
larger supply will be obtained by going deeper. The
opinion of Professor Hopkins seemed to be that suc-
cess to this extent was extremely doubtful ; the well was
sunk where the chalk stratum was inclining downwards
towards the Isle of Wight, near to which there was a
large dislocation. Some of the subscribers to the pro-
ject pressed the learned Professor rather hard, but he
avowed that, if he were one of them, he should proceed
and go through the chalk. Ultimately, it was under-
stood, that some of the members of the Geological Sec
tit n would examine the neighbourhood, and make any
suggestions they could upon the subject before leaving
Southampton.
The other papers read were—
Goeppert, Professor,!of Breslau, communicated by Sir
R. I. Murchison.—On the Origin of the Coal in the Sile-
sian Coal Fields.
Ormerod, Mr. G. W., F.R.S.—Oa the Northwich Salt
Field.

SECTION D.—ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY.
This section sat longer than any, and indeed almost
reached three o'clock, the hour named on the paper as
the limit for all. The papers read were these:—
Hogg, Mr. John, F.L.S.—Additions to a Synopsis of
the Classification of the Genera of British Birds.
Blackwall, Mr. John.—List of Periodical Birds at
Llanrwst.

King, Mr. W.—Notice of New Species of Animals
found on the Coast of Northumberland.

Owen, Professor.—On the Homologies of the Ver-
tebrx, and on the Temporal Bone.
Alder, Mr. Joshua.—On New British Nudibranchiate
Mollusca.

Forbes, Professor Edward.—On the Pulmograde Me-
dusas of the British Seas, with Notices of the Medusas at
present abundant at Southampton Water.
Mr. King's paper described some animals brought up
by dredging, and found in the pleistocene beds of the
tertiary strata. He was considered to have confirmed
Captain Laskey's observations, which announced the
discovery of these animals many years ago. One of the
species found by the captain was the terebratula cetacea,
which had been found by Mr. King. Another species
was panopea aldrovandi. The statement of the existence
of such animals in our seas when made by Laskey was
doubted.

Professor Owen's paper defended the study of compa-
rative anatomy on thb principle of the unity of composi-
tion ; instead of its leading to an opposition to the
doctrine of final causes, he believed it was in perfect har-
mony with that doctrine, and illustrated his position by
instances. He applied his views to the structure of the
bones of the head, and pointed out the errors of Cuvier
and Agassiz with regard to the nature of the homolo-
gies of the temporal bone.
Professor Agassiz expressed his delight at finding
that Mr. Owen had taken up this subject. He felt that
he could not defend his own views. and promised to re-
examine the whole matter. The subject of trans-
cendental anatomy could not have fallen into better
hands than those of Professer Owen.

Professor Edward Forbes's paper was on jelly-fishes.
This family of animals had hitherto been imperfectly
understood and studied. By means of the dredge and
the labours of Mr. M'Andrew, of Liverpool, he had
been enabled to study this family, and proceeded to
classify above 50 species, 30 of which had hitherto been
undescribed. He recommended the example of Mr.
M'Andrew to other possessors of yachts, as by their
means and the use of the dredge many most important
points in natural history might be worked out. He
also exhibited some curious living animals which he had
recently taken on the British eoast. Amongst others,
living:specimens of the curious fish, the Lancelot. (Am-
phio.ris lanceolatus of Yarrell.)
SECTION E.—PItYSIOLOGY.
Dr. Searle read a paper on the cause of the blood's
circulation through the liver • and Dr. Fowler another,
on the sense of touch, with relation to the higher mental
processes.. This latter was a sequel to a former paper
read by, him, on a sixth sense (the muscular sense, as it
is called), being, in fact, a modification of the sense of
touch. It was a very abstruse metaphysical discourse,
—one of the many which suggest a doubt whether the
excitement of a public room is a favourable condition in
which to test and weigh statements upon subjects that
require calm and profound thinking.
SECTION F.—STATISTICS.
At the hour for commencing business, the audience
consisted of two persons. Mr. Porter, the chairman,
however, desired one of the two secretaries who attended
him to begin the business of the day. Subsequently the
number present increased to six, besides those three
official personages ; beyond that number it never rose.
A report was read, written by Dr. Alison, of Edin-
burgh, on the medical relief to the parochial poor of
Scotland under the former law. Dr. Alison considered
that this inquiry would supply the best test of the effi-
ciency of the voluntary system of relief, which had pre-
vailei in Scotland until the New Poor-law. Returns
had been obtained from 40 towns, and it was found that
in 16 of them the parochial authorities had supplied no
medical relief at all, and in the rest only trifling occa-•
sional payments had been made, chiefly during the pre-
valence of some epidemic. 25 practitioners had made a
return of the estimated money value of their unrequited
professional labour bestowed on sick paupers ; the
average was 401. ss. 7d. a year. In thirty-three out
of the forty towns in question, no alteration had
yet taken place. Of 325 professional men in the
country districts of Scotland who had been ap-
plied to, 305 had furnished information respecting
their remuneration for attending sick paupers; 94 of
them had been receiving some remuneration, 39 of them
an annual one varying from a few shilling for drugs up
to 201., but only 13 received above 51. a year; among
those who had received no regular annual sum, tro had
been paid 3s. each; in one case that was the sole remu-
neration received during 12 years of attendance on a
number of paupers averaging 70 constant, and 13 occa-
sional; in the other instance it was given for attendance
on passing paupers to other parishes, and the medical
gentleman in that case had received nothing for 21 years
attendance on paupers numbering 44 constant patients.
Of the 305, 911 had never received any remuneration
of any kind for their professional attendance upon the
parochial poor, or for drugs ; one of these had at-
tended 400 paupers for eight years.
toA calcu-
latedtnhoethseicrkpoor
his loss by this at 70L a year; 208 had had occa-
sionfrom to
their
egiver
ownwin e,
limitedf o d
income,, clothing,
or Bce L
beg such things
- from their wealthy neighbours for them; one had known
the Session sell the effects of his deceased pauper pa-
tient, and appropriate the proceeds without paying
him. 136 returns bad been obtained of the estimated
average
value of unrequited professional labour in the country
districts; on an average the parties had been ten years
in practice, and the sum total given by them to the poor
in professional
eae
each
oaalabour r
average; and outlaythey calculated the was 34,4471 or about
for each pauper, including drugs, at 4s, a year. Four-
fifths of these practitioners reported their opinion to be
in favour of giving the poor the right of applying to any
medical man in the district, instead of being compelled
to resort to such as had been appointed for them by the
parochial boards.
A desultory conversation followed, in which
Professor More, of Edinburgh, observed that Scot-
land owed her poor-law almost wholly to Dr. Alison's
exertions. The relief now given was generally 2s. 6d. a
weekof
te a single
poor
wasperson;
a tolerable provision for and, considering the
price
them.
food there,

Another paper was then mei; a review of the Mines
and Mining Industry of Belgium, by Mr. Richard Valpy,
founded on the report of the Minister of Public Works
to the King, dated Brussels, June 1, 1842. It was stated
that the number of people killed by accident was twice
course'h the wages of such
hazardous employment are high.
There chiefly arose from
the
as great as the number wounded, showing the fearful
character
rfaaelltienrgoifn
thoseof
materials.aecidin Of
ts. l
There is a good deal of interest about the meeting
this evening, to which Prince Albert will come over from
Osborne.llouse. It is to be held in the Victoria-rooms
—a building full of lecture apartments. The largest
room has been selected for the occasion, but it has the

misfortune to be down stairs. When his Royal High-
ness alights at the entrance of the house, he will have to
I proceed down into the part commonly appropriated in
our houses to the kitchen. However, a carpet is being
laid upon the stairs, and with other arrangements for a
facilis decensus, the best face will be put upon the mat-
ter, though a meeting in the area will be something new
to the Prince.
The day's proceedings hitherto have been dull in the
extreme ; but I have amused myself with a pamphlet
which the Southampton local committee present to every
member of the Association. A very respectable gentle-
man has been persuaded to write a description of the
town and its neighbourhood, for the use of the visitors
on this occasion. He is quite an enthusiast, brit evi•
dently has an eye to the useful as well as the pleasant.
The want of water, fur instance, being a sad trouble to
the inhabitants, the difficulty is very naturally handed
over to this " congress of men of science," as he phrases
it, whilst if any of them are disposed to migrate, they
may see the need the town has of an infusion of better
folks, for " it has been ascertained that in one district of
it, among 1,094 persons above fifteen years of age, 957
do not attend any place of worship." As for antiqui-
ties, if, the members of " congress" have a taste that
way, every acre of it, it appears, swarms with relics.
Here, as tradition runs, is " the pond where King John's
horses were watered ;" an ancient hall over the Bar-
gate being used to this day as a court of justice, the
judges still " sit by the gate." The Queen lately cast
anchor here—" her Royal vessel occupying the very
station which 'the galleys of ancient Rome were wont to
occupy ;" and it is alleged to be " indeed highly pro-
bable ' that the quay of Southampton " may have been
the scene of Canute's long famous rebuke to the flattery
of his courtiers."

It seems that the treasurer's account for the past year
contrasts rather unfavourably with its predecessor,
although the statement just presented includes the
meeting at Cambridge in 1845—a town at which 1,000
members then met, and which had the benefit of being
remembered as the place where, at the meeting in 1833,
every member's signature was obtained, and a litho-
graphed fac-simile of each published as a "volume of
varieties." The receipts from subscriptions during the
past year have fallen to about one-half the amount of
the previous year's; the small number of annual sub-
scriptions leads to the conclusion that a large proportion
of the members have availed themselves of the privilege
of subscribing 101. in one sum, instead of IL a year.
The credit side of the account, presented yesterday, is
kept up only by the sale of 1,000/. Consols. The grants
for scientific purposes have sunk from 8311. in the one
year to 6851. in the other; but the officers' salaries have
risen from 1751. to 5251., the latter sum, however, being
stated to be for 18 months.

SIX O'CLOCK.—Prince Albert has just arrived in the
Fairy, and has driven off to Lord Palmerston's seat at
Broadlands, about six miles from this place. His Royal
Highness will dine there, and will come to the Victoria-
rooms at eight o'clock. The Fairy has returned to
Cowes, and therefore the Prince will sleep at Broadlands.

LEICESTER and BEDFORD RAIL

WAY.
In consequence of there not being a sufficient number
of scripholders at the last meeting of the Company, held
a week ago, an adjourned meeting took place yesterday,
at the London Tavern. The object of the meeting was
for the purpose of ascertaining the sense of the share-
holders as to the dissolution of the Company.
R. LINDSELL, Esq., took the chair shortly after one
o'clock, upon doing which he stated that the directors
and a committee of the shareholderi had had an inter-
view with Mr. Hudson, at Derby, on Wednesday last,
at which a long discussion took place, and in
the course of which Mr. Hudson stated that
if the directors wished to do anything with him they
must abandon the whole line and leave it in his hands.
The directors thinking the adoption of such a course in-
compatible with their previous arrrangements, declined
to accede to it, and stated to Mr. Hudson that they had
only half the line to dispose of, upon which Mr. Hud-
son declined to enter into any arrangement, stating it
was his intention to adopt the, best line between
Leicester and London, giving equal advantages to
the Eastern Counties Railway and the Direct
Northern. The result was, that no arrangement was
entered into with Mr. Hudson. At that interview
Mr. Hudson had stated to him (the chairman) that
he was in error in stating that there was
a division in the Committee of the House of
Lords, and that the rejection of the Bill was carried by
a majority of one only, for the fact was, the Committee
were unanimous on the rejection of the Bill. All that
he (the chairman) could say with respect to that was,
that he had received his information from a gentleman
of undoubted respectability, and. upon that information
he made the statement he did to the meeting. The
worthy gentleman concluded by moving a resolution
that the Company should be dissolved.
Mr. CORRIE, one of the deputation to Mr. Hudson
from the shareholders, thought that the interests of the
shareholders would have been best consulted by adopt-
ing Mr. Hudson's proposition, and not pursuing the
course that had been pursued.
Some considerable discussion then took place, in which
Mr. Franklin and Mr. Richardson, - two of the deputa-
tion, joined, and which ended in the adoption of the
resolution for the dissolution of the Company, that reso-
lution not being considered an act of bankruptcy.
The CHAIRMAN in the course of his statements, in
answer to the observations• that had been made, stated
that he had no doubt that the communication with Mr.
Hudson would be renewed ; not at the suggestion of the
Leicester and Bedford Railway Company, but at that of
the South Midland.—The meeting then separated.

READING, GUILDFORD, AND
REIGATE RAILWAY COMPANY.
The first general meeting of the proprietors of the
above Company was held yesterday, at one o'clock, in the
London Tavern, for the transaction of business.
David Salomons, Esq., took the chair.
The advertisement calling the meeting having been
read,

The report was then read. It stated that the capital
of the: company was 800,000/., in 40,000 shares of
201. each. The directors were happy to refer to the
arrangement entered into with the south-Eastern Rail-
way, by which they leased the line when completed to
the company at a rent of 4i per cent. per annum, and the
clear half of the profits. The amount of receipts
was on the Reading, Guildford, and Reigate line
55,1601. 13s. Bd., and on the Reading mad Reigate
38,2061. 9s. 9d.; total 93,3671. 3s. sd.
PAYMENTS UP TO THIS TIME.
Reading, Guildford, and:Reigate £23,222 18 6
Reading and Reigate 14,074 7 11

37,297 6 5
Showing a balance in hand of £56,069 17 0 ,
The CHAIRMAN said that after the statement
so fully put forth in the report he would de-
tain them but a few moments while he briefly
referred to the conflict they had passed, and
the victory they had achieved, in the last session of
Parliament. It had cost them some anxiety and some
money, before they were enabled to defeat the opposi-
tion of the Brighton Company. He was happy, how-
ever, to be enabled to say that they had done so. They
had united now with the South-Eastern Company
a company which was worthy of every confidence,
although he was yesterday painfully obliged to
differ from the course pursued by the directors. The
Chairman then read the opinion expressed by the South-
Eastern Company of this line, but their good opinion
had been even underrated ; for the immense passenger
traffic whioh would flow to the ports of debarkation
had not been sufficiently taken into account. The
Chairman then explained, that as their direction was
rather unwieldy, it had been deemed advisable to reduce
the number from 14 to 10, those gentlemen being bal-
lotted for. In conclusion, he moved the adoption of the
report.

Mr. GOWER seconded the motion.
Resolutions were then passed, fixing the directors at
ten, with a salary of 1,0001. a year among them, three
auditors at 20/. each ; and Mr. John Bailey was elected
secretary, with a salary of 3001. per annum.
Thanks were then given to the chairman and directors,
and the meeting separated.

BANDON and BANTRY RAILWAY.
A meeting of the scripholders in this Comprny was
held yesterday, at the London Tavern,:for the purpose of
determining whether the company should be dissolved.
The Rev. Somers Payne was voted to the chair.
The advertisement convening the meeting having
been read, scrutineers were appointed, and during their
investigation,
Mr. STEVENS read a report, from which it appeared
that in consequence of the resolution come to by the
shareholders on the 6th of June last, the directors
had resolved to withdraw the Bill. It appeared
further that the committee received a deposit of
11. 7s. 6d. on 17,156 shares, being within 150 of the entire
number mentioned in the Bill. This produced a sum of
24,5521. Os. 10d., to which was to be added a sum
of 1371. 17s. ld. for interest, making together
24,6891. 17s. ld. The actual disbursements up
to the present time amounted to 12,2331. 4s. 3d.,
leaving a balance of 12,4561. 12s. 10d. The directors
regretted they could not make satisfactory arrangements
with their solicitors and engineers, the demands of the
latter being so large, that they did not deem themselves
justified in discharging them. They were, therefore,
unable to declare a final dividend of the depo-
sits ; still, not wishing to keep so large a
sum in hand, they proposed to pay immediately
ss. per share, and the remainder when the accounts
should be finally closed. Against the above named sum
of 12,4561. it appeared that there were claims to the
amount of 11,413/. The report concluded by stating
that the directors felt extreme regret at the abandonment
of the line, which they believed to he a bona fide un.
dertaking, and which they bad little doubt w,,uld be car-
ried out, as it was in continuation of the Cork and Bandon
Railway, and in that case that their present works would
be available.

It was then proposed that the Company should be dis-
solves', and the resolution having been seconded, was
carried unanimously.

It was then proposed, seconded, and carried, that the
dissolution of the Company should not be considered an
act of bankruptcy.

Some of the shareholders expressed themselves as dis.