The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-15 00:00:00

THE NAVIGABLE RIVER FOSS,

which connects
THE TRENT AND WITHAM STREAMS,
and thus opens with facility, and at a trifling expense,
A MARKET F R THE TIMBER IN
THE DOCK-YARDS OF THE HUMBER AND THE
THAMES.
whenever it is requisite for it to be sold.
It is at present in hand, and the outgoings are very trifling.
Also, in the village of Saxilby,
A GOOD BRICK AND TILED COTTAGE,
with garden and garth, comprising about half an acre, in the occupa
lion of William Denman.
The woodman, k.;eorge Cramnack, who lives at Saxilby, will show
the property. Particulars of Mr. Brown, South Carlton, Lincoln-
shire ; Messrs. Oddie, Lumley, Nichol', and Smyth, solicitors, Carey-
street, Lincoln's Inn ; the Saracen's Head, Lincoln ; and at Mr.
George 'Whittle* Offices, Covent-garden, London.

JUVENILE PLEASURE.
Amidst the bright scene we delightfully treasure,
We witness with ecstacy juvenile pleasure !
Their light-hearted revels we cherish with joy,
Whilst the face is illumin'd of each beautiful boy !
Oh ! there is not a youth, we may venture to say,
But enraptured looks forth to the bright holiday ;
And amongst all the transports, and many are those,
There is nothing that pleases so much as New Clothes !
Now HYAM, we freely acknowledge with truth,
The very best Clothing provides for each youth,
Transcendently high his great name now it shines,
For Hussar Suits and Tunics of novel designs !
At incredulous prices he now will dispose
Of his splendid assortment of Juvenile Clothes !
Parents and Guardians are respectfully invited to inspect the im-
mense variety of Boys and Youths' Clothing always kept on hand at
this Establishment. An immense saving in price is effected, and
very garment warranted as to durability, quality, and fashion.
LIST OF PRICES.

X s. d.
Dress Coat, braided edges ••••• • • • • •from 1 1 0
Surtouts,
Trousers, in cloth and doeskins 0 8 6
Trousers, in Tweed ••..••••••• • • • • • • • • • 0 6 6
Vests, either in cloth or fancy Materials 0 4 6
SUMMER GARMENTS.
Summer Coats, in endless variety .. ... • 0 9 6
Cashmere Ditto
Fishing or Shooting Ditto ••••• • • • • • .... 0 7 6
Office Ditto ••••••• • • • • • • • • 0 9 6
Blouses, in countless profusion..... . 0 2 6
Trousers, in all the newest washing
materials ..
Vest, ditto, Designs guaranteed to retain
their colour ••• • • • •••• • • • 0 2 9
MADE TO ORDER.
Dress Coats, made to measure ••• • • • from 1 10 8
Surtouts, ditto ........ • • ... .• • 1 15 0
Trousers, ditto .... •• • •
Test, ditto .... • .
SUMMER GARMENTS.
The Hyamonlan Paletot, a fashionable
Over-coat, made to order, extremely
light and well-adapted for the present
Trousers, of peculiarly light fabrics .. • • 0 8 0
Vests, in rich Cashmere and printed
Quiltings, French patterns • •

In immense Stock of Youths and Boy's Clothing at proportionate
.ew prices. Money will be returned to any purchaser, should he not
approve of his pnrchme after seeing the articles at his own house.
No business transacted on Saturdays until the evening.
L. HYAM, Pantechnetheca. 36 Gracechurch-street. London.

BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE

ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.

SOUTHAMPTON, SATURDAY.--Last night the associa-
tion met in rather considerable numbers to hear Pro-
fessor Owen discourse on the fossil mammalia of the
British islands. The earliest formation (he said) in
which the remains of mammalian quadrupeds were found
was the oolitic ; here were little insectivorous quadru-
peds, warm-blooded and quick-breathing, and the cor-
responding animals were to be found now in Australia,
nearly at our antipodes. The various formations and
deposits above the oolitic was then described ; and the
discourse was occupied with. ne of these, in which were
to be seen a number of great freSh-water deposits,
showing that at one period we had a series of mammal=
forms very considerably surpassing anything we have
now. For instance, a species of elephant nearly double
the size of the largest elephant of Ceylon, a rhinoceros
with two horns, a hippopotamus quite as large as that of
Africa, and a deer with antlers whose extreme points
were sometimes nine or ten feet from each other.
We had, in the period in question, a large
species of reindeer and a little roebuck. We had
three species of wild ox, one a bison or bonassus
of enormous structure, another with horns a yard or a
yard and a half long, and a third with very short horns.
There was evidence that all these had continued to exist
in Europe within the historical period, and some of our
ancient stories of battles with dun cows might have re-
ference to these. There was also a feline animal of
equal size with any lion or tiger, but with canine teeth
of the most destructive form. There were the remains
of bears surpassing in size the great grissly bear of the
Rocky Mountains of North America; a species of hyena
was also found in caverns. In considering the question
how these quadrupeds came to this island, the geologists
had arrived at the conviction that the separation between
England and the continent had been a comparatively
recent affair, compared at least with the period when so
enormous a mammalian class existed in this island.
These could not be the remains of animals brought
here from tropical climes by some great torrent; that
notion was contradicted by their enormous numbers, the
integrity of their
.nhabi bonesd, the wearing away of the floor
off
~the crushed bones and teeth
dragged into these caves, and
otheeee caves
heedless
young they
creatures t e
other like reasons; there were hundreds of antlers, not
water-worn, and which must have been shed by living deer.
There were many signs of the former union of England
and France; England once had bears and wolves like
France, and the bones of the extinct animals in both
countries agreed.
Sir R. MuncnlsoN, the President, at the conclusion
of the Professor's discourse, expressed a hope that the
meeting would be favoured with the opinion of Dr.
Buckland, the great wizard of the caves, the necromancer
of all animals.

The Dean of WESTMINSTER objected to the discussion
of points of difference before an inexperienced and un-
learned audience. He would rather refer to the con-
firmation now given to what he stated twenty-five years
ago, and for which he was then deemed almost an auda-
cious liar.—(A laugh.) That there were British ele-
phants (more in that very county than the members of
the British Association), and rhinoceroses, and hippo-
potami, the aboriginal inhabitants of this country, the
predecessors of landowners and farmers—(Laughter)—
these, to use a fashionable phrase, were "great facts."
—(A laugh.) But how did these strange gentlemen find
their way into this now civilised and happy country ?
Whence came the bears and hyenasof thecaves of York-
shire, whose gambols had polished the sedilia upon
which they amused themselves with disporting ? On
that point geologists differed wide as the antipodes. But
looking at the extremely insignificant depth of the chan-
nel which divided us from the Continent, the greatest
depth between Dover and Calais being only the height
that difference in depth.
g dofistrhuepttioownermoigfhMt ahgadvaelenniCadoellee, Oxford, the slightest
In that slight trough of the sea there might have been
dry sands. At all events, the animals in question must
have lived and died here.

Mr. LYELL remarked, that not only was this planet
inhabited for ages by a succession of plants and animals,
now extinct, before man came upon the stage; but that
even of those species now contemporary with man a
great number existed for ages before the era when we
had reason to suppose that the human race began.
Mr. BULLAR suggested that a part of the audience
might find it wise to apply to this subject Paley's coun-
sel, not to suffer what we do know to be disturbed by
what we do not.

Sir R. Muncatsox observed, that Professor Forch-
hammer had promised the society a paper on sea-water
currents, and perhaps he would open the Straits of
Dover question. What he would pronounce upon it
could at present only be conjectured; " but," added Sir
Roderick, " I have heard say there is a tradition that
there was a prince of his country with whom a Queen of
England fell in love, and that this Danish prince being
refused to her in marriage, she cut a trench which
separated this country from the continent."—(Laughter.)
The proceedings of yesterday then terminated.
This morning's list of business for the day announced
meetings in four of the sections, but only one section
met in fact—the Statistical.
giTeshw:
irth, on the mortality of
gentleman reported that
" Family Experience,"
and had obtained from 1,987 families returns of various
childheAh
had
pde ans Pe,
particulars; the persor,s thus applied to were of all sorts,
enwrt a outbs yfi rasitrcr.i :Cal:di circular heeded
from the higher professional man down to the chimney-
sweeper. From the.,e returns tables had been framed
, with the cause of
unted for in these
half of the deaths
rdo
efe tuht
rhen.
sn, uom2f ofb,3et9hr7e ldodi
eeoda7t6under
lt
d2re
eal hn
nee:ger
oel y
occurring among children under one year old. Conta-
gious, epidemic, and endemic diseases, diseases of the
nervous system, and respiratory diseases, were found to
be the diseases most fatal to young children. The cases
in which the first child was reported a son were 618 ;
those in which it was a daughter, 588. A return had
also been obtained from the Foundling Hospital. In 67
years, ending with 1844, it had admitted 2,975 children
—1,545 males and 1,430 females; the mortality among
them was much greater than among children of the

tWllt4i plate- bsame age in families ; it was greatest in January and
October.
A twee
same
TlBh2e7,e, nwt raass tn
ebxe
read. It showed the price of materials used at each of
those periods, the method adopted, quantity produced,
profit, price, and demand. It was stated, in a conversa-
tion which followed, that our manufacturers were unable
to keep pace with the demand at present; but as soon as
they overtook it, importation would probably cease, and
we should export this article. The great demand for it
had hitherto deprived the public of the full benefit of the
reduction of duty, the price being thus kept up ; but
plate-glass vies rapidly being substituted for common
gic;g4 in windows ; in the week after the late hail,-storm
the demand for plate-glass in London was treble that of
any previous week.
Lieutenant-Colonel Svxus read a number of returns
on the. subject of the administration of civil and erimi-
nal:justiee in India. About fifteen years ago the natives
who had been only assessors, or assistants in the Indian
courts, were allowed to be judges; and the object of
these returns was to show the effect of that change. It
appeared that there were fewer appeals from the deci-
sions of native judges than there had been from the
English; about one-sixth of the decisions now were ap-
pealed from, and they were generally modified or re-
versed in about one-third of the appeals. The time a
suit occupied had also diminished; a suit in the court
which corresponded to our Chancery commonly occu-
pied a year and seven months when the average was
struck in 1841, but only one year in 1844; in the in-
ferior courts the period had
_been reduoed from seven
months to five, and in others from five to four. About
98 per cent, of this judicial labour was now performed
by natives; the pleaders also were natives, and the lan-
guage of the country was used. It was generally sup-
posed in England that the land-tax, the chief tax _of
India, ruined numbers of the people; but in the whole
Bombay presidency,' in 1843, there were but five per-
sons in gaol for non-payment of it, and in 1844 only two.
In the criminal courts the returns showed that the sen-
tences were gradually diminishing in seventy; in the
Bengal presidency there were but twenty-six sentences
of death in 1834. In some cases an appeal was allowed
to the criminal, and in ninety oases in the Bombay pre-
sidency in one year the sentence was annulled; in fifty-
eight cases the sentence was banishment from the dis-
trict, or county as we should say. The improvement in
the administration of justice had arisen from the diffu-
sion of education and knowledge among the people.
A report of the committee on the statistics of sickness
and mortality is York was then read. It comprised a
period of a year and a half. It stated that ten per cent.
of the persons who died there in that period had been
attended by no medical man in their last illness. The
hour of death had been ascertained in 67 cases. Itap-
peered that where the chances seemed equal death might
occur at any hour between ten o'clock in the morning
and ten o'clock at night, the probability was found to be
three to two that death would occur between four o'clock
and ten o'clock P.M., rather than between ten o'clock
a.m. and four o'clock P.M. Death occurred more fre-
quently in the morning hour between nine and ten o'clock
than in the evening hour between nine and ten o'clock,
in the proportion of 91- to 5. Comparing the two morn-
ing and evening hours of four to fire o'clock and nine to
ten o'clock, the two morning hours (in their number of
deaths) were to the two evening in the proportion of
thirteen to eight.

In some conversation which followed it was noticed
that in a sick room, when the patient was not likely to
live many hours, it was very common at sea-ports to
hear the question asked, " When does the tide turn ?"
the popular opinion being that that was an hour when
death was likely to take place. The section (which then
consisted of five persons) agreed that there was most
likely " something in this." The sitting then terminated.
Although the statistical section met this morning, al-
most all the members of the Association were absent
from the town on various expeditions. A party went
to visit the gardens of the Dean of Winchester, and take
luncheon with him at Bishopstoke Rectory. A dredging
party crossed the water, and set to work on the coast of
the Isle of Wight after their peculiar taste. The great
body, about 250, went round that island in a steam-
vessel, with a view to observe the geological formations
and deposits exposed by the cliffs and chasms there.
The day was splendid, the party were in high spirits,
and the Lady de Saumarez made an admirable floating
lecture-room. On leaving Southampton Water, the
vessel bent her course towards the east, and the Presi-
dent, Captain Ibbetson, and Mr. Prestwich, occupied
themselves in explaining to the company the geological
character of the coast—a subject which is to be specifi-
cally discoursed upon by Coptain Ibbetson on Tuesday.
Sir J. Herschel, Sir H. de la Beche, and others, took
part in the conversation. At Black Gang Chine, at
the back of the island, the vessel anchored, and a great
number landed and examined the cliffs; which there pre-
sent a very wild and picturesque appearance. Here was
found Dr. Buck/and, who had crossed the island from
Cowes; but if the Dean thought to avoid the voyage al-
together, he was mistaken, for some of those who had
landed laid- violent hands on him, and soon stowed him
safely in the steamer. A bag which he had with him
was, naturally enough, supposed to contain geological
specimens, and the doctor was pressed to exhibit its con-
tents; it turned out, however, that he had been provid-
ing for the body, and not for the mind, the first article
drawn from the repertory being a brandy flask, and the
second a crab. At Alum Bay the voyagers again went
on shore, 'and dispersed like ants, upon a hillock, in
search of " specimens," working lustily with their ham-
mers and chisels as if they would peck some spots to
pieces ; the canvass and leathern bags of a hundred geo-
logists were filled with spoils. On re-embarking the
thanks of the whole company were voted to the gentle-
men who had been their instructors during the day.
Mr. Drew (a member of the local committee) took occa-
sion to contradict a report which had gone abroad that
the South-Western Steam Company had given the use
of the steamer for the day. The vessel then steered up
the Solent, and arrived at Southampton about half-past
nine o'clock in the evening, having been .absent fourteen
hours.

A conversational soiree had been advertised by the as-
sociation' to take place at 8 o'clock, and soon after that
hour 80 or 100 ladies and gentlemen assembled in the
Victoria-rooms. Unfortunately, (however, there was no
one to preside, or :to start conversation, and bind the
company into one, and the various parties that arrived
continued for a couple of hours in almost private chat
inter se, several unhappy persons sitting or standing
alone, and wondering when the business would begin.
At 10 o'clock it was whispered about the room that the
steam-vessel from the Isle of Wight had arrived,
but that the President had gone home for the night.
The company then concluded that they bad had
the " conversational soiree," and began to slip
away by twos and threes ; by 11 o'clock the room
was empty.
On Monday Prince Albert is expected to visit the sec-
tions ; respecting which I must say that their being
situated in five different parts of the town, and all in
operation at once, creates a good deal of difficulty and
inconvenience.

As it is doubtful whether the potato discussion will
be resumed, it may be well to add that a number of
speculations on the cause of the disease were broached
yesterday, but no conclusion was arrived at. Some at-
tributed the disease to the rupture of the vessels,
occasioned by frost or sudden growth ; and after
a long discussion between Dr. Buckland, Dr. Daubeny,
Professor Playfair, and others, on the question whether
atmospheric influence or a peculiar miasma could be the
cause,

Mr. SOLLY stated that he felt convinced no one could
at present explain what it really was.
Several gentlemen recommended that potatoes be
raised from seed in future.

Dr. BUCHLAND said, the only remedy he knew was
the following :—The instant the extremity of the leaf is
attacked, mow down the whole to the ground, and burn
it, to give the tuber a chance of escape. Leave the
tubers in the ground till the first dry days of August,
then take them up, pick out the infected, and pack the
rest in dry straw, not touching one another.
A member suggested that the stalk should be pulled
up, and not merely mowed ; the disease existed very
low down.

So much doubt had been thrown upon every theory
by the time Mr. Sol!), spoke, that his remark was very
generally cheered.— Times.

We have received the following information in re-
gard to Lieutenant Walker's valuable invention to pre-
serve iron ships from the effects of cannon shot :—On
Friday the fifth experiment of this invention was made in
the Arsenal at Woolwich, in the presence of Sir Howard
Douglas, General Smith, Colonel Chalmers, Captain,
Houstan Stuart, Captain Superintendent of the Dock-
yard, and forty or fifty officers and gentlemen interested
in the experiment. Twelve 321 b. cannon shot were fired
through a target six feet square, covered with the
kamptulicon composition, which instantly closed over
the holes. It was attached without bolts or bars by a
solution which, when wanted to be detached from the
iron plate, engaged upwards of twenty men nearly an
hour ; thus proving every proposition of the inventor
most satisfactorily.—Railway Herald.
A NOBLE EXAMPLE.—On Friday last Lord Wors-
ley, M.P., was travelling from London to Lincoln, when
on arriving at the Rugby station, he quitted the first-
class carriage, and took a second-class ticket, at the
same time producing his address card, and desiring the
station-keeper to inform the directors that he should
never travel by first-class on their lines, until the present
exorbitant fares are reduced. His Lordship did the
same at Leicester, Nottingham, and Lincoln, so it is to
be hoped the directors will get to hear of it. Several
noblemen and gentlemen are reported to have made
similar resolves as it regards the Midland lines ;
general observance of such conduct would bring the
directors to the more reasonable fares of other lines.—
Hull paper.
The secretary of the Hospital for Consumption and
Diseases of the Chest, has just received a donation of
one hundred guineas, through the vicar of Wandsworth,
in aid of the funds of that institution.

FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Saturday afternoon, a
fatal accident occurred to a fine young man, a coalwhip-
per, named Sullivan, off Stone Stairs, Ratcliff. He was
practising in a small skiff for a rowing match, which
comes off to-day ; but his frail bark was upset by the
swell of a steamer, and the unfortunate man lost his life
in consequence.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTH Dumont , SUNDAY.-M. DUMO, a member of
the French Cabinet (Minister of Public Works), and
suite, arrived at this port yesterday, by the 11 o'clock
train, on a visit of inspection. Lieutenant Rawstorne
received his Excellency, and conducted the party to the
Victory, having seen which they left for the Victoria
and Albert royal yacht, whence they proceeded to the
dockyard, and, having been shown the most interesting
features therein, they returned to London by special
train at half-past four o'clock. Lieutenant Rawstorne
received the warm thanks of the Minister for his polite
and courteous attention. The whole party appeared
much pleased with the objects they had visited and the
attention paid to them.
The Raven cutter, Lieutenant Commanding John
Stephens, sailed late on Friday evening on her return to
Sheerness, taking supenumeraries and passengers for
that port and Chatham.
The Bulldog, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Davis, ar-
rived from Chatham yesterday morning, and came into
the harbour in the course of the day. She is a fine
bold-looking vessel of the Stromboli class, but 100 tons
larger, and having engines of nearly double her power.
She mounts two large pivot shell guns, and four broad-
side guns, long 32-pounders.
Three companies of the 74th Highlanders, with the
head-quarters of the regiment, embarked yesterday
morning on board the Gladiator steam-frigate, Captain
John Robb, at the dockyard. As soon as the troops and
baggage were on board, the vessel hauled off, and the 1
steam being previously up, proceeded to Spithead, where
she lay for a short time to take on board her powder,
and then sailed for Leith. There are two commies of
this fine corps still here, which will, it is supposed,
await the return of the Scourge from the Shetland
Islands.
The Black Eagle Admiralty steam-yacht, sailed early
yesterday morning for Woolwich, pursuant to Admiralty
orders received the previous night.
The Ajax, 74, is progressing fast towards completion
for a steam guard-ship for this port, and will, we are
informed be undocked at Cowes next spring tide. Yes-
terday week the surveyor of the navy inspected her;
Mr. Smith, the inventor of the screw propeller, has also
visited the Ajax officially. She will have the following
armament:—one 56-pounder, 85 cwt., and two 8-inch
mortars of 65 cwt. each, on the quarter-deck; one 56-
pounder, of 85 cwt., on the forecastle; twenty-six 32-
pounders of 42 cwt. each, on the upper deck; and
twenty-six 42-pounders of 66 cwt. each on the lower
deck. Total, fifty-six heavy guns.
The Apollo troop ship, Commander Radcliffe, ar-
rived at Monte Video on the 24th of June, to embark
the 45th Regiment for the Cape of Good Hope.
The Gorgon steam-frigate, Commander Crouch, and
the Firebrand steam-frigate, Captain Hope, arrived at
Monte Video from the Parana on the 12th of June. 1

The Alarm, 26, Captain Frankland, sailed from Hali-
fax for Port Royal, Jamaica, on the sth of August. Mr.
Stiles, clerk of the Alarm, had gone into the Belleisle,
72 ; and Mr. Harris, assistant clerk, had been made
clerk of the Alarm.

The Kingfisher, 12, Commander Brown, arrived at St.
Helena, from the west coast of Africa station, on the
12th of July, for water, &c.
The Thunderbolt steam-sloop, Commander Boyle,
was in Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope, on the 17th of
June. A letter from her, dated Table-bay, the 10th,
says, " The Kafirs are anything but a despicable enemy.
The last accounts from the frontier were more satisfac-
tory, as we had not lost any more waggons, and the
Kafirs had been defeated, but walked off in their retreat
with 4,000 head of cattle. Indeed, as far as we can
judge here little energy has been displayed by our
people, and the colony is fast verging on ruin ; credit is
at so low an ebb that bills cannot be cashed under 10 per
cent. discount. We remain here (Table-bay) about four
days longer, when the last of the Burgher force will be
dispatched to Algoa-bay, and we shall re-embark the
President's men and our marines and return to Simon's-
bay. The Carysfort, 26, Captain Seymour, with the Go-
vernor of New Zealand on board; the Scout, 16, Com-
mander Loring; and the Snake, 12, Commander T. B.
Brown, are in Simon's-bay, with a French frigate. Lieut.
Boys has broken his arm."

Sir William Burnett, M.D., K.C.H., F.R.S., Director-
General of the Medical Department of the Navy, arrived
at Haslar Hospital on Friday, on an official visit to that
institution.

PLYMOUTH, SEPT. 12.—Her Majesty's brig Hound
arrived from Portsmouth on the 10th, and sailed on the
11th with supernumeraries for the coast of Africa.
Her Majesty's steam-vessel Rhadamanthus, Master
Commander Thomas Laen, arrived on the 10th from Ire-
land, and took on board the remaining part of the 55th
Regiment yesterday (the 11th), and sailed for the Cove
of Cork.

his Imperial Russian Majesty's corvette Abo, Captain
Nordman, came in this mottling from Naples, where she
conveyed some valuable presents from his Imperial Ma-
jesty the Emperor of all the Russias to his Majesty the
King of Naples. The Abo sails again to-morrow
morning.

DEVONPORT, SEPT. 12. Yesterday morning the
Earl of Auckland and tke other Lords of the Admiralty
at Moorshead's Royal Hotel, were visited by Admiral
Sir John West, K.C.8., Port Admiral ; Rear-Admiral
Sir S. Pym, C. 8., Admiral Superintendent ; Mr. Black -
more, the Mayor of Devenport, and other official per-
sonages. The First Lord granted a levee to a number
of naval officers, after which the Board inspected the
dockyard, the ships constructing therein, and the new
works at Morice Town. Subsequently, in company
with Captain-Superintendent Sir Thomas Fellowes,
C. 8., they visited the Royal William Victualling-yard
at Stonekouse.

In the evening their Lordships dined with Admiral
Sir John West, at his official residence, Admiralty
House, Mount Wise. The party consisted of the Right
Hon. the Earl of Auckland, First Lord of the Admiralty ;
Admiral Sir C. Adam and Captain Berkeley, Lords of
the Admiralty ; Captain Brandreth, R.E., Civil En-
gineer to the Board ; Captain Eden, Private Secretary
to Lord Auckland ; the Hon. G. H. Ward, Secretary to
the Admiralty ; Admiral Sir John West, Port Admiral,
Lady West, and Miss West ; the Earl and Countess
Morley ; the Hon. General and Mrs. Henry Murray ;
Lady Leeke and the Misses Leeke ; Admiral Sir S. Pym
and Mrs. Drake ; Captain Sir Thomas Fellowes ; Cap-
tain M. 11. Dixon ; Colonel Aslett, R.N. ; Dr. Arm-
strong, of the Royal Navy Hospital ; and Mr. J. Smith,
Private Secretary to the Port Admiral.
This afternoon the First Lord will lay the foundation
or key-stone to the inverted arch which forms the
western entrance to the lock of the south basin. In
preparing for this dock, an excation has been made 43
feet deep; it will, when completed, form a lock or dock
360 feet long and 80 feet wide, within which a further
excavation will be made for a basin 600 feet by 500 feet.
The foundation-stone is a rectangular block of granite
from the Par quarries, near Fowey, 12 feet 10 inches
long, 3 'feet 6 inches deep, and 2 feet 7 inches wide,
weighing 9 tons. Underneath it will be deposited the
usual coins of the realms, &c., which deposit will be
covered by a brass plate, bearing the following inscrip-
tion :

" This Stone was laid by the Right Hon.
The Earl of Auckland, G.C.B. First Lord Commissioner of
the Admiralty, on the 12th Sept., 1846 ;
Being the Foundation-stone of the new Establishment for the

Manufacture and Repair of Machinery for
her Majesty's Steam-ships of War;
Designed and commenced in the year, 1844 under the:Orders
of the Right Hon.
The Earl of Haddington, K.C.8., First Lerd Commissioner of
the Admiralty.
Captain Brandreth, R.E., F.R.S., Director-in-Chief of the

Works.

Captain Burgmann, RE,, Resident Director of the Works.
George Baker and Son, Contractors."
The whole site to be occupied by the new works is
74h- acres, and it is intended as a yard for the construc-
tion, repairing, and use of the steam navy. The first
spade was put in on the 19th of November, 1844, for the
foundation of the offices for the clerics of the works ; and
on the 30th of January, 1846, the first pile, called the
dolphin or guide pile, was driven. Mr. Nasmyth's
valuable invention, the tilt hammer, has been successfully
employed in driving the piles. This enormous machine
is worked by steam power. It was on the sth of Fe.
bruary in the present year that the first engine was put
to work, and so rapid has been the progress, that the
dam of 1,600 feet, the greatest length ever before at•
tempted, and in which there is no less than 8,000 loads
of timber, was completed in a few months—which, by the
old plan, would have taken years. Besides this saving
of time, there has been also a large saving of expense,
yet the cost of the dam and its contingent risks exceeded
130,0001. Up to the last week nearly 150,000 cubic
yards had been excavated ; and, to the 31st of August,
nearly 207,000 cubic feet of granite and nearly 350,000
cubic feet of limestone had been delivered on the works.

Messrs. Baker, the contractors, have made arrange-
ments, on the conclusion of the ceremony, to entertain
the Lords of the Admiralty and a company of 200 ladies
and gentlemen at an elegant dejeuner. The workmen, to
the number of nearly 800, dine under an extensive tent
formed in the shape of the letter "V" at the northern
part of the works. The Admiralty will be entertained
in the extensive model-lofts.

PROMOTION.

Oliver Thomas Miller, Assistant-Surgeon, Vindictive,
:o be surgeon to the Vesuvius.
APPOINTMENTS.

James B. West, Lieutenant, to the America.
William Shippard, Commander, seniority, Aug. 12,
1812, to be retired Captain.
Timothy W. Sulivan, Second Master, to the Victoria
and Albert.

Robert J. C. Grant, Master-Assistant, to the Caledonia.
William Mackay, Clerk's-Assistant, to the Thunder.
David Partridge, Acting First Engineer, to the
Gladiator.

George Roe's, Seconi Engineer, to the Bulldog.
Alexander Birnie, First Engineer, to the William
and Mary.

George Kaye, First Engineer, to the William and Mary.
Ed ward Deely, Second Engineer, to the William
and Mary,

Robert Allen, Second Engineer, to the William
and Mary.
George W. Putt, Second Engineer, to the William
and Mary.

DEATH OF THE BISHOP OF ST. ASAPH. - Dr.
Carey, Bishop of the above see, died on Sunday night nt
his residence in Portland.place. Dr. Carey was several
years:ago translated from the see of Exeter.

But in all these tricks of the Spanish States, there is
something of the assumption of virtue, if the virtue itself
be wanting. It is doubtless very disagreeable to go up
the stairs of the London Tavern, and vote away four-
fifths of the interest at which you have lent your money,
but still there is something of decency in the trans-
action. The propositions may be mean— despicable—
fraudulent—the facts on which they are based may be
no facts at all—for who shall attempt to check an
account of the resources of New Granada or Ecuador ?
But, at all events, the bondholders are asked to consent
to them, and if they refuse, which, with all their for-
beaysnce, they will do sometimes, the despised terms are
sent packing across the Atlantic, there to be trimmed
into more acceptable shape.
In a word, we are used to be swindled by the
Spaniards, but when the swindle has been perpetrated,
we have always been consenting parties. We have lis-
tened to tales of woe, referring to anarchy and war, and
tales of hope, to the effect that anarchy and war would
be no more, and we have agreed to endure a dark past
when so bright a future seemed to dawn upon our vision;
generally we have grumbled and yielded ; and shown a
little prudery with respect to the first hatch of terms,
that we might with more dignity embrace the second.
But Portugal comes out with a financial coup, that
strikes even the experienced Briton with surprise--so
consummate is the impudence of the measure. The
Portuguese Government, looking over its accounts, dis-
covers that it is much more convenient to pay four-fifths
than five-fifths of the interest on its foreign debt. The
old method, as we have said, would have been to convene
a meeting, and implore the creditors, in the name of
humanity and suffering virtue, to take a little less than
their due. This method, as we have also said, involves
the chance of a refusal, and therefore Portugal invents
a bolder plan. She asks no questions, but goes to the
point at once, by levying an income-tax of 20 per cent.
on the interest paid on the foreign debt.
We ask our readers to lay their hands together, and try
to conceive a greater piece of national villainy than this.
In our experience, and we have watched foreign stocks
not a little, it is the greatest atrocity that was ever re-
corded in the history of finance. Even Mississippi had
the decency to get up a trumpery doctrine, the substance
of which was, that the dishonesty of the agent who sold
the bonds articled the claim of a bond fide purchaser.
The doctrine was the merest rubbish in the ears of all
men of business, but still, just as Robert Macaire's hat,
in spite of its batteredcondition,was—encore un chapeau,
so the Mississippi excuse was an excuse of some sort,
and showed that the Governor hai a notion that a state
should not commit a robbery without attempting to be
plausible.
Portugal has no decency whatever. She coolly de-
clares that she will henceforth pay the foreigners who
have advanced her their money, and who have, of
course, no voice in her Legislature, one-fifth less than
is actually their due. She does not " hope they will
agree " to the plan—but she pay no
more.
The creditors of Portugal are going to hold a meet-
ing to express their indignation and disgust, and a grand
" row," no doubt, there will la on the occasion. Indeed,
there ought to be a " row," for if the defrauded ones
search their dictionaries for all these terms of vitupera-
tion in which our language is so wealthy, and bawl them
out till the walls of the London Tavern are ready to
crack, it will scarcely be commensurate with the great-
ness of the wrong. They have got not only to fight
their own battle, but to defend the very principle of in-
ternational credit. If a nation can borrow money of a
foreigner, and then arbitrarily reduce the rate of inte-
rest which she has contracted to pay, the word " national
security" becomes a mere mockery. If Portugal can, at
pleasure, knock off one-fifth from her liabilities, what is
to hinder her taking a legislative sponge and wiping out
the other four?

THE POST-OFFICE. - NEWS;.
PAPERS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sitt,—Allow me to call your attention to the follow-
ing case of the arbitrary manner in which the business
of the General Post-office is conducted, and of the unjust
treatment I have received. Yesterday morning I sent
three sacks of newspapers, in a cab, to the Post-office, to
be forwarded by the day mail. Fleet-street being
blocked up, they had, as usual, to work their way through
the back streets, and on coming out of Farringdon-
street, to go up Ludgate-hill, they found, unexpectedly,
that the paviours had just stopped that road, which com-
pelled them to return through Farringdon-street, and
when they reached Newgate•street that was impassable,
owing to the large number of carts, Bcc., and they were
obliged to pass through Smithfield. In consequence of
these repeated interruptions, the cab did not reach the
Post-office till three minutes after the time allowed for
receiving papers. My men begged of the receivers to
allow the papers to go, explaining the cause of being be-
hind time, and ultimately got them taken in, with the
understanding that they should go by that post; but,
judge of my surprise when, at ten o'clock last night, the
enclosed letter was sent to me, by a customer at the
West-end, who had received it by the eight o'clock even-
ing delivery.

" General Post-office, Sept. 12, 1546.
" Sir,—l beg to inform you, that nearly two thousand
newspapers, from the office of Mr. Wild, Catherine-
street, Strand, arrived here this morning ' too late' to be
forwarded by the day mails. Some of them, from their
superscription, appear to have been sent from your office;
if, therefore, any complaints are received by you of delay
of papers posted for the morning mails of this day, you
will at once be enabled to ascribe their detention to the
proper cause.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" JOHN RAMSEY.
" Mr. Houghton, 162, New Bond-street."
Now, what I complain of is—first, the arbitrary con-
duct, well knowing, as they do, of the interruption of the
thoroughfares, in allowing two thousand subscribers to
be disappointed of their papers for so trifling an excess
of time, the more especially as they had not sent all
those up to the sorting-room that were received before,
as the men were busily engaged sending them up, and
mine were put along with them for that purpose. Se-
condly, I complain of their writing to others about the
papers being too late, and yet sent me no intimation of
the fact, who certainly ought to have been the first to
hear from them, and have had an opportunity of writing
by last night's post, and explaining the cause to some of
the disappointed parties. Thirdly, I consider myself un-
justly treated by their taking in the papers and then not
letting them go, because had they come back to me,
there were a very many I could have sent by railway,
coach, &c., and the agents and others would have re-
ceived them the same morning, the expense of which
would have been nothing compared with the vexation
and loss of papers rendered useless through not reaching
their destination in proper time. Should you think the
statement worthy a place in your paper, it will perhaps
be the means of preventing a repetition of such unfair
conduct.—l remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

L. WILD.
13, Catherine-street, Strand, Sept. 13, 1846.

CRICKETTING IN HYDE PARK.—On Friday even-
ing, the Foot Guards quartered at the powder magazine,
Hyde Park, proceeded, according to custom, to play
cricket on a piece of ground in the park, adjoining the
magazine. But they had scarcely pitched their wickets
when they were ordered off by one of the constables, who
said he would not allow them to play there. The
soldiers remonstrated, and assured the constable they
were in the habit of playing there without any molesta-
tion. A crowd that had assembled, seeing that the
constable was determined to prevent the soldiers having
a game, commenced hooting and pelting him, when the
soldiers, dreadia' that worse results might follow, very
prudently withdrew, assuring the constable that they
would lay the matter before their commanding officer.
INTERMENTS IN CHURCHYARDS. ST. ANN'S
NyESTMINSTER.—On Sunday, the following requisition,
signed by thirty-three inhabitants to the churchwardens
of St. Ann's, Westminster, was posted on the church
doors, with a notice from the churchwardens, that they
will lay it before the next vestry:—" We, the under-
signed rate-payers, deeply impressed with the necessity,
from the state of the burial-ground and the churchyard,
injurious
for preventing any more interments therein, as
to the health of the neighbouring inhabitants, respect-
fully request you to convene a public meeting of the in-
habitants, to consider of the propriety of closing the
burial-ground, or to take such other steps as may be
deemed necessary for the well-being of the inhabitants.
To the churchwardens of the parish of St. Ann's, West-
minster." The churchyard abuts on Rupert-street, and
the vicinity is closely populated.
THE PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL STEAM NAYS-.
QATION COMPANY'S NEW STEAM-SHIP POTTINGER.—
This fine vessel proceeded down the river on Sunday
afternoon for another trial, her trim having been cor-
rected by an alteration in the stowage. Her perform-
ance was in the highest degree satisfactory in every re-
spect, not only to her owners, but also the numerous
scientific gentlemen who were on board, including the
Arlmiralty surveyors, by whom she was approved for her
Majesty's mail service. The Pottinger has gone round
to Southampton, whence she will start on the 20th inst.
with the mails and passengers fur India.
DEARTH OF SHIPPING.—The prevalence of easterly
winds for a considerable time past has prevented the
homeward bound fleet, which have arrived in the chops
of the Channel from the East and West Indies and other
distant parts of the globe, from rounding the coast, and
arriving at their respective destinations. The conse-
quence is, that the great dock establishments are at the
present time unusually slack, and devoid of import busi-
ness and commercial bustle, the few arrivals that daily
take place consisting principally of steam-ships from the
, Continent, and other vessels from the adjacent ports of
Europe.
DOVER, SEPT. 13.—A most disastrous fire took
place yesterday afternoon at Tower Hamlets, about sk
mile from this place, consuming eight stacks of corn and
three of straw, of the value of about 9001. The above
were the property of Messrs. Going and S. Finnic,
merchants of Dover, and were insured to about half the
value only. It is understood that the conflagration was
caused, as is too often the case, by some boys at play
near the stacks igniting some lucifer matches, by n.-
cident. Every endeavour was made to arrest the
t de-
tvouring element, but from the dry nature of he ma.
terials, all was of no avail, and both corn and straw w
totally consumed.