The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-21 00:00:00

RE FORD ABBEY.

It is amongst the on dits that the Catholic body bave
a serious intention to compete for this splendid monas-
tery. Such an opportunity cannot by possibility ever
occur again, and the trustees (it should be known) are
required, by the ‘s al of the late Mr. Gwynne, to place it
in the market without a protecting price. To say no-
thing of it as an abbey of so much renown, the estate
that appertainS to, and surrounds it, cannot be estimated
at less than 1,5001. a year; and the value of the monas-
tery, in pieces, would realise ten thousand p
Within this classic pile will be found congregated the
finest collection of tapestry throughout England; and
there are some pictures of the Dutch and Flemish school
that are incomparably tine. The library is extensive
and select ; the furniture of the old school, and
very La la.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—During the past
week this establishment has been more than usual attrac-
tive, in consequence of the lectures of Drs. Ryan and Bach-
hoffner—the former gentleman having chosen as his theme
" the philosophy of steam as a motive power ;" and the latter
savant the " history and varieties of electric telegraphs."
We need not say much on the propriety and fitness of such
subjects in:these steam times, but we cannot avoid reiteration
of our opinion of the valuable services this institution and its
professors are continually rendering to science in thus bring-
ing so forcibly, snd yet so simply, before the world all that
is new and really useful. Nor are the attractions of popular
science confined merely to the lecture-rooms of the professors,
every portion of the institution is fitted with novel applica-
tions of industry and mechanical gc.nius to the furtherance of
human comfort and happiness. By the by, we must not for-
get to congratulate the directors:for the vast amount ofpublic
patronage they daily incur, and we are bound to say they
deserve it. The music is another department here which
deserves particular notice, and is highly creditable to its
conductor, Dr. Wallis.
NATIONAL GALLERY.—The visitors to the National
Gallery, it is shown in a Parliamentary paper yesterday printed,
numbered 456,105 in 1843; 681.845 in 1844; > and G9G,245 in 1845.
the pictures purchased for that Institution amounted to 114,804/. 1135.,
for 27 of which 57,804/. 16s. was paid.

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THE Wm:Vs TALE.—At the petty sessions at
Woodstock, on Tuesday last, before Mr. T. Thornhill, Lord Dillon,
and the Rev. H. J. Passand, and S. G. Seagrave, on the complaint of
the assistant overseer of Ensham, Elizabeth Lianbridge, of that
parish, widow, was summoned for a poor's rate amounting to 2s. td.,
said to be due to overseers of the said parish. She pleaded poverty,
and said she was not able to pay. The officer said she did nut be-
long to the parish, and they were determined to make all those pay
who did not belong to the parish. This declaration drew forth the
following telling statement from the poor creature :—I have four
small children; the parish allows me eight loaves to keep them. I
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sell two of these loaves to help me to aay the rent. I sit up hours to
keep myself. I have had no oilier pay since two weeks
after Whitsuntide. I c_amot earn more than about Is. led,
per week at glove-sewing. I work for Mr. Thornoon, of Ilensing-
ton. I should not have the work if I did not take goods for my pay.
We are expected to take goods. 114 husband has been dead six.
years, and I never had more of the parish than 2s. or six loaves a
week. I belong to /sTk,rthleigh, in the same union as Ensham. Ilow
can I pay out or, eight loaves of bread ? I cannot live in the parish
where I belong, or I would. I have tried times and times to get a
place, and cannot. I have not one farthing in the world. My poor
children were hanging round me when I left home this morning.
They said they should not see me again. I pay 2s. per week rent.
I have but one loaf now to last till Saturday. Lord Dillon paid the
rate, and the clerk forgave his fees. For this the poor widow ap-
peared very thankful The ofiteer said he had another demand of is.
7d. Lord Dillon advised her to go into the poorhouse. XL Etasrave
reminded lien that allOculdlaq. to pay future ratui.