The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-04 00:00:00

S N 7 _DECEMBER 4, 1846.

carrot crops are exceedingly good and of excellent qua-
lity. In all quarters the markets are liberally supplied
with them, at very moderate prices.
Depastured stock has fared remarkably well, and
supply of food continues abundant. In some parts the
diease baa made its appearance amongst the beasts, yet
actual losses have not been extensive.

In Ireland and Sotland the various markets have been
moderately well, but not heavily supplied with corn and
cattle. A full average amount of business has been
transacted in most articles, at full prices.

THE LAKE SUPERIOR COPPER

MINES.

(From the Montreal Herald.)

The following is a chapter from the forthcoming
volume of Charles Lanman, who has recently returned
from a journey in the wilderness of the north-west.
This chapter is of a character different from the rest of
the work, which is a narrative and description, instead
of being geological. It will, however, be read with in-
terest at the present moment, when the region of copper
mines on the greatest of our lakes is an object of 'such
general attention:—

" TUE COPPER REGION.

" I am the owner of a few shares of copper stock, but
exceedingly anxious to dispose of my interest, at the
earliest possible moment and on the most reasonable
terms. This remark defines my position with regard to
copper in general, and may be looked upon as the text
from which I shall proceed to make a few, a very few,
general observations on the copper region of Lake Su-
perior. lam curious to find out how it will seem for
the public at large to read something that is not a pur-
chased puff. Those, therefore, who are unaccustomed
to simple matters of fact, will please pass on to another
chapter of my little book, or lay it down as the most
insipid volume that was ever published.
"It is undoubtedly true that all the hills and moun-
tains surrounding this immense lake abound in valuable
minerals, of which the copper, in every variety of form,
is the most abundant. The lamented Douglas Houghton
has published the opinion that this region contains the
most extensive copper mines in the known world. The
discoveries that have been made during the last three
years would lead one to suppose this opinion to be
founded in truth.
" Not to mention the ship-loads of rich ore that I have
seen at different times, I would, merely to give my
reader an idea of what is doing here, give the weight of
a few distinguished discoveries that I have actually seen.
" The native copper boulder, discovered by the tra-
veller Henry in the bed of the Ontonagon river, and now
in Washington, originally weighed 3,800 pounds; a
copper mass of the same material was lately found near
Copper Harbour, weighing 1,200 pounds; at Copper
Falls the miners are now at work upon a vein of solid
ore, which already measures twenty feet in length, nine
in depth, and seven and a half inches in thickness,
which must weigh a number of tons; and at Eagle River
another boulder has lately been brought to light, weigh-
ing 1,700 pounds.
"As to native silver, the Eagle River valley has
yielded the largest specimen yet found about this lake,
the weight of which was six pounds and three ounces.
These are mineral statistics from which may be drawn
as great a variety of conclusions as there are minds.
" The number of mining companies which purport to
be in operation on the American shore of Lake Superior
and on our islands is said to be 100, and the number of
stock shares is not far from 300,000. But notwithstand-
ing all the fuss that has been, and is still made, about
the mining operations here, a smelting furnace has not
yet been erected, and only three companies up to the
present time have made any shipments of ore. The
oldest of these is the Lake Superior Company; the most
successful, the Pittsburgand Boston Company; and the
other is the Copper Falls Company; all of which are
confined in their operations to Point Keweenaw.
" This point is at present the centre of attraction to
those who are worshipping the copper mammon of the
age. It is a mountainous district, covered with a compa-
ratively useless pine forest, exceedingly rocky, and not
distinguished for its beautiful scenery. As to the great
majority of the mining companies alludei
.to, they will
undoubtedly sink a good deal more money than they
can possibly make ; and for the reason, that they are not
possessed of sufficient capital to carry on the mining
business properly, and are managed by unexperienced
and visionary men—a goodly number of whom have
failed in every business in which they ever figured,
and who are generally adventurers, determined to live
by speculation instead of honest labour. The two prin-
cipal log cabin cities of Point Keweenaw are Copper
Harbour and Eagle River. The former is quite a
good harbour, and supports a vacated garrison, a news-
paper, a very good boarding house, and several intern
perance establishments. The latter has a fine beach for
a harbour, a boarding-house, a saw-mill, and a store,
where drinking is the principal business transacted.
The number of resident inhabitants in the two towns I
I was unable to learn, but the sum total,. I suppose,
would amount to fifty souls. Altogether, perhaps, 500
miners and clerks may be engaged on the whole Point ;
while about as many more during the summer are hang-
ing about the general stopping places, on the shore, or
the working places in the interior. This brotherhood
is principally composed of upstart geologists, explorers,
and location speculators. From all that I can learn.
about the same state of things exists on the Canada side
of the lake. Twenty companies are alrealy organised
for that section of country, the most promising of
which is the Montreal Mining Company ; but not a
pound of ore has yet been smelted or taken to market,
so that the subject theme,' for the present, is as barren
of real interest there as in our own territory. Ration-
ally speaking, the conclusion of the whole matter is just
this—the Lake Superior region undoubtedly abounds in
valuable minerals, but as yet a sufficient length of time
has not elapsed to develope its resources. Three quarters
of the people (the remaining quarter are among the most
worthy of the land) now engaged in mining operations,
are what might be termed dishonest speculators and
inexperienced adventurers ; but there is no doubt that
if a new order of things should be brought into exist-
ence here, all those who are prudent and industrious
would accumulate fortunes.
" I ought not to leave this brazen theme without
alluding to the science of geology as patronised in the
mineral region. Not only does the nabob stock-
holder write pamphlets about the mines of the Ural
Mountains, and other neighbouring regions, but even
the broken down New York merchant, who now sells
whiskey to the poor miner, strokes his huge whiskers
and descants upon the black oxyde, the native ore, and
the peculiar formation of every hill-side in the country.
Without exception, I believe, all the men, women,
and children residing in the copper cities, have
been crystalised into finished geologists. It matters not
how limited their knowledge of the English language
may be, for they look only to the surface of things ; it
matters not how empty of common sense their brain
chambers may be, they are wholly absorbed in sheath-
ing their minds and hearts with the bright red copper,
and are all loudly eloquent on their favourite theme.
" But the grand lever which they use to advance
their interests is the word conglomerate,' which
answers as a general description of the surrounding
country. You stand upon a commanding hill-top,
and while lost in the enjoyment of a fine landscape,
a copper harbor bear' or bull,' recently from
Wall-street, will slap you on the shoulder and startle
the surrounding air with the following yelll—' That
whole region, sir, is conglomerate, and exceedingly rich
in copper and silver.' You ask your landlady for a drop
of milk to flavour your coffee, and she will tell you 'that
her husband has exchanged the old red cow for a con-
glomerate location somewhere in the interior,' thereby
proving that a comfortable living is a secondary consi-
deration in this life. You happen to see a little girl
arranging some rocky specimens in her baby-house, and
on your asking her name, she will probably answer—
• Conglomerate the man I my name, sir, is Jane.' But
enough. It will not do for me to continue in this strain,
for fear that my readers will, like my mining friends, be
made crazy by a remarkable conglomerate specimen from
the mineral region."

FATAL ACCIDENT AT MERTON.—A painful sensa-
tion has been occasioned in the Tillages of Mitcham,
Tooting, and Merton, by the death of Mr. William New-
man, of Mitcham, the well-known medical herb grower.
On Tuesday morning, about eight o'clock, some men in
the employ of Mr. B. Drewett, of Lower Tooting, were
at work in a field near the Single-gate, at Merton, when
they heard the smothered report of a gun. About eleven
o'clock, business calling them to the farther end of the field
they perceived the body of a respectably-dressed man
lying across the ditch, with a recently-discharged fowl-
ing piece lying by his side. The roof of the right aide
of his skull was blown completely off just above the ear,
and the brains lay in the ditch a few inches apart from
the head. The men immediately procured assistance,
and conveyed the deceased, who was recognised as Mr,
Newman, to the Victory Inn, Merton-lane. It appeared
that the deceased had left home early in the morning to
shoot over his fields, and from the position in which the
body was found, there is no doubt that whilst he was in
the act of leaping the ditch, which is six feet wide, his
foot slipped, and as he fell the trigger caught the hedge,
and in a moment the deceased was hurried into eternity.
The deceased was 62 years of age, and has left a numer.
ous family well provided for. An inquest was held yes-
terday upon the body by Mr. Carter, and a verdict of
" Accidental Death ", returned.

AUGMENTATION or THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF AR-
TILLERY.—In consequence of the number of companies
required to relieve
those on foreign stations whose period
of service has expired, it is determined to add two addi-
tional companies to each battalion, which will augment
the number of officers, viz., 20 first captains, 20 second
captains, 20 first lieutenants, and 20 second lieutenants;
the latter receiving commissions from the Royal Mili-
tary Academy
.is the Royal Arsenal, where they are
now studying, in order to pass an examination before a
board of officers, to receive their promotion. This im-
portant augmentation will take place in the forthcoming
quarter.
INDIAN CORN.—A large vessel, with a cargo of
2,500 quarters from Odessa, has arrived " for orders."
The demand for, and consumption of, the article here is
very great, under the influence of which, and in the
absence of supplies, prices have again advanced (since
Friday) to the extent of 105. tler ton. The supplies of
grain of every description continue small to this market.
—Cork Examiner.

MEETING OF MIDDLESEX
MAGISTRATES.
The monthly meeting of the magistrates was yester-
day held at the Sessions House, Clerkenwell-green. Mr.
H. Pownall in the chair.
The meeting was very fully attended, because it was
known that the question of lessening the number of
juvenile offenders and the amelioration of their condition
was to be brought under consideration. Accordingly,
after some business had been transacted with reference
to Coldbath.fields Prison, the report of the committee,
appointed on the 9th of April last, for the purpose of
inquiring into the best means of checking the growth of
juvenile crime, and for promoting the reformation of
juvenile offenders, was next read ; and, after adverting
to the lamentable condition of the youthful offenders,
concluded ,by suggesting that measures should be at
once taker( by intercessions with the Government, for
the purpose of obtaining the introduction into Parlia-
ment of a Bill, the preamble of which should in effect
state that the fearful extent of juvenile depravity and
crime in the metropolitan districts, and in large and
populous towns, requires generally immediate• interfer-
ence on the part of the Legislature ; that the great causes
of juvenile depravity and crime appear to be the
absence of proper parental or friendly care, and the ab-
sence of a comfortable home, and that all children ab ,ve
the age of seven and under the age of fifteen years, suf-
I.Jring from either of these causes, require protection to
prevent their getting into bad company, learning idle
and dissolute habits, growing up in ignorance, and be.
caming an expense and burden on the country as cri-
minals, and that such protection should be afforded by
the county. That an asylum for unprotected and desti-
tute children be founded by legislative enactment, and
placed under the direction and management of the jus•
tices of the peace for the county of Middlesex, to be
called " The County Juvenile Protection Society."
And the report pointed out, in fourteen clauses, what
should be the principal enactments, the visiting jus:iees
to be empowered to make rules and regulations, to be
sanctioned by the Secretary of State, and have the force
of law, &c.

After some discussion the report was received, and
ordered to be taken into consideration on the next
county day.
The question of the erection of a new lunatic asylum
again came on for discussion, and, after occupying the
attention of the:Court for several hours, a series of reso-
lutions were passed, by a large majority, for the erection
of the new asylum, and for the appointment of a com
mittee to select a site.

The Court adjourned a few minutes before six o'clnk.

THE LATE FIRE AND LOSS OF
LIFE AT LAMBETH.
Yesterday afternoon Mr. W. Carter held an inquest
at the Hero of Waterloo Inn, Waterloo-road, on the
body of Mary Ann Southey, otherwise Mary Ann Ro-
bertson, aged 16, the dwarf who lost her life at the fire
which occurred on the morning of Wednesday, at Mr.
Fergusson's wax-work exhibition, in the New-cut,
Lambeth.
The jury having been sworn, proceeded to view the
body, which was lying in the vaults of St. John's
Church.

Mr. James Fergusson said that he was the proprietor
of the wax-work exhibition, No. 32, Ghalcraft-terrace,
New-cut, Lambeth. The exhibition was opened at ten
o'clock in the morning, and closed at ten at night. On
the evening of Tuesday last witness and Mrs. Edwards,
his housekeeper, had been spending the evening at the
Surrey Theatre. They returned home at twelve o'clock,
when the shop was closed, and he understood that the
deceased had retired to bed. Not having a fire up-stairs,
he went into the kitchen to take his supper. About a
quarter of an hour after that time he sent his servant
out on an errand, and on her return she cried out,
" Master, master, the house is on fire!" On witness run-
ning up stairs he found the exhibition-room all on fire,
and the flames were rolling up the staircase.
The CORONER—Do you know whether or not the
servant took a light with her when she went out? Wit-
ness—l understand that she took a lighted candle with
her, and that she placed it on one of the organs in the
' middle of the exhibition.
The CORONER—Was any attempt made by you to
save the deceased? Witness—lt could not be done.
The staircase was very narrow, and the flames were
ascending rapidly.
The CORONER—But was not any attempt made to get
to her from the window? Witness—Even that was
impracticable, for the fire burned so fiercely that the
flames extended nearly half across the roadway.
The CORONER—Can you form any opinion as to how
the fire originated? Witness—Only by supposing that
some person who had visited the exhibition during the
evening had dropped the end of a lighted cigar, which
might have smouldered for tome time, and then have
burst forth in a flame. I did not, however, detect the
smell of fire, nor yet the escape of gas, on my return
home.
Mr. Robert Thomas Barrow, deputy foreman of the
West of England Fire-office, said that on the morning
of Wednesday last he was called to Mr. Fergusson's
premises, which he found were enveloped in flames from
the bottom to the top. At that time there was no pos-
sibility of entering the place. He assisted to extinguish
the flames. The fire having been subdued witness pro
cured some scaling ladders, and on entering the second
floor back he found the deceased lying partly in and
partly out of bed.
Maria Biggs, a servant in the employ of Mr. Fergus-
son, having spoken to the time her master went out, the
hour ho returned from the theatre, and the number of
persons in the premises at the time, she added that she
was quite certain the fire was not wilfully caused by any
party.
The jury returned a verdict " That the deceased died '
from the effects of burning, caused by the house having
accidentally taken fire."