The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-14 00:00:00

day at night; thairfore ye will tack such cair to prowyd Bnrortmlza.—The hops have mnch improved within
fitt ludgingis for him, and for the Commissioneris, and the last ten days, being so unusually thick on the
for the trayne, as may be best raid, on so short adver- branches, particularly on the good cultivated grounds.
teismentis; and we beseik you let nothing be wanting We still think of getting a fair crop. Picking will cora-
quhich may testifie your effectioun to the native King, mence on Thursday next, but will not be general before
quha haith fullio assured all the desyr of his people. Monday, the 18th instant.
No further, but we ar your werie assured friendis. BURAVASH.—The hops are now rapidly arriving at
(Signed) Cassillis, Lothiane, Brodie, Geo. Wynram, J. maturity. Many of our planters will begin picking in a
Smith, Al. Jaffrey. Speymouth, 23d Jany. 1650. For few days. Opinions as to the amount of the crop are
the Richt Worschipfull the Magistratis of the town of conflicting; all think, however, it will be large.
Abdn. Thess." EASTKOATHLY.—With regard to the hops, the ques-
On his arrival he was received with every mark tion isinow pretty well decided that they will not grow
of distinction and popular attachment. He conferred out to their wonted size, consequently must come short
of an average crop; there being no more must necessa.
the honour of knighthood on the provost, Farquhar of
Mounie ; and on Mr. Leslie of Eden, who had for-
rily act against the pickers.
merly held that office. The King remained in the FLETCHIeanING.-UT hops continue to go on well, and
re avery c Several of our planters are about to
town but one night, proceeding next day to Dunnot-
commence peck..
ing this week, and there is every appear-
tar. He would appear to have been again in Aber- ance we shall have an average crop.
deen on the 25th of February, 1651—the last time FARNHAM.—Picking has commenced in a very few
that our city enjoyed the presence of royalty. Now instances in this parish, and the result, as far as it goes,
that, after the lapse of nearly two centuries, we are is very satisfactory; it will be general about the middle
about to receive a renewal of that distinguished of the week.
honour, under the happiest auspices, well may we ex- HEATIIFIELD.—The hop-picking has commenced in
claim with old Dunbar— some few instances in this neighbourhood, but the result
"Be blyth and blissful, Brugh of Aberdeen." of the "rising" to the bushel, or of the weight, have not
been made known. Mr. James Relf, of Streetend farm,
who (with rare exceptions) is the first in this locality to
begin, will commence on Monday the 11th, and several
others will follow about Wednesday. On Monday, the
18th, the picking will be general. Although some of the
bops are tolerably well grown, there are many very small
of a burr-like appearance. They have had but little
sun, which is the cause of their being entirely destitute
of " condition," and the consequent inference is, that the
duty is far too highly estimated, as is almost invariably
the case in wet and cold summers.
HIIRSTOREEN.—The hops are very much improved
this week, and a larger quantity is now expected.
Picking will be commenced about the latter end of this
week or the beginning of next. The duty is estimated
at 200,000/.
MAYPIELD.—The hops have improved during the last
week; they are coming fast to maturity, and the picking
will soon become general. They have grown larger
than usual this season, consequently there will be more
bushels required than usual to the cwt.
NEwicK.—The warm weather has not improved our
hops so much as was expected. They hang very thick
on the branches, but are very small. Picking will com-
mence generally in the course of a week.
NitirlELD.—The hop plantations in this locality have
made great progress during the last week. Picking
commenced in one garden last Friday, and will be
general this week, with every prospect of a high duty.
PRISTONS IGHTHAM.—There is no improvement in
the hops this week ; most of them will be very smal'.
The mould still continues to increase.
ROVIIERFIELD.—The hops in this neighbourhood con-
tinue to improve, and the growth is likely to equal, if
not exceed, that of last year's.
RTE.—The fine weather we have experienced during
the past week has proved highly beneficial to the hops
in and about this neighbourhood, and leads us to believe
the duty will exceed 200,0001. Many of our planters in-
tend to commence picking this week.
TUNBRIDGE WELLS.—During the last week the fine
weather has caused a great improvement in the appear-
ance of the hops In this neighbourhood, and we may ex
pect that the picking will commence on some grounds
during the next week.
FRANT.—The hops in this district have not made the
progress this week as we had been led to expect after
such congenial weather. Many poles are but little past
the burr, and the same appear quite stationary.
UCKFIELD.—Our hops are still doing well in this
parish. Picking will commence about Wednesday at a
few places, when use shall be better able to judge of the
crop. The duty is called 205,0001.

COURT CIRCULAR.
OSBORNE, SEPTEMBER 12

Her Royal Highness the Princess Alice, and the
younger branches of the Royal Family have taken
their usual exercises in the grounds about Osborne.
Prince Victor of Hohenlohe left Osborne yesterday
morning for Portsmouth.
The Fairy steam-yacht was in attendance this
morning off the Trinity Wharf, to embark her Royal
Highness the Duchess of Kent and party on an expe-
dition round the island.

The Viscount de Moncorvo, Portuguese Minister
at this Court, left town yesterday for Liverpool, to
embark on board the Brazilian steam-frigate Affonso,
on his way to Lisbon.—During his Excellency's ab-
sence, the Chevalier de Ribeiro, Secretary of the
Legation, will act as Charge d'Affaires.
Earl Grey arrived in town yesterday from a visit
to Lord Ashburton, at the Grange, Hants.

SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—The last exhibi-
.ion for the present season of the fhwers, fruits, &c ,
produced by the competitors for the prizes given by the
South London Floricultural Society took place yesterday
in the grounds of the Surrey Zoological Gardens,
under the arrangements of Mr. Tyler, the proprietor,
and the committee of tho society. The " show was
more than equal to anything hitherto exhibited in the
same place in the way of horticultural science, either as
regards flowers, plants, fruits, or culinary vegatable:
The collection of dahlias, which forms the great feature
of the exhibition, was superb. Amongst the specimens
were some that were almost unique in colour and shape.
A great number of msd its were awarded by the judges
to the successful candidates. Those who gained the
gold ones were—Mr. Cole, of Dartford, and Mr. Hemp,
of South Lambeth, for miscellaneous collections of
flowers; Mr. Howard, of Burnham, for twenty-four
dahlias, and Mr. Robinson, of Pimlico, Mr. Pope, of
Chelsea, for twelve dahlias; Mr. Pawley, of Bromley,
for miscellaneous plants; Mr. Turner, of Chalvey, for
dahlias; and Mr. Bragg, of Slough. In addition to the
show there were the usual attractions of music and fire-
works, The gardens were thronged with several thou-
sand visitors.
HERRING TRADE.—We are now glad to announce
to our readers that there exists no longer any doubt
that the long expected and wished for armistice be-
twixt Denmark and the German Confederation has
been amicably settled. The news will be hailed with
joy by all interested in the herring trade, as shipment
may now be made in British as well as foreign bottoms,
of all flags, to the Baltic and German ports without
molestation. In making this announcement, we would
also hope that the trade, generally, would moderate
for a time rather than increase shipments; for although
markets are in general hare of herrings abroad, any
large and simultaneous export, without fixed sales on
beard in this country, would have a most depreciating
effect en prices. _Dealers abroad, counting on consign-
ments, would consequently withhold their orders, in an-
ticipation of such being largely made. By advises re-
ceived from Stettin down to the 26th ult., 7,400 barrels
of herrings had reached that place, and the other ship-
ments known on 'Change. Prices, which commenced at
10 dolls. to 10f dolls., had receded to 9f dolls., and a
further decline looked fur as arrivals got in.—Banffshire
Journal.
IRISH PRODUCE.—The importations of grain and
general provisions into the port of Liverpool from the
Irish ports during the week comprising from the 11th
to the 17th ult. consisted of the following, viz.:-
7,214 firkins, 303 half-firkins, 345 boxes, and 1,876
other packages of butter ; 13 bags of wheat, 2,373 sacks
of flour, 526 bags and 940 quarters of wheat, 164
loads and 205 bags of oatmeal, 72 sacks of malt, 116
quarters and 59 sacks of barley, 671 packages of linens
and cottons, 98 casks of whisky, 37 bales of hams and
bacon, 19 firkins and 7 barrels of tongues, 10 casks, 150
kegs, and 10 firkins of lard, 11 barrels of pork, 30 bar-
rels of meal, some of the farina and seed, 150 quarters of
beans, 55 barrels of beef, and other articles. Those of the
port of Bristol, in two days in the same period of time,
comprised 2,118 barrels of oats, 218 quarters and 213
barrels of barley, 21 casks of whisky, 106 firkins of
butter, several of malt, linens and other articles. The
importations into the port of Liverpool, from Ireland,
during the subsequent week, comprising from the 18th to
the 24th ult. inclusive, consisting of the following, viz.,
—3,145 firkins, 293 half-firkins, 193 boxes, and 1,607
other packages of butter ; 541 packages of linens and
cottons ; 22 bales and 21 casks of hams and bacon ;
212 quarters, 182 sacks, and 50 tons weight of
raw: wheat
aao:f ;5f163087u
brea;arsks of
barrels,
,baaurdr so whisky,soto
u9pa2o, 9rwkes;iagelhk, 4ts
us a
bnqudul akrltoBefr so,baat6sr3:
99 loads and 100 sacks of oatmeal ; 74 kegs and four
tierces of lard ; 16 sacks of farinsate:dn
of 50
330 quarters of
;broehaotnhssee,
same
at
a2mBe
thes
period sacks k spoof ofrt malt,otifm
0 Bristol
consisted
nds i 57 sacks of seed.
twon
1 days ll
and 152 barrels of barley, 23 casks of
quarterswhisky,il
1,700 barrels and 20 tons weight of oats, 450 packages
of rye meal. 152 firkins and 120 casks of butter;six
tons' weight of oatmeal, 29 quarters of malt, several of
linens, and other articles. The following is a compen-
dium of the importations of such articles into the metro-
polis from the sister country during the period compris-
ing from the 17th to the 30th ult., viz.:-230
packages
of linens, 420 hampers and bales of bacon, 447 casks of
porter, 175 bales of feathers, 30 casks of whisky 383
,
bales of paper, 333 packages of malt, 372
casks and
other packages of lard, 31,275 casks and other packages
of butter, 407 boxes and cases of eggs, 238 casks of pork,
21 of hams, 50 of general provisions, 277 boxes of sal.
mon, 1,150 of soap, a quantity of live cattle, horses, and
a variety of other articles of food of lesser importance
and of general merchandise, which need not be more
particularly enumerated. This account of the recent
supplies of articles of food from Ireland, the produce of
that country, will be of interest.
A SMART Dos. --A shepherd once, to prove the
who was lying before the fire in
quiekthehonuesses of hiswhere dog,
eWere talking, said to me in the mid-

die of a sentence conaerning-something else—"
thinking, sir, the cow is in the potatoes." Though he
purposely laid no stress on these words, and said them
iu a quiet, unconcerned tone of voice, the dog, who ap-
peared to be asleep, immediately jumped up, and leaping
through the open window, scrambled up to the turf root
of the house, from which he could see the potato field !
He then (not seeing the cow thure) ran and looked into
the barn where she was, and finding that all was right,
came back to the house. After a short time the shep-
herd said the same words again, and the dog repeated
his look-out; but on the false alarm being a third time
given,the dog getup, and wagging his tail, looked his master
in the face, with so comical an expression of interro-
gation, that ho could not help laughing aloud at him, on
which, with a slight growl, he laid himself down in his
warm corner with an offended air, and as if determined
not to be made a fool of again.—American Paper.
A MATcn AT CHESS.—A celebrated chess-player,
Mr. Harrwitz, of Breslau, was expected to visit this town
yesterday. He is to meet the members of the Liverpool
Chess Club, and play two games at the same time, with-
out seeing the chess board. A recent feat of this extra-
ordinary player is thus noticed by the Glasgow Citizen,
" Herr Harrwitz, the celebrated chess-player, being on a
visit to the d,ff-rent chess clubs in the north, gave a
soirée to the chess players of Glasgow, on Wednesday
evening, ut the Athenceuna. Upon this occasion he 1

played two games at the same time, blindfold, against
four of the strongest players of the Glasgow Chess Club,
two playing at one board, and two at another; the sepa-
rate parties consulting together upon the m3ves. The
result was that Mr. Harrwitz won one game, and after a

hard fight. the play extending to sixty-one moves, drew
the other."—Liverpool Mercury.
Advices from Rotterdam state that the Dutch
Trading Company have announced a sale for the 18th
inst., comprising 78,957 baskets Java sugar, which are
likely to maintain the prices paid at the sale of July 27,
more particularly now that the armistice concluded in
the Baltic will admit of shipments to that quarter, and
that the refiners there will probably be anxious to lay in
stocks before the season closes. The sale on the present

occasion will comprise a preponderating quantity of
brown and yellow assortments, with only a very small

proportion Of good and fine white.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
SHREWSBURY AND BIRMINGHAM.
An adjourned meeting of this company was held at
Shrewsbury on Tuesday; Mr. W. Ormsby Gore, M.P.,
in the chair.

At the half-yearly meeting held at the same place a
fortnight ago a good deal of divided opinion was ex-
pressed by various shareholders touching a series of reso-
lutions brought forward by Mr.G. B. Thorneycroft, one of
the directors, to the effect that it was expedient to raise
the sum of 155,0001., by the creation of preference
shares, in order to enable the directors to open the line
next spring. At that meeting an amendment was
moved by Mr. Thorne, of :Leamington, that no prefe-
rence shares be issued, but that the directors should en-
force the payment of all arrears of calls due on the ori-
ginal shares.
The CHAIRMAN said the directors had in the whole
proceedings studied to the utmost the wishes and conve-
nience of the shareholders. Many gentlemen who at-
tended the last special meeting seemed to entertain the
idea that undue influence had been used by one of the
officers of the company in obtaining proxies in favour of
the preference shares, in consequence of which it was
agreed that proxies should be sent to every individual
shareholder, to enable him to vote as he thought proper.
He could state that the imputation against their officer
was not deserved. He could only say that th• officer
had no private views whatever in the matter.
The SECRETARY having read th• resolutions and
amendments,

Mr. J. H. EDWARDS said it was his decided opinion
that the directors had no power whatever to issue pre-
ference shares, and it was his intention even if he should
stand alone, to apply for an injunction against it.
legal opinion on that point.
The CrtentsrAN stated that the directors had con-
sultedASTELLS thought a step between the two pro-
jects produced might be taken, which was to the
e
that
ait would be desirable to strike off 41. each
ff
effect
Mr.
now C
share, which had been paid on class A. shares to the
Stour Valley line, and which formed no portion of the
main line of this company, whereby the A and B shares
could be consolidated.
The CHAIRMAN said, he very much feared this propo-
sition could not be legally carried out.
Mr. Pnu.Lips read a memorial praying the directors
to create preference shares, and which was signed by a
large number of London shareholders.
Mr. SLANEY, M.P., said, with every deference to the
directors, he thought it would be better to try first the
effect of calls, and if that failed to have another meeting
and then adopt preference shares.
Mr. SPARROW, at considerable length, deprecated the
creation of preference shares.
After some further observations by Mr. THORNEY-
cnoFT and other gentlemen, the meeting (which had
then been sitting three hours) became impatient to put
the question to the vote.
The CRAntmAN said parties who had not paid up their
calls would not be allowed to vote. He then stated that
the directors had received 5,831 answers from share-
holders in favour of the issue of preference shares, and
4,263 in favour of calls, leaving a majority of 1,568 in
favour of the preference shares. lie proposed that Mr.
Sparrow, jun., and Mr. Phillips should act as scrutineers
to examine te proxies.
The CHAIRMAN next put the amendment, that no pre-
ference shares be issued, but that the directors make such
calls as may be necessary to enable them to raise the
money required.
On a show of hands there appeared 40 in favour of the
amendment, and 8 against it; upon which the scruti-
neers retired to another room to examine the proxies,
which occupied several hours, the scrutiny not being
complete until after twelve o'clock at night.
On Wednesday (yesterday) morning Mr. Gore again
took the chair, when the scrutineers reported that there
were--

Against the amendment
Fur the amendment 5,401

Majority in favour of preference shares 921
The original resolution was then put by the Chair-
man, and baying been altered so as to divide the
155,0001. into 19,375 shares of 81. each, instead of 15,500
of 101., and thus allow one preference share for every
five original shares, it was unanimously carried, and the
proceedings terminated.
T

HE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE
LONDON AND NORTH- WESTERN RAIL-
WAY.
Btamisroxasr, WEDNESDAT.-011 the termination of
Captain Simmons's examination last night, the Coroner
directed that Matthews, the driver of the Colonel engine,
should be brought into the room. On entering, the
Coroner informed him that he need not make any state-
ment which in any way might tend to criminate himself.
One most important point of the inquiry was the speed
at which the train was travelling, and if the jury should
be of opinion that the speed was beyond safety, he (the
driver) would be implicated. It was, therefore, a matter
for his consideration whether he would make any state-
ment at all. lie (the Coroner) should not swear him,
but all that he said would be taken down in writing,
and, if requisite, would be used for or against him,
as the case might be, if any future proceedings should
ensue.
Matthews, who bore marks of the injuries which he
had received, replied that all he knew of the accident
was, that they were thrown off their own line of rails,
from some cause of which they bad no knowledge, and
that he was not driving the engine at more than the
ordinary rate of an express train.
The CORONER, after reading his notes of the first
day's proceedings, was excused by the jury the task of
going through the remainder of the immense body of
evidence which lay before him. The jury, he remarked,
would have to take into their consideration the most im-
portant element in the inquiry—he alluded to the ques-
tion of speed. Some of the witnesses had spoken of its
extraordinary rapidity, and also of a certain bumping,
commenced shortly after leaving Wolverhampton,
and which was greatly increased when the train arrived
on descending gradients. Upon this point the evidence
of Mr. Parker, a servant of the company, and whose
professional avocations rendered his faculties particalarly
alive to this phenomenon, was of more than ordinary
value. He stated that when he found the bumping re-
peated, he looked out of the window, thinking it proba-
ble that the wheels or wheel of the carriage were broken,
or, as it were, " scotched," for that was the kind of sen-
sation produced. There was a great deal of evi-
dence with regard to this bumping and oscillatory
motion ; the consequence of which was, as Mr.
Parker thought, the last carriage (belonging to the
Scotch Central Railway Company) was thrown off
the rails, and the rest of the train speedily fol-
lowed. That was the hypothesis of the witness
to whom he had referred, and it had received consider-
able confirmation from Mr. Trivethicke and Mr. Norris,
two eminent practical engineers, in the service of the
London and North-Western Railway Company. On the
other hand, they had in the Government Inspector of
Railways, a most competent witness, who, while he ad-
mitted the possibility that the last carriage having left
the line might be the cause of the engine and the rest of
the train being thrown off the rails, still expressed doubt
as to the correctness of such an hypothesis. He did not
conceive that it was forced. Captain Simmons did not,
however, state any more certain cause. He seemed to
think that the accident might with more probability be
attrbuted to high speed, his chief reason being that Mr.
Osborne was enabled by his watch to say positively that
the train travelled from Wolverhampton to Newton-
bridge, a distance of seven miles, in 10 minutes. Al-
though this by figures was only 42 miles per hour, yet
he (Captain Simmons) thought the train would go one
and half mile before it got to that speed. He was in-
clined, therefore, to put the speed at the time the acci-
dent occurred at 50 miles an hour, which he thought
the limit of safety. But, as the jury would gather
from the questions put by Mr. Carter, if Captain
Simmons took one part of Mr. Osborne's evidence, he
was bound to take the whole. And so were the jury.
Mr. Osborne stated that he travelled often by railway
upon that line, and that the train on the night in ques-
tion was proceeding at not more than the ordinary rate
of an express train. That rate, as stated by Captain
Huish, was from 42 to 43 miles an hour. Other wit-
nesses of great experience represented that 50 miles an
hour upon that line, and even upon that particular curve
where the train went over, was safe. The jury would
give this evidence a fair and dispassionate consideration,
having in view the authority from which it emanated.
They would bear in mind the protection which the
public demanded from the occurrence of such accidents;
that they were in the presence of the press. They
would recollect also, on the other hand, the protection
against unreasonable and unfounded accusations, with
their pecuniary penalties, claimed by the great railway
guilty. If they should be of opinion that any
interests, to whom, for facility in travelling and other
negligently caused the lamentable disaster which
communications, they werecriminally so much indebted. They
would first have to consider whether any person was
servant or other official of the railway company had wil-
fully or ligently
led to the death of Colonel Baird, their verdict must be
one of manslaughter. If there had been a want of rea-
sonable care on the part of any one for the lives of in-
dividuals, then their verdict must have been in that
form. The
only question upon that point was one of
speed. They would observe that he had refrained from
swearing the engine-driver—he had done so most reluc-
tantly—fi-)r he (the Coroner) could really see in the evi-
dence nothing to prevent Matthews being admitted as a
witness ; but he was resolved, if ho erred at all, to err
in the exercise of an excess of caution. He trusted they
would give
all the circumstances of the case their best
consideration. If they did not consider that there were
any proved grounds of complaint against any individual
—if it were altogether misadventure, then their verdict
must be accidental death,l accompanied, if they thought
wise, by any
the subject.
The jury, after considering. for an hour and a half,
the they might wish to express upon
returned a verdict of " Accidental death, caused by the
faulty construction of a carriage belonging to the Scotch
Central Railway Company."
The Coroner' was requested by the jury to thank
Captain Simmons for his assistance—an assistance
which could not but have an important influence upon
tEe inquiry.
The jury were then formally discharged.

ESTIVITIES AT STOCKTON AND DARLINGTON.--
Festivities and other scenes, on a grand scale, are ex
patted to take piece during next, week and the follow-
ing, at Stockton and the vicinity of Wynyard-park.
There will be a flower show at Darlington, under the
Patronage of the Duke of Cleveland, the Marquis and
Marchioness of Londonderry, and other members of the
nobility. The exhibition will be followed by a bazaar,
under the patronage of the Marchioness of London-
derry, for the benefit of the funds of the new church at
Thorpe. Viscount and Viscountess Hardinge, Lord
Rokeby, Sir James Graham, and a numerous party, are
shortly expected at Wynyard, where the Marchioness of
Londonderry purposes giving a ball and other entertain.
menu on a
scale of great magnificence. The neigh.
bourhood will be gay indeed for at least a fortnight.