The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-10 00:00:00

THE HOPS IN KENT.

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MAIDSTONE.—The hops have been doing well during
the last week. They are now coming fast to perfection.
Many planters began picking too early. They are now
beginning to weigh well, and will be better still in a few
days, the weather very favourable for them. They
fully meet the expectation of the planters in quantity,
but the weight generally disappoints them.
GOUDHURST.—We are progressing very fast with
our picking, and according to the number of bushels
the general complaint is that of their weighing
very light, but the samples are fine and the quality good.
IZOLVENDEN.—Picking is rapidly progressing, and
though there is some complaint respecting the weight,
we hope not to be disappointed in our previous estimate.
BRENCHLEY.—TLose planters who have begun picking
are much disappointed in weight, while others give
time for their hops to mature, and have not yet begun.
In general it requires from 120 to 150 bushels to the
pocket of 1 cwt. 2 qrs.
SEAL AND IGHTHAM.—Picking partially commenced
last week in this neighbourhood, and was quite general
yesterday. Where they have began, there is a great
complaint of the hops weighing badly, requiring from 90
to 100 bushels to the cwt., and it can only be attributed
to their being such an extraordinary size.
CRANBROOK.—There are some few growers in this
locality complain rather of the hops being light, but we
find generally they realize expectations.
TUNBRIDGE.—Hop picking has commenced in this
neighbourhood, and will be general this week. Farmers
complain that they come very light to the scale. The
improvement during the last seven or eight weeks has
been wonderful. In places where it was thought there
would be nothing, there are now six and seven cwt. per
acre.—Maidstone Gazette of yesterday.

HYMENEAL ADVERTISEMENTS.
The Manchester Guardian has lately had a number of
advertisements from parties panting for partners in the
conjugal state—individuals evidently who had tried the
usual modes of procuring wives without success, and to
whom advertising in the public prints has become a
dernier resort. Some of these advertisements have
been remarkable for their coolness, the pennyless
speculator insisting that the honour of his hand was not
to be purchased at less than a few hundreds a year; while
others have exhibited a remarkable degree of modesty,
the advertiser gently intimating (in spite, doubtless, of a
bald skull, a crooked back, a snub nose, and an oval pair
of legs), that he was " rather prepossessing in his ap-
pearance." If newspaper proprietors could adopt the
rule of compelling each party who thus introduces him-
self to the compassionate attention of the fair sex to
permit a faithful portrait of himself to accompany his
advertisement, and also to make a deposit of a sufficient
sum of money or a sufficient number of title-deeds to
guarantee his ability to keep a wife, we warrant the
number of these advertising spouse-seekers would be
enormously diminished. The following advertisement,
which appears in the Guardian of Wednesday last, is a
decided improvement upon any we have yet seen. It is
so disinterested, so modest, and so argumentative, that it
can scarcely fail to bring brides by dozens through the
post:—

" MATRIMONY.—A gentleman of good education and
character, a native of Lancashire, and for some years
past resident in Manchester, 35 years of age, and pos-
sessing an income of upwards of 2001. a year, wishes to
meet with a lady about his own age, or a few years
younger, suitable for a partner for life. It is necessary
that she should have property producing something like
the same amount of income, which, however, would be
settled upon herself, with a jointure of 2,0001. or 3,0001.
besides. The advertiser is no fortune-hunter, but
perfectly independent as a bachelor ; and though de
sirous of changing his condition, would prefer remaining
as he is to marrying on his own income alone, which is
of a permanent though not a rapidly-increasing character.
This explanation is sufficient, he thinks, to account for
the adoption of this mode of seeking the attainment of
his object, preferring a business-like way of proceeding
in a pure matter of business, to the more usual course of
first paying addresses, in ignorance of, or on mere sun
mise of the lady's pecuniary means or prospects, and
afterwards coming to the consideration of the business
part of the subject—a course liable to serious objections,
and frequently ending in disappointment. So far from
being mercenary in his views, the advertiser is of a gene-
rous disposition, and more prone to dispose of money
tor public and benevolent purposes than either to hoard
or lavish it selfishly. Being of quiet and domestic habits,
and fonder of comfort than show, the qualities he would
priza in a wife would rather be those which please at
home than those which shine abroad; and next to the
accomplishments of a good housewife, ho would value
that of a tolerable proficiency in music, as most conducive
t domestic pleasures. Congeniality, at least, if not
complete identity of religious views, he considers essential ;
himself holding firmly the doctrines of Protestant evan-
gelical dissent. Though no bigot, but respecting the
conscientious belief of all, he would not unite himself
with one entertaining opinions the contrary of these. In
personal appearance and manners he hopes he would
not be considered repulsive, nor does he look for perfec-
tion in these respects; but good health and freedom from
all taint of hereditary complaint are essential. It is
hoped that no one whose eye this advertisement may
meet, and to whom it may be fairly applicable, will be
deterred from considerations of delicacy or timidity, since
a moment's reflection will show that in a majority of
cases marriages are contracted with less knowledge of
each other's feelings and dispositions than can be ob-
tained in this way, followed by a personal interview,
with a mutual determination to come to a frank expla-
nation r.nd interchange of opinion. In the lottery of
matrimony, a prize may be drawn by this means as well
as by the mode sanctioned by custom. The advertiser
will satisfy every inquiry as to his character, history,
connexions, means, &c., and will require full informa-
tion on these points in return. Any communication
addressed to —, London, will be immediately for-
warded to the advertiser in Manchester." The adver-
tiser is uncommonly scrupulous about religious opinions,
nearly as much so, indeed, as he is about the pecuniary
capabilities of his fair victim. Nevertheless, if a Maho-
metan, with 4001. a year, and a Christian with 50/. only
should apply simultaneously, we have a shrewd guess
which beauty the evangelical gentleman would accept.—
Liverpool Standard.