The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-01 00:00:00

ENGLAND AND AMERICA.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—The writer of these lines (who desires for the
present to remain "incog") is of opinion that you would
do service to the trading community of Lancashire by
directing their attention, with as lade delay as possible,
to the exact position of the British and Mexican
Governments, in reference to the Oregon question.
Strange to say, it seems to be very imperfectly under-
stood. "We are too good customers for them (sal
many) for the Americans to go to war with us." No
doubt they have imbibed these notions in part from that
part of the press which cries, " Peace, peace," whilst the
two Governments are actually preparing energetically
fur war.

I mean no fulsome flattery when I say that you seers
to take a more correct view of the case than any other
writer whose comments I have read. To.my mind the
following train of facts point but to one issue:-
Ist. A Bill to take possession of Oregon was passed
through the House of Itepresentatives, by a majority of
140 to 54 ; and only missed passing through the Senate
by one vote—this, too, when a negotiation was actually
pending.
2d. The Democratic party have, since that time, in•
creased their strength by six votes.
3d. The then President offered to make 49.0 degree
the boundary line, giving to Great Britain the free
navigation of the river Columbia, all which she refused
to accept.

4th. Polk has actually retracted that offer—see his
address. " The proposition of compromise which had
been made and rejected, was by my direction subs&
quently withdrawn, and our title to the whole of
Oregon asserted. The right of any foreign power
to the free navigation of any of our rivers through th•
heart of our country, was one which I was unwilling to
concede."

In conjunction with the above, let any man consider
the import of the following extracts from Polk's mer'
sage

"The extraordinary and wholly inadmissible demand'
of the British Government afford satisfactory evident'
that no compromise which the United States ought to
accept can be effected."
" Oregon is part of the North American Continent, to
which it is confidently affirmed the title of the United
States is the best now in existence."

" That it will ultimately be wise and patriotic to make
liberal grants of hind to the patriotic pioneers, who,
amidst privations and danger, lead their way throne
savage tribes, and who cultivate and are ever ready to
defend the soil, lam fully satisfied. To doubt whether
they will obtain sush grants as soon as the convention
between the United States and Great Britain shall hell
ceased to Exist, would be to doubt the justice of COW
gress.".

" All attempts at compromise having failed, it be'
comes the duty of Congress to consider what measure
it may be proper to adopt for the security and protection
of our citizens now inhabiting, or who may hereafterf
inhabit Oregon, and for the maintenance of our intS
title to that territory."
"At the end of the year's notice, we shall hell
reached a period when the national rights in Oregon,
must either be abandoned or firmly maintained. TO'
they cannot be abandoned without a sacrifice of both,
national honour and interest is too clear to admit 0
doubt."
Add to the above quotations that large quantities 0f
saltpetre having lately been purchased in London CI
the United States, and that " large supplies of live os'
timber, and other materials for ship-building have bee
collected" by them.*
Then glance at the whole animus of Polk's Karns*
in which the "balance of power" is three times Witt
ingly referred to with this clencher, " Should any so 7
interference be attempted (on the Northern Continent
the United States will be ready to resist it all hazards.
The whole tenor of Polk's addresses go to prove Or,
he is a Democrat of the first water, honestly and fe,l"
vently attached to the genuine Republican principlif
which actuated his progenitors to claim and gain the,
independency, and entertaining a thorough contempt f'•
Monarchial Government.

* The Patrick Henry, which arrived at Liverpo
February 26, 1845, brought American papers up to tli
Bth of that month, which stated—" The House of RePre'
sentatives on the 3d passed the Bill providing for 11:1)
occupation of the Oregon territory, by a majority.
140 to 54. The general tone of the discussion bell,
;
exceedingly warlike. The Bill had been read twice
the Senate, and then referred to a special committee. '
contains clauses authorising the re-erection of fortifil
tions, and the abrogation of the convention conclud
on the subject with Great Britain." •
Manchester, Dec. 29. R. S. W.

CAPTURE OF A GHOST.
It is said that ghosts are not unfrequently
with a considerable share of puissant valour. A sill
lar act of bravery on the part of a disembodied sP
has just come under our observation, and at the ses'
of Christmas, as stories of ghosts and goblins are
order of the day, it may not prove altogether unacce:l3;
able. At any rate, it may dispel the idea with wit 4
wiseacres occasionally solace themselves, that ghosts
altogether harmless. A widow lady, who resides in
parish of St. Martin, has of late been visited by a gbjf
of rather a mischievous character. Inhabiting a 1011;1
dwelling, with no protection save that afforded by a %
vant girl little more than just entered into her teensy"
lady, with her two children, during the last four weej,
have had their nocturnal slumbers frequently disturb
by the euspades of an evil spirit. Precisely as
clock had struck what the Scotch poet has styled
" The wee short hour ayont the twat,'
and which, from its contrast with the previous twe,ll/4
distinct sounds upon the hammer, is said to inspire, 07‘
in the strongest minds, a feeling of mysterious all,$);(
hension, a loud knocking at the door was heard. v,,e/
was the feeling of awe inspired on the occasion 'Ol
strengthened by any extraneous circumstance; lOTA
the third evening of the occurrence of the mysterk4
knockings, the disturbed lady, having summoned ,1
sufficient courage to look out from the window, behei!hi
figure, apparently in white, making its escape frooird,
gateway. 'the occurrence made a rather powerful 'ht
pression on the lady's mind, for it was the first tira•s
had ever seen a denizen of the world of spirits. For
ere
successive nights the same sounds were repeated, e'.„t
night the strength of the knocking gradually increasi;
The ghost evidently thought that the depth of the 51110
hers of the inmates prevented them from hearing
efforts at obtaining an audience, for no notice white
was taken of its mysterious proceedings. It was net
sary, therefore, to alter his line of tactics, and the P",O
which the ghost now adopted was of a somewhat 00,
nature. Instead of now knocking at the door every nig„i
it at length began to throw stones at the windows, d
on one evening demolished no less than three pawl(
glass in the windows of the drawing-room. This, 110,1
ever, was not to be endured much longer, and efelio
t
the risk of coming in contact with an inhabitant of ty
lower world, it was at length determined to give bsso,
to the spirit. The lady having communicated the
cumstance to a gentleman who resides with his fad,.'
about a quarter of a mile distant, a watch on Thurs!,;o
evening last was set upon the premises. The gentlevo
referred to, armed with a good stout cudgel, took
station at the corner of the building, about ten Photl
from the spot from which the ghost was wont to d
its missiles, while at the opposite corner stood his wltii
servant, armed in a somewhat similar fashion to :d
master. Precisely at the usual hour the figure, ell,/
in white, was seen to enter at the gateway, and bolo
slowly made its way to within a few feet of the 1101,0
deliberately lifted a handful of pebbles and threw 14' 0
at the window. This feat performed, the ghost /Iv
about to depart, but the gentleman and his fellow-w°,°ol'
man, not having their spirits completely prostrated'
lied forth and intercepted its progress. The yell of Po,
ror which the spirit now uttered was awful in the
tretne, and throwing itself at the feet of the gentleoo
it besought in piteous tones his pardon. The white obi
in a moment was thrown from the back of the now :lit
bodied spirit, and a bona fide human woman acted
stood before them. A confession soon followed, elle
was discovered that the ghost had determined to frig
the poor lady to death, in consequence of havingfv:l4
recently discharged from her service for theft.-0
Times, Dec. 23.

..44
Lord Granville Somerset arrived in town rata,-
morning.

BIRTHS.
56111
On the sth of Nov., the lady of Major G. Chapmalb
Regiment, of Native Infantry, of a eon.
iiio
On the 27th ult., Mrs. Sampson Samuel, of North
ings, Finsbury-circus, of a son. d
On the 28th ult., at Tremadoc, Carnarvonshire, the low
William Henry Turner, jun., Esq., of a son. A et*
On the 28th ult., at Dover, the lady of James R. k
P-
Esq., of a daughter. if'
On the 29th ult., in Powis-place, the lady of Hee
Busk, Esc., of a daughter. l/1'
On the 29th ult., at Russell-place, Fitzroy-square M ,
Sterndale Bennett, of a son.
,cif
On the 29th ult at Heckfield-heath, -

Jo , le .. ult., - , Hants, the IsL
F. Pigott, Esq., of a COIL
On the 30th ult., hi Eaton-place, the wife of A. Je-
gre
Esq., of a son.
/ job°
()n the 30th ult., at Clapham-common, the lady of -
Humphery, Esq., M.P., of a son. /

11.4RRIED.
m
On the 4th inst., at Montreal, Eden Colvile, Esq.,
third daughter of Colonel Maxwell.
On the 30th ult., at Trinity Church, Marylebone, the $0:1,
John Tomkyns, Rector of Oreenford, to Isabella Fredtlye
eldest daughter of the late F. R. Coore, Esq., of Devoris
place.
On the 30th ult., at St. Margaret's, Westminster, the rt;
Charles Edward Kennaway, to Olivia, third daughter 0'
late Rev. Lewis Way, of Stansted park, Sussex.

DIED.
On the 22d of December, at Paris, Elizabeth La Bai",n

de Pre*, youngest daughter of the late Thomas Calvertt,, 71,
On Dec. 15, at Walmer, in Kent, Ann Churnside, agere
On Dec. 25, at Porchester. terrace, Bayswater, Char'o
widow of the late John Bury, Esq.
On Dec. 27, at Alton, Emma, wife of C. S. Crowley. 4,4
On Dec. 27, Mr. H. Hall, of Great Marlborough-stre'of."
On Dec. 27, Sarah Maria Hammerton, only daughter
H. Hammerton, Esq., of Brixton Villa, Brixton, Surretviof
On Dec. 27, Emily Augusta, infant daughter of 1.
Esq., of Cleveland Villa, St. John's-wood.
On Dec. 28, at Shacklewell, A. Cohen, Esq., aged 82. fit
On Dec. 29, at Stockwell-common, Thomas Streatfeild, k
On the 25th ult., at the Rectory, West Coker, Somme
the Rev. Thomas George Wilmer, aged 37.
On the 28th ult., at ICelston, James Peel Cockburn,
son of the Dean of York.
On the 29th ult., at Clapham, W. H. Holmes, Esq. ftY
On the 30th ult., in Russell-square, Margaret, wife
Rev. Dr. Shepherd, aged 75.

ge,
. ~..,....,.. _
London: Printed and Pulanaked. by MURDO YOU— 11:1
No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Run Office, 20._.„0,
Strand, in the Precinct of tie Savoy, in the COw'
Middlesex, Thursday, Amu,' 1, 1.46. 1

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