The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-04 00:00:00

(COPY•)

-Penrith, Jan. 23, 1851.
Sir,—We bad a meeting of shareholders in the
town last night, when the following resolution was
passed unanimously by those present
" Resolved,—That the thanks:of this meeting be given
to the directors of the company for their persevering
efforts to carry out the projects of the company, and to
Sir H. V. Huntley, in particular, for his labour and
efforts to serve the interests of the company; and that
they express • their entire confidence in the manager and
directors, and in the ultimate success of
,the under-
taking."

Signed on behalf of the shareholders,
JONATHAN FALDER, Agent for Penrith.
Mr. Williams.

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Tita OLDEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD.—We have
recently (says the Gateshead Observer) received a lock of
lady's hair. Gentle reader, do not smile too soon. Formerly
it was raven black ; it is now snow white—bleached by one
hundred and nineteen winters. Mary Benton, from whom
tresses it was shorn, was born at Keverston, near Raby
Castle, in the county of Durham, on the 12th of February,
1731 ; and on the 3d of December, 1849, she sent her old
friend, Mr. John llinchliffe, the respected parish clerk of
Cockfield, where she was christened, a lock or her lily hair,
in tender acknowledgment of her continued remembrance
and regard. Mr. Hinchlifie, on presenting a portion of the
keepsake to a friend, raised himself up to his full height and
said "She is as fresh as I am—(his own age is 72) -walks
right up an end—feeds her hens and chickens—wears no
spectacles - can hear well—and was helping at haymaking
at Elton in 1848." He might have added, ‘,‘ and gleaning
in the autumn of the following year ' What fol-
lows we derive from the information of a lady who
lately visited Mary Benton, and found her engaged
in washing her own clothes. Her father's name
was Ralph Lodge, who lived to the venerable age of 105,
and her mother died an "old woman." Mary began life as
a shepherdess, " tending her father's flock." She afterwards
became " the maid of the inn" kept by her grandmother at
Picrsbridge, where she well remembers soldiers being quar-
tered in the rebellion of '45. She afterwards lived in service
at various places; among the rest, Raby Castle, to which
the noble owner, the Duke of Cleveland, invited her—an
honour she prudently declined. The Duke of Northumber-
land has also been to see her. When young she had "lovers
plenty," and " took the worst at last !" " as," said she !'f° our
informant, " sometimes happens." On beingasked if
the
enjoyed unvarying health, she replied,
doctor but once, and I was so frighten
Amusing enough, to
away when he came into the room."
Anbels giving way
hear of the nerves that had stood
the re
year Mr. Bewick
before the doctor!! In the course of last .
_.
venerable matriarch—if we
be included in the ap-
proaching a striking likeness of the
ei
t
her e r"g. swooned
use such a word—who at
hie to
son at Elton. Should seholi%
b eldest person in that record, if she be
entered as 120 years of age, she
d, the oldest woman in the world.
not, as we have suppose
five of their folio columns of particulars
,vill doubtless census,
b e theaid
[ADVEBTISEMENT.J—The Observer of Sunday,
G eat E Yb't: h v.
d with the r x i I ion, "rouga down tcs Sa-
connecte• ht, The Observer of
t urday nig Sunday, Jan. 26, gave four
of interesting •
olio columns
Feb. 2
incidents of the Exhibition,
fchiefly original facts, collected and written by the Obser,-er
reporters. The extensive publication of the Observer con.s-
mences at four o'clock on Sunday mornings. Sunday, Febm.
, gave nearly
9. a gratuitous supplement to the Observer. Price of the Observer, Sixpence.
DEATH OF SIR FRANCIS LLIVLET, BART.—We re-
gret to record the demise of the above highly respected Ba-
ronet, who died on Thursday last at his seat in Warwick-
shire. 11 ...is death was most unexpected, as he was out shoot-
ing, and apparently in the vigour of health on Tuesday last.
Sir Francis was second son of Sir Robert Lawley (the fifth
baronet) by his marriage with Jane, only child of the late
Mr. Beilby Thompson, and consequently brother of Lord
'Wenlock and the Dowager Lady Middleton. Ile was born
in 1782, and married 18th May, 1815, Mary Anne, !saseuse'
daughter of Mr. George Talbot, but does not leave 3°Y
ucceleded
by that lady, who new survives him. In 18S4 he succeeded
Lord
to the baronetcy on the death of his elder brother,friend
of
Wenlock. The late Baronet was a great
personalgreat admirer
the late Sir Robert Peel, of whom he was
of that and a staunch supporter, and in consequence to assist at the
friend-
ship was among the chosen few
permittedstatesman's career. Sir
last solemn rites of that illustrim.ins
the House of Cemmona
Francis rep...ese:nted Warwickshire
cot in
any active share in
.
in four Pay.liaments, but has
election in 1815. As a. landlord
politics S•ince the general
he was highly revered by .
tenantry on his estates in
his
The
his and Shropshire.
his hrot her, Lord IVenlock, who will also inherit, his large
landed Liroperty.
FletAL ACCIDENT.—On Sunday afternoon, as some
boys., who had clandestinely obtained possession of a water-
man'S boat, were rowing near Bugsby's Hole, the boat got
foul of a tier of shipping, the tide running strong at the time.
Being, unskilful and afraid they rose from their seats in great
alarm, and capsized the boat. Their cries brought: a number
of pe:rsons to their assistance, and three were save 4., but two
were unfortunately drowned.