The Sun.
London, England, 1834-08-30 00:00:00

DOVER, AUG. 28.

( From the Correspondent of a Morning Contemporary.)
THE LOSS OF THE CAMELEON.

I understand that two of the Government lighters are hourly
expected from Woolwich, for the purpose of raising the wreck
of the unfortunate Cameleon cutter, which will be then
brought into the harbour, and the bodies taken out in order
that an inquest may be held upon them, and doubtless a very
strict investigation will be instituted, by direction of the Ad-
miralty, into all the circumstances of the melancholy catastro-
phe. It has further transpired that the crew of the Cameleon
had boarded yesterday morning a smack belonging to Roches-
ter, and the boat's crew which had been so employed were en-
gaged in reefing the main-sail, their backs being turned to the
Castor, who did not perceive that the Cameleon was lying to,
until too late to prevent the mischief. The Cameleon is sunk
in about 14 fathoms water. Several small vessels are cruising
near the scene of the calamity, and it is apprehended that no
difficulty will be experienced in raising her, and it is stated
that she may be even again rendered sea-worthy.
Gibson, one of the survivors on board the Cameleon, had a
very narrow escape ; he was in his hammock, when he per-
ceived his danger, and leaped upon deck, whence he caught
the chains of the frigate, and was taken on board, divested of
any clothing. The two lads saved their lives by swimming ;
one of them sunk in the cutter, but rose, and as he was an ex-
pert swimmer, he kept afloat until he was picked up by the
boats of the frigate ; the mate of the Cameleon was killed by
the boom of the cutter falling on him as he was springing for-
ward to endeavour to catch the ropes of the frigate. The sur-
vivors have been examined by the Mayor (Mr. Pilchorp), but
very little information, I understand, could be gathered from
them touching the disaster ; they were so panic struck at the
moment that they cannot distinctly relate the circumstances.
Another account says that the Cameleon which was a very
large revenue-cutter, was lying-to about half a mile from the
shore, off Dover, when the Castor ran her down, with 29
men below, every one of whom were drowned. Perhaps a
more extraordinary accident never occurred. It was broad
day-light. The frigate must have had the cutter in full sight
for seven miles, and she bore straight upon her, under her top
gallant sails, going with a spanking northerly breeze, from
twelve to fourteen knots an hour, took the cutter full midships,
and drove her to the bottom in an instant, with scarcely a
shock to herself. Three hands on the deck of the cutter
leaped overboard, and were saved. An express was sent off
to the Admiral in the Downs, who came to Dover post, and
took the commander of the frigate into custody, where he
must remain till a courtmartial is held. Most of the men in
the cutter were asleep in their berths, having just come off
night duty.
A Folkestone boat, with four young men of that place, was
upset, returning from the regatta, and three of the four unfor-
tunately perished.
Ramsgate is filled with visiters ; the steam vessels from Lo-
ndon bring down 150 daily.
The Duke of Wellington has rode over to the citadel seve-
ral times since his arrival at 'Weimer. His Grace, as Lord
Warden, will shortly hold a Harbour Sessions here.

MANCHESTER--AUG. 29.

(From a Correspondent.)
POPULARITy OF CHURCH RATES!

At a meeting of the citizens of Middleton (a populous town-
ship, within six miles of Manchester), held this week, a Church
Rate of three-pence in the pound was made by Mr. Theophilus
Smith, steward to Lord Suffield, who stated that about one-
third of the rate would be wanted for paying off part of a debt
incurred in building a wall to the church-yard ; whereupon a
weaver, named Ward, who can probably earn eight shillings a
week clear, proposed, in a sudden fit of generosity, that the
rate be a shilling in the pound, which would enable the church-
wardens to pay the whole debt at once 1 This liberal propo-
sition was duly seconded, but the. three-penny rate was adopted
by the meeting.

CHURCH RATES IN MANCHESTER.
Manchester is at this moment the scene of almost as much
bustle and excitement, as if we were again in the midst of a
contested election. The cause of this is a renewed struggle
on the question of Church Rates, a meeting for the imposition
of which was held in the Collegiate Church on Wednesday
last. Offensive and unjust as this rate is in the abstract, the
objections to it in regard to Manchester are increased many
fold. The parish of Manchester is very extensive, including
no less than thirty townships, and about 240,000 inhabitants ;
and although the parish contains perhaps thirty churches, the
church-rate is limited in its distribution to five churches—the
four parliamentary churches, and the collegiate or parish church,
which has a princely income. Thus, therefore, the hostility
to the rate is great and well-founded, on other grounds besides
the abstract principle. • At the meeting before alluded to, a
rate of one half-penny in the pound was proposed by Mr. J. C.
Harter, and seconded by Mr. G. Faulkner. An amendment,
that the meeting be adjourned to that day six months, was
moved by Mr. G. Hadfield, (an eminent Solicitor, and leading
Dissenter here, and a leading supporter of Mr. Poulett
Thomson) and seconded by Mr. T. Potter, (brother to the
Honourable Member for Wigan). A stormy discussion ensued ;
but the amendment was carried by a majority of at least fifty
to one, in a meeting of more than two thousand persons. A
poll was then demanded, under Sturges Bourne's act, which
was forthwith commenced at the Town-hall, and will continue
until next Wednesday. At the close of last night the number
of votes stood thus :—For the church-rate 1322; for the
amendment 843—Majority for the church-rate 479.

ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET.
This market, which is held on Mondays, was well attended
on last market-day, and all descriptions of flannels maintain
previous prices. As the winter approaches, a further improve-
ment may reasonably be expected. In the wool market there
was also a steadiness in price indicative of speedy improvement.

STATE OF TRADE.
It is long since trade generally has been in so satisfactory a
state as at present. All the factories in this neighbourhood
are in-full work, and the earnings of the spinners are very
large, when compared with the low price of the necessaries of
life. Of the weavers so favourable a report cannot be given,
indeed they appear to be a class of work-people in whose cir-

cumstanccs it *ere hopeless to expect much improvement, and
their patience is most exemplary. Commerce has not been so
brisk for the last few weeks, probably owing in some measure,
to the approaching termination of the shipping season ; and
also to the belief that the Bank of England is contracting its
issues ; but it is in a sound and healthy state.