The Sun.
London, England, 1834-01-21 00:00:00

SHEFFIELD CUTLERY.

When a man contributes to increase the attraction and
the reputation of the manufactures of the town in which
he lives, he not only serves himself, but others, and he
deserves the civic wreath as a reward for his exertions.
Many attempts have been made to bring the cutlery ma-
nufacture of Sheffield into disrepute, and exalt the cutlery
of London to an undue elevation. With few, very few
exceptions, London cutlers know as little of the "art and
mystery" of making cutlery as the boy who sweeps their
floors and dusts their counters ; and yet they, too, join the
cry against the manufacturers of Sheffield, even although
they are indebted to them for all the reputation they have.
Compare their best articles with the productions of Shef-
field, and they sink into nothingness. Let them be honest
in their dealings ; let them cease to treat Sheffield cutlery
with an affectation of contempt, and these observations
will not be reiterated ; but if, like the frog in the fable,
they still try to puff themselves up to the size. of the ox,
their vanity must be checked, their pretensions exposed,
and the whole truth told at last.

The preceding observations have been suggested by a
visit to the show rooms of Messrs. Rodgers and Son, and
an examination of some of the finest specimens of work-
manship which they contain, and presuming that the fol-
lowing notice of the same, and the observations connected
therewith, come within toe scope and plan of your paper,
designated the Town, I send them for insertion without
preface or apology. Learning that the Messrs. Rodgers'
had been fitting up their room for the display of cutlery
in a superior style, I was induced to pay them a visit;
and permit me to say, that I have but seldom been
more gratified. In this spirited and splendid esta-
blishment, I saw numerous specimens of cutlery in all its
departments, of the most exquisite workmsnsbip, and the
highest possible finish. These fine productions are here so
brought together, as to impress on the mind of the stranger
a high and exalted notion of the present state of the diffe-
rent cutlery manufactures of the town. The advan-
tages resulting from such an impression, cannot be too
highly appreciated ; of this more hereafter. The improve-
ments in the room have been dictated by good taste, and
a thorough knowledge of effect. At each end of this
splendid repository, stove_grates of an entirely new con.
struction have been introduced. The angular upright
pilasters and corresponding imposts of modern chimney-
pieces have here been entirely exploded, and a perfectly
novel form introduced. The design is in the gorgeous
style of 'the age of Louis the Fourteenth—an irregular
bold flowing outline, filled up with a rich display of beau-
tiful ornament, as the fertile fancy and taste of the artist
may suggest—such is the peculiar character of the sportive
frame-work of French artists at this period of time. To
looking-glasses- and pictures this taste has often been
applied ; but it has been reserved for the Messrs.
Rodgers to show its adaptation to other purposes.
Their new stove_grates, from the manufactory of
Messrs. Stuart, Smith, and Co., in boldness of orna-
ment and beauty of casting, have but rarely if ever been
equalled ; and the white•veined Italian marble, of varied
outline and corresponding design, in which they are em-
bedded, gives to these novel productions a splendid
character. They are placed at the two ends of the room,
and are each ornamented with plate glass mirrors, nearly
eight feet square, which reflecting the whole of this rich
establishment at a glance, the effect is for a moment
almost magical, particularly when seen by gaslight; then,
indeed, imagination may easily body forth the story of
Aladin and his splendid lamp.
An establishment of this description in a manufacturing
town is fraught with numerous advantages. The choicest
specimens which the united skill and taste of the best
workmen can produce are brought together, and may be
seen by strangers in an apartment as splendid as the halls
of some of our nobility. The excellence of the various
manufactures of the place
_is thus observed, and their
character exalted. A.

LADY HEWLEY'S CHARITY.—The new
trustees to Lady Hewley's Charity are already appointed;
they are all Independents, with the exception of one
Baptist.—York Paper.

MORE LIBELS.—The Patriot people boast
that they have never found the libel law oppressive. We
understand that they will speedily taste some of its
sweets; as on Saturday last writs were served upon Wm.
Hodgson, Esq., Houghton-House, Clerk of the Peace for
this county ; John Fawcett, Esq., of Petteril Bank, barns_
ter at law, the registered proprietors of the Carlisle Pa-
triot, and Mr. Thomas Ramsay, its ostensible printer and
publisher, to answer an action for libel commenced against
them by Messrs. Mouncey, solicitors, of this city. The
alleged libel was contained in certain remarks on the con.
duct of the plaintiffs, in their professional capacity,• in
conducting the Crosby tithe suit. An action has also
been commenced against the Cumberland Parquet, by
Mr. Wilson Perry, of Whitehaven, for certain remarks
upon his professional conduct connected with the
application which he made to the Court of King's
Bench for setting aside the last election of trustees
of the harbour. Both actions are likely to be tried
at the ensuing Spring Assizes. We state these facts
merely as matters of news, and shall not follow the
exarrple which these papers set when we were placed in
similar, but more dangerous circumstances, by offering
any comments or observations that might have the effect
of prejudicing the Jury : nor shall we, as they did in our
case, even assume that they have been guilty of libel at all,
until proved so by due course of law. We may, however,
remark, as it was not before generally known, that the
Clerk of the Peace and Mr. Fawcett were the responsible
and sworn proprietors of the Patriot, that the public may
now form a pretty accurate estimate of the " why and
because" of the county being called upon to pay for five or
six insertions of county advertisements in the Patriot, and
for only one in the Journal (though the circulation of
the latter be more than double that of the former), nor
will they be at a loss to conceive the true reason sshich
induced the learned barrister to bring the celebrated action
against us for damages, which the honest men of Bow-
ness correctly estimated at one farthing, when they call to
mind the old adage " that two of a trade can never agree."
Carlisle Journal.

RAPE.—On Saturday evening last, about
five o'clock, as a young man was travelling in his cart,
and when near the third mile post from Cockertnouth, on
the road to Wigton, he was suddenly alarmed by the most
fearful shrieks of a female, and invocations for mercy.
While he,itating how he could best render assistance in
this emergency, he was suddenly accosted by a pedlar who
came running up to him, and hastily informed him that
a woman was struggling with a villain close by the spot,
of whose intentions to commit violence upon her there
could be no doubt. The two men then hastened to the
pl,ce, but the scoundrel had meanwhile taken alarm at
their approach, and escaped for a short time. The
monster had left the object of his attack in a state which
cannot be described. On being partially restored to her
senses she informed her protectors that the brutal sen-
sualist had repeatedly stifled her cries by various means,
and that at length her strength was so nearly exhausted
that he must have accomplished his fiendish purpose, had
it not been for the fortunate interposition of her deli-
verers, with whom she proceeded to Cockermouth, on the
road to her father's home, who resides in the vicinity of
Lorton. During Sunday vigilant inquiries were made as
to all the circumstances likely to lead to the identity of
the ruflian,'tind. the consequence was, that on Monday a
farmer named Thomas Robinson, who resides in the neigh-
bourhood of Rothe!, and who is a young man with a wife
and three children, was apprehended on suspicion. He
was known to be in a state of extreme intoxication on
Saturday night. The result of the examination was,
that be has been committed to take his trial at the next
assizes for the assault with intent to commit a rape.—
Carlisle Journal.