The Sun.
London, England, 1835-04-24 00:00:00

SOUTH DEVON ELECTION.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PLYMOUTH, WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL 22.—Lord
Viscount Ebrington, M.P., arrived here this evening from
Newton Abbott. His Lordship will attend a meeting of
Lord John Russell's Election Committee and friends to-
morrow at twelve o'clock, at the Mechanics' Insti-
tute, Princess-square, in this town (Plymouth), on which
occasion his Lordship will address the electors. Our bo-
rough members, Messrs. Collier and Bowes, will be present
on the occasion.

This day a large and respectable meeting of Lord John
Russell's friends and supporters was held at the market-
house at Newton Abbott. Lord Seymour, M.P., took the
chair. The meeting was addressed by Lord Ebrington and
several gentlemen, and resolutions adopted with a view to
secure Lord John Russell's return at the ensuing election
for South Devon.

Lord John Russell will be at Exeter on Friday evening
next, and is expected to visit Plymouth about Tuesday or
Wednesday next.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR—The expulsion of the political felons who broke
into Parliament and seized the Government has happily
been succeeded by the appointment of abler and honester
men. Sir Robert Peel, from being Premier, is now simply
Sir Robert—member for his own borough, bought by his
own father's money. Clever as he undoubtedly is, he will
now be blended in the common mass of incapable Tories.
He is then scarcely worth notice, and hence probably the
reason of your passing by, without any remark, the address
to him from our consistent and disinterested University.
Whom does, Oxford address ?—upon whom is praise be-
stowed with heaped hands? On Sir Robert—the self-same
Sir Robert whom it before repudiated—thrust out of the
University—and declared unworthy for the future to sit in
Parliament as its representative. Truly of much wortli
must the praise or censure of Oxford's University be hence-
forth held. I bring grave charges against the addressers.
I charge them with desecrating the venerable place in
which they lift up their venal voices by acts of flagrant in-
consistency, making manifest to all the world that their
only influencing principle is " pelf and self." 1 charge
them with violating the sanctuary of learning, and of
dressing out Alma Mater (so deservedly dear to all her
true sons) in the meretricious trappings of an odious ve-
nality that brings even her virtue into suspicion. I love
Oxford as the place of my intellectual birth, and the bitter
feeling with which I deplore its degradation induces me,
perhaps, to exaggerate its disgrace. But that the Uni-
versity, by its conduct on the Catholic question, and the
recent address, taken both together, has shewn itself selfish,
illiberal, grasping, and most glaringly inconsistent, no per-
son can deny. Ido not wish to expose " the shameful
parts" of the body clerical, but if, Sir, in character of
morunz conservator, you would read a lesson of decency to
the addressers, you would perhaps advance that public vir-
tue which The Sun has ever warmly cherished, and thus
certainly establish an additional claim to the high esteem
and consideration of your country. I fear Oxford stands
much in need of some such curative process. When we
find the lungs of learning breathing out hot and cold at
one and the same respiration, there is reason to conclude a
diseased state of the part which, from inattention, may pro-
bably extend to the whole body. The symptoms instanced
are symptoms of unsoundness. Whether Oxford be rotten
at the core, I pretend not to determine—but that there
exists a degree of corruption, which may eventually lead to
fatal consequences, appears to me undeniable.✓-" Aninzanz
luceo vendunt." I am, Sir.
A GRADUATE OF OXFORD.

NORWICH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR—The Reformers of Norwich anxious to testify their
approbation of the high-minded patriotism and judicious
conduct of Lord John Russell, have commenced a subscrip-
tion towards defraying his election expenses in South
Devon. It is hoped that the praiseworthy zeal of the
Manchester Reformers will stimulate the Liberals in all
parts of the empire to return free of expense those Members
of the House of Commons, who, having nobly fought the
battle of the people, have accepted office under Lord Mel-
bourne. To Lord John Russell, in particular, the nation
owes a debt of lasting gratitude, and whilst he may rejoice
in the testimony of his conscience, that he has well ',Ss-
charged the arduous duties of leader of the Opposition, his
satisfaction must be enhanced by numerous ardent testimo-
nies, that his services are appreciated, and his principles and
character admired by all the friends of civil and religious
liberty throughout the United Kingdom.
I am, Sir, your's,
April 23. A REFORMER.

MASTER-GENERAL OF ORDNANCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Six—ln the change of Ministry it is thought necessary
to change the Master-General of Ordnance, on account of
politics ; on looking over the list of old and efficient Gene-
rals fit to fill the situation, I can see nobody fitter than
General Grey ; perhaps being brother to the late Premier,
it is considered a delicate matter. I knew General Grey
when he was esteemed one of the best officers in the ser-
vice, (and a Cavalry General too,) and he gave much sa-
tisfaction when he commanded at the Cape of Good Hope.
He was not so fortunate as to be employed in the Peninsu-
lar war, but that may not have been his fault, and I have
heard that he is an excellent man of business, which is re-
quired for Ordnance. This is submitted for you to make
your remarks, from
A CONSTANT READER OF " THE SUN."
Plymouth, April 23, 1835.

THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL.—The merest
sketch of the history of the London Foundling Hospital, es-
tablished by the Royal charter,-in the year 1739, shows very
remarkably that charitable error, like the acorn, is easily
planted, but before it has attained a century's growth, how
difficult it is to grub it up I What was established as a
Foundling Hospital, now no longer dares to call itself an
Hospital for Foundlings. Still it exists ; still its " fifty-four
Governors," its " six Vice Presidents," its " Treasurer," and
its " Secretary," like Dervishes in their dance pompously bow
to each other. Still 'the " Organist" plays his tunes ; still
the " Chaplain, Reader," and " Preachers" go through their
services ; still the " Clerk" mutters his amen ; still the
" Vergers" wear their gowns ; still the " Building Committee,"
the " Sub-Committee," and the " House Committee" gravely
perform their inexplicable functions ; still (vide the printed
report of the Hospital) " Miss Bellchambers, Miss Lloyd,
Mr. Goulden, Mr. Pyne, Mr. Atkins, &c.," form " the
choir" ; still they chaunt with glee and harmony, appropriate
melodies all set to the tune of " 42/. per annum" ; still the
" House Apothecary" mixes his drugs ; still the " Store-
keeper" arranges his checks. In this small creation, " the
medical officers, steward, matron, porter, watchman, master
of the boys, gardener, messenger, tailor, two cooks, laundresi,
housemaids, nurses of the wards, mistresses of the girls, and
gown maker" are still seen mathematically moving in their
respective orbits.— Quarterly Review, for April.

THE CHAPEL ROYAL.—It has at length been de-
termined that the organ at present in the Chapel Royal, St.
James's, shall be removed, and its place to be supplied by a
new one, to be erected by Mr. Hill, the ingenious projector
of the stupendous instrument now standing in the new Town
Hall, Birmingham. An absurd prejudice, arising from the
ignorance and incompetence which characterises the majority
of our organ professors, has hitherto prevented in this country
the general adoption of the German method in the construction
of these instruments. The Continental organ-builders usually
carry the manuals (or keys) no farther than C (the 8 feet pipe)
and the pedal organ (consisting of two octaves) is altogether
independent of the other parts of the instrument. The organ,
although of all musical instruments the most easy to play a
little upon, is yet the most difficult on which to excel. A child
may soon acquire the facility of accompanying a chaunt or an
anthem, but it requires great concentration of mind, a ready
flow of imagination, and an uncontrouled command over
mere mechanical difficulties, ere one can hope to attain the
character of an organ performer. It is to be hoped that no
one of the Lordlings or Knights who too often manage these
things may, in this case, be permitted to interfere with Mr.
Hill's arrangements. And so long as this country can boast of
such performers as the Wesleys and Adams, the introduction
of the German organ will prove an additional source of gratifi-
cation to amateurs, and a valuable assistant in extending the
taste for pure and scientific composition.
EXTENSIVE ROBBERY IN MANCHESTER.—On
Tuesday night the premises of Messrs. Smith, Hill, and Co.,
Old Millgate, Manchester, were broken into and robbed of
property which was locked up in an iron safe in the counting-
house. There were 500 sovereigns, and 101. and 5/. Bank of
England and Manchester notes, amounting in the whole to
about 1,5001. A reward of 2001. has been offered to any per-
son who may give such information as may lead to the convic•
tion of the offenders and recovery of the property, or in pro-
portion to the sum recovered. It is suspected that the robbery
was committed by what are called " family men." They en-
tered, it is believed, with false keys.
TRADING STOCK OF FORMER TIMES.--In 1296
and 1301, a carpenter's stock was valued at a shilling, and
consisted of five tools. Other tradesmen were almost as
poor. A tanner's stock was worth 9/. 17s. 10d.—more than
ten times any other. Tanners were principally tradesmen of
the first description, the chief part of the dress at that time
being made of leather. A very few 'silver cups and spoons
were the only articles of plate in use, and those were confined
to the higher classes, the mechanics and tradespeople using
wood and horn.