The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-28 00:00:00

ROYAL 110.R7ICULTU.R IL SOCIETY.

At a meeting of the council specially summoned
yesterday, the following m )st gracious and affect-
ing communication, addressed to Mr. C. Wentworth
Dilke, one of the vice-presidents, was received :
(Copy of letter from Sir C. B. Phipps to Mr. Dilke.)

" Osborne, Dec. 24, 1861.

" My dear Dilke,—The Queen has directed me to inform
you that it is her Majesty's wish that the Horticultural
Gardens should be considered as under her peculiar and
personal patronage and protection.

" The only consolation that her Majesty can hope to find
for the rest of her life, under her biter and hopeless
bereavement, is to endeavour to carry out the wishes and
intentions of her beloved husband.

" The Queen well knows the aeep interest that he took
in this undertaking, and would wish to have periodical re-
ports sent to her Majesty of the progress and proceedings of
the society,—Sincerely yours,

" C. B. PHIPPS."

The public will be interested to learn that the
famous astrologer, Zadkiel, the Nostradamus of
his day, is about to issue from the press a new
sixpenny Quaterly, entitled, " The Voice of the
Stars." The initial number is announced to appear
upon New Year's Day.
THE HEALTH OF LORD BROUGHAM.—SeveraI of
the French journals have published a paragraph stating
that " Lord Brougham, at the unexpected intelligence of
Prince Albert's death, was so dreadfully affected that he
fainted, and that it was necessary to carry his lordship im-
mediately from the garden into the house, where an attack
of fever supervened, but which gave way afterwards to pro.
per medical treatment," This statement, a letter from
Cannes informs us, has caused the greatest surprise to all
the persons admitted to his lordship's intimacy, as not
only has Lord Brougham never fainted in his life, but in
the present case was in a measure prepared for the sad in-
telligence by letters previously received. His lordship also
has net been attacked by fever or any other ailment, but
continues in excellent health, The whole account is a mere
fiction in every respect, without a shadow of foundation.—
Galignani.

His Majesty the King of the Belgians, attended
by Count de Moerkerke and Dr. Koepl, arrived at Osborne
yesterday.

Yesterday an order was received at Liverpool
from the Admiralty to detain till Monday the Pacific Com-
pany's new steamer Peru, announced to sail to day for Val-
paraiso. The Peru will carry out reinforcements and stores
for the Pacilic squadron.
THE VALUE OF TOBACCO IMPORTED.—From a
return to Parliament issued yesterday, it appears that in the
month ended the 30th ult. the value of tobacco imported
was £247,737 ; and in the 11 months as much as £1,298,596.
Upwards of eight millions, including the duty, are annually
spent in tobacco.

THE MAILS, &C.—SOUTHAMPTON, Dec. 27.
Two of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamers
were despatched hence to-day, the Delta, Capt. J. S. Field,
taking the Mediterranean and Bombay mails, and the
Tagus, Capt. W. B. Hall, having the mails for Vigo,
Oporto, and Liston. The Tagus has 37 passengers, of
whom 4 are first class, 22. second, and 11 deck. On freight
the Delta takes 945 boxes of specie, &c., value £245,198,
for Bombay, viz.,—bar silver, £251,050; dollars, £495;
sovereigns, £2,500; and gold leaf, watches, &c., £153. The
number of passengers by the Delta is 26 first class and 10
second, among whem are Major Hibbert, for Gibraltar;
Commander Adams, for Aden; Lieutenant and Mrs. C. J.
Chambers, Commander Foulerton, Capt. and Mrs. Curtis,
Capt. Selby, and Staff Assistant-Surgeon Dolan, for Bom-
bay. Among the passengers (16in all) by the corresponding
Marseilles steamer are Capt. E. R. Bradford, Lieut. J. E.
Mackintosh, Lieut. G. W. Bradford, Capt. J. M. Heath,
Major J. H. B. Dennis, and Lieut. Sedley, for Bombay.
Lieut. F. W. Rutherford, for Bombay, joins at Alexandria..
The Saxonia, Capt. Ehlers, leaves for New York on Wed-
nesday next with mails and passer gers ; the Atrato, Capt.
Woolley, on Thursday, with the West India, Pacific, and
Mexican mails ; the Pera, Capt. Jamieson, on Saturday,
with the Calcutta and China mails; and the Dane, Capt.
Hoffman, on the sth inst., for Ascension, St. Helena, and
the Cape of Good Hope. The Shannon, Capt. Abbott, is
due here on Sunday, but expected to arrive hourly, with
the West India, Mexican, and Pacific mails; the Alham-
bra, Capt. Steward, on Tuesday, with mails from Lisbon,
Oporto, and Vigo; the Norman, Capt. Boxer, on Wednes-
day, with the Cape of Good Hope mails; the Hansa, Capt.
Von Santem, on Thursday, with mails from New York of
the 21st inst. ; the Ceylon, Capt. Evans, on Saturday, but
expected a day or two earlier, with the East India and
China mails; and the Oneida, Captain Bevis, on Sunday,
the sth of January, With the River Plate and Brazil mails.

r , ._ ,~

REAR-ADMIRAL MUNDY, C.B.—lt is stated that
the country is about to lose the services of Rear-Admiral
Rodney Mundy, C.B. This distinguished naval officer,
who has lately returned from the Mediterranean, is in so
precarious a state of health that he has felt it incumbent on
him to intimate to the Admiralty his intention to resign his
command.

STEAM SHIPBUILDING ON THE CLYDE.—Messrs.
J. and G. Thomson, of Govan, have launched a fine screw
named the Cortes, intended to run between Cadiz and
Havannah, being the first of a fleet of steamers destined
for that line by the Spanish Steam Navigation Company of
Cadiz. The Cortes is 2,200 tons burden, and 500 horse
power ; she has a lifting screw propeller, and all recent
improvements, and will be fitted for the accommodation of
170 first-class and 70 second• class passengers. Messrs.
Charles Connel and Co. have launched, at Overnewton, a
screw of 600 tons, built for Messrs. Handysides and Hen-
derson, and intended for the Mediterranean trade. The
vessel has been named the Livorno, and is now being en-
gined by Messrs. A. and J. Inglis, Whitehall Foundry.
Messrs. Connel and Co. have now on the stocks a fine iron
ship of 1,000 tons, building for Messrs. G. Smith and Sons
and intended for the Calcutta trade.

ACCIDENT AT A RAILWAY STATION.—A shocking
fatal accident occurred on Thursday afternoon at the New-
cross station of the London and Brighton Railway Com-
pany. It appears that about 200 persons were waiting for
the down train to the Crystal Palace. Among them were
two sons of Mr. Samuel Ambrose Davies, a gentleman re-
siding at 4, South• street-terrace, Rye-lane, Peckham, aged
respectively 13 and 22. So soon as the train came into the
station a rush was made by the persons assembled to get
into the carriages, when the deceased fell between the
platform and the line of rails, the wheels of the still moving
train passing completely over his body and mutilating him
in a shocking manner. His brother, seeing him fall, en-
deavoured to rescue him, and in doing so sustained severe
injury to one of his feet, two of the toes of which were
severed by the wheels of a carriage passing over them
When extricated the deceased presented a frightful spec-
tacle, and expired almost immediately after being taken
into a waiting-room at the station.

THE CLYDE.—Of the Clyde it is impossible to
speak in other language than that of admiration. It is but
the fourth river in Scotland in volume of fresh water, and
the third in length; inferior to the Forth or Tay in High.
land scenery, and to the Tweed in pastoral beauty ; but it
is superior to all of them in utility, in artificial improvement,
in manufactures, in commerce, and in the triumphs of me-
chanical genius. The improvements on this river have,
we must say, been conducted on a scale of unusual magni-
ficence. About a century ago its depth at the point where
the Kelvin discharges into its channel was only 18 inches
at low water, and 44 inches at high water. Its course, far
below Dumbarton, abounded in shallow lagoons, inter-
spersed with low islets and marshy ground. By judicious
engineering operations, spread over a series of years, ac-
companied with an enormous expenditure of capital, it is
now as navigable as the Thames. In fact, by dint of dredg-
ing, cutting, excavating, and embanking, to the tune of
about a million and a half sterling, the navigable depth of
the river has been increased, within the last 50 or 60 years,
from 3 ft to 20ft, and the revenue from £3,000 to £90,000
per annum. The Broomielaw harbour is at this moment
nothing less than half a mile of excellent docks—we need
not say how much crowded ; and the contrast is indeed
great between the small fishing sloops and Virginia traders
which once unloaded their treasures on the same spot and
the gigantic iron steamer and the merchantman of 2,000
tons, which now constitute the honour and glory of the
Clyde.
THE USE OF POISONED GRAIN BY FARMERS.—
The practice of scattering abroad poisoned grain for the de.
struction of rooks and small birds has very much increased
of late. The very dangerous consequences attendant on this
practice is shown by a letter which a magistrate has written
to the Field:—" In the course of the sowing time last year
my keepers told me that they picked up no less than 17
pheasants in one field. I have a large manorial dovecote,
containing at times from 200 to 300 pigeons, which were
accustomed to fly in flights of 40 or 50. I was surprised to
miss every bird in its flight about three weeks since, and
sent my servant to the dovecote, where he picked up 79
dead birds, and 10 more in a dying state. The birds were
buried, but I had two dug up and sent to my medical man
to analyze. On examination there was not a particle of
food in their crops, which led to the conclusion that the
poison was arsenic, as it is a great promot r of digestion. I
am informed that chemists sell a mixture, of which arsenic
is the foundation, and that farmers sow it broadcast over the
land. On consultation with medical men very eminent in
my neighbourhood they were of opinion that if a labourer
were to pick up a bird and take it to his family for dinner
(a not unlikely thing), it would be highly dangerous to
human life. If any man is brought before me, in case a
fatal result occurring, I will undoubtedly commit him for
trial."
A DUEL AT PARIS.--A duel between M. Stevens,
a Belgian painter, and the well-known Parisian artist, M.
Gerome, haq caused some excitement in the artistical world.
It may be recollected that a few years ago M. Gerome, ex-
hibited a painting of considerable merit, entitled the "Due
of Pierrst," and by a singular coincidence M. Gerome has
been wounded under circumstances very similar to those
which he illustrated in the above painting, for although not
exactly on leaving a masked ball, it was after a dinner party
he had been giving to some friends that the quarrel occurred
which led to a duel. The antagonists were placed 30 paces
apart, and M. Stevens, being the insulted party, fired first.
His ball entered M. Gerome's right arm under the wrist,
grazed the bone without injuring it, came out again just
below the elbow, then penetrated into the biceps above the
elbow-joint, and came out on the opposite side. M. Gerome
is now doing well.
INSURANCE FACTS AND THE CLOSING YEAR.—
The insurance statistics of the year reveal some very inte-
resting and instructive insurance facts. During 1861, 13
companies have ceased to exist, 10 have transferred their
business, five new ones have been founded, and 19 pro-

Ijected. Forty-nine are now in Chancery under a winding-
up process, seven of these having obtained admission into
this select list since our last annual stock-taking. Six
companies have changed their place of business, and one
branch office has been opened. Four secretaries, two actu-
aries and fivemanagers have been appointed to fill up vacancies
caused by resignation and otherwise. The chairmen of two
insurance companies have been elected M.P.'s by two very
large and influential constituencies. Four directors, two
managers, and one medical officer have died during the
year. One manager, one actuary, and one secretary, being
incapacitated by old age or aniction, have retired into pH-
vete life. Since the year 1844, 599 companies have been
projected, 267 founded, 246 have ceased to exist, 52 have
opened branch offices, 187 have changed their places of
business ; eleven amalgamations have been effected ; 144
offices have transferred their businesses to other institutions,
and 49 have been, or are being, wound up in Chancery.
Ninety •th ree Insurance companies have discontinued their
fire business, or in cases where they were only fire offices
they have been dissolved.—The News.
MR. G. F. TRAIN ON THE TRENT AFFAIR.—The
_London American gives an account of a discussion at the
" Forum" on the Trent affair, on Monday night last. Mr.
G. F. Train, the tramway contractor, was present, and
spoke in a tone strangely at variance with his silly and
bombastic letter to the New York _Herald. He now admi
that his countrymen have committed a wrong to England,
and advises them to give up the prisoners. He said:—
"At first patriotism overshadowed judgment, rind I said
give up the men only at the point of the cannon. I now
say, in any case, give up the men. (Cheers.) On com-
peting notes all the analogies have fallen to the ground.
Everett and Sumner have been handsomely floored in the
Laurens case, and Bonaparte, M'Manus, and the Caroline
seizures are not analogous to the Trent. (Hear, hear.)
The water runs through them all. Lord Stowell, Wheaton,
Phillimore, Kent, Person, Pratt, Vette], Puffendorf, and
even old Grotius decline to give their assistance. It seems
the Mason and Slidell capture is entirely original with
Wilkes. International law has not provided for it. My
opinion began to waver some days since, and when the
author of the Maritime Law of Nations' gave Lord
Palmerston his special decision, I was convinced that the
Americans had not got a leg to stand upon. (Cheers.)
America, in 1812, made war on account of the very act
which Wilkes has committed. The flag covers every-
thing. (Applause.) M. Hautfeuille is clear in his analysis.
Between neutral nations there can be no war—hence no
belligerents—no right of search—nothing contraband.
(Applause.) Denmark and Spain are at pease—Havana
belongs to the one—St. Thomas the other. The Trent,
belonging to another neutral, is steaming away peacefully,
when the San Jacinto, owned by still another neutral,
commits the offence that has aroused the lion into a war
frenzy I and no wonder, (Hear, and applause,) America
would have been wild under the insult, So would France.
The incoming mail will bring a clever argument
from our premier—perhaps se clever as to evade the
question—but I cannot see where he will find his point,
While there is no analogy for Wilkes, England can point
to a else that justifies the Cabinet of Washington in giving
up the men. Lord Mulgrave, of the British ship Ardent,
captured the Dutch ship Hendrica and Alida, bound from
Holland to St. Eustatia, with arms and munition, and five
military passengers, and carried them to the Prize Court,
at Portsmouth. Sir George Hay decided that, inasmuch as
she was bound from one neutral port to another, there could
be nothing contraband of war. Hence the ship was libe-
rated—and the five officers, with commissions in their
pocket from the rebel commissioner Benjamin Franklin, at
Paris, to join the rebel army against England were dis-
charged. What better precedent does Mr, Seward require
for action on the Mason-Slidell affair ? (Hear,) I again
say, give up the men I I hors that Seward will do it
graciously, that ho will scud them over in a war skip—
(cheers)—that he will meet with a manly spirit the haughty
demand of this proud nation, (Hear.) Nay, more, I hope
that the Cabinet of Washington will not only give up the
men, but will send a despatch to Halifax offering a free
pass through Portland to the bold winter army—at the ex-
pense of the American people—on their way to Canada,"

_EARL BUSsELL'-s' DESPATCH TO
LORD LI-O.AS.

At a meeting of British residents at Hamburg,
on Monday last, to pass au address of condolence
to the Queen, and one to the Princess of Prussia,
Mr. Ward, the British Consul-General and Chargé
d'Affaires, took the opportunity to make some ex-
planations respecting the American difficulty. He
said (according to a report in the Hamburger Nach-
richten) that the British Government had informed
the American Minister in London that they could
not look upon the burning of the Harvey Birch by
the Nashville as an act of piracy, and that as a
neutral Power they could not refuse to allow the
Nashville to enter and remain in an English har-
bour, but that they would strictly maintain the
law which forbade the fitting out of a ship of war
belonging to the Confederates or the shipping of
English sailors. Referring to the Trent affair,
Mr. Ward announced the contents of the despatch
addressed by Earl Russell to Lord Lyons, and stated
that it was couched in a very moderate tone. It
first described the forcible removal of Messrs. Mason
and Slidell, with their secretaries, as Commander
Williams had reported the occurrence to the Ad-
miralty. It contained nothing of the known opi-
nions of the Crown jurists, but described the re-
moval of the commissioners simply and decidedly
as a breach of international law, and as an affront
to the British flag; and, in conclusion, stated that
the English Government did not for a moment
doubt the harmony and the friendly relations
existing with America, nor that the commander
of the San Jacinto had made seizure without having
received instructions from his Government, and
were confident that the Washington Cabinet would
not hesitate to do all they could under the circum-
stances—that was to say, to surrender immediately
the four commissioners, and to offer an adequate
atonement for the offence to the British flag. Mr.
Ward then reminded his hearers that, according to
the resolutions at the Conferences at Paris, a neutral
flag covered an enemy's goods, and he had no doubt
that if the right of search were exercised uncondi-
tionally by American ships of war, English mer-
chants would yet be placed in a more secure posi-
tion respecting their property on board English
ships, so long as they conformed to the terms of the
proclamation respecting contraband of war. The
meeting received the remarks of Mr. Ward with
great applause.