The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-26 00:00:00

THAMES.

THE AMERICAN EAGLE AND ITS WlNGS.—Captain
Rich, a rough, honest, weather-beaten mariner, of very
frank address, and the master of the American, ship John
A. Parks, in the Victoria Docks, appeared before Mr.
Yardley to answer a summons taken out by a ship-carver
Named Joseph Hodgson, who claimed a balance of Al 15s.
fer repairing the defendant's figurehead.
The complainant said he agreed with the defendant to
repair his figurehead for £3, and had completed the job
and only received 255. of the money.

The defendant—Yes, for spoiling my figurehead.
Mr. Yardley—You appear to have a very good figure
head. (A laugh.)

Captain Rich—Yes, my figurehead is all right and taut
—(laughter)—but as to my ship's figurehead no one can
tell whether it is a bird or a turtle.
Mr. Yardley—What is the matter with it ?
Captain Rich—He has spoiled the wings.
Mr. Yardley—Wings ! What do you mean.?
Captain Rich (loudly)—What do I mean ? Why
wings (spelling the word strongly).
Mr. Yardley—Thank you, I am much obliged to you,
sir. What is your figurehead ?
Captain Rich—An American eagle, and the bird lost one
of its:wings on my voyage here.
Mr. Yardley=lndeed. I hope that is not ominous of
what is going on on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.
Captain Rich—l hope not. Well, I engaged this man
to carve a new wing for my eagle, and it is four inches too
short and spoiled.

Mr. Yardley—lt won't fly at all.
Captain Rich—Fly! No, I should think not. If such
an eagle as that attempted to fly it would drop to the
ground.

Mr. Yardley—You mean to say it is lop-sided ?
Captain Rich—lt is, and one wing is shorter than the
other. I dare not go into an American port with such an
eagle as that. I like my wing carved properly.
The complainant insisted that the wing was properly
carved, but in this he was contradicted by another ship's
carver, who said it was too short, and that the new wing
was thinner than the old one, and not artistically finished.
One wing might be said to look free and independent, like
the Northern States of America, and the other was
74 I typical—

Mr. Yardley—Come, we must hare no politics hero.
Which wingwas it, Captain Rich—the starboard or larboard
wing ?

Captain Rich—lt was the port wing.
Mr. Yardley—The port wing? We call that the genuine
bee's-wing. (Great laughter.)
After some further discussion it was agreed that the de-
fendant should give up the new wing to the complainant,
and the summons was, on this understanding, dismissed.
The Complainant—The wing is of no use to me.
Mr.Yardley—That is my decision. You have spoiled
the wing of the American eagle, and the captain will not
go into port with such a bad specimen of the national
emblem.

WIND AND WEATHER REPORT.

THIS DAY, J.
Alderney, N.W. ; fine
Ardrossan, S.W. • fine
Ayr, S.S.W. ; wet
Belfast, W. by S. ; fine
Bradford, E. ; dull
Brighton, N.E. ; fine
Bristol, S.E. ; dull
Cambridge, S.W. ; clear, fine
Cardiff, W.-; cloudy
Carlisle, W. • fine
Chatham, W.N.W., fresh;

N. 26, 9 A.M.
Inverness, S.W. ; fine
Kingstown, S.S.W.; fine
Leeds, W. ; blowing, fine
Leith, S.W. ; fine
Limerick, calm ; fine
Londonderry, W. by S.;
fine
Lowestoft, W.N.W. ; fins,
bracing
Middlesborough, S.W.; fine
Milford Haven, S.W.; fine
Newcastle on. Tyne, S.W.;

fine
Cork, W.S.W. ; fine
Doal, W.N.W., moderate
Derby, W.
Doncaster, N.W. ; fine
Dublin, S.W.; fine
Dumfries, W.; fine
Dundee, N.E.; dull
Edinburgh, W.; fine
Glasgow, S.W. ; fine
Goole, W. ; fine
Gravesend, W.N.W.; fine
Hartlepool, S.W. ; fine
Harwich, N. ; clear
Holyhead, S.W.; light
breeze, and clear

fine
Newmarket, S.W. ; fine
Norwich, N.E., light ; fine
Perth, S.W. ; fine
Peterborough, S.W. ; fine
Port Glasgow, W.S.W. ; dull
Southampton, N.W. ; fine
Stockton on Tees, E.; fine
Sunderland, N.W. ; fine
Wakefield, W. ; fine
Waterford, S.W. ; fine
Weymouth, S.W. ; cloudy
Whitehaven, W. ; cloudy
York, S.E. ; fine

THE AUSTRIAN MINISTRY.—In official circles
the retirement of Count Rechberg from office is again
spoken of ; but no one seems to know who is to succeed
him. About three weeks ago the Emperor wished to make
Count Mensdorff-Pouilly Minister for Foreign Affairs ; but
that nobleman declined the proffered honour and returned
to Temesva:. It is reported that Count It. Apponyi, the
Austrian Ambassador at the British Court, is likely to be
placed at the head of the Foreign Department ; but per-
sons who are acquainted with him think that he will be
unwilling to quit London. The Minister of State is trying
to induce Baron Doblhoff, who was a member of the Aus •
trian Cabinet in 1818, to accept the post of Minister of
Commerce, and it is not unlikely that he will allow himself
to be persuaded, although a short time ago he expressed a
determination not to take office again.

A grand musical festival was given yesterday
at St. Paul's, in aid of the fund for defraying the expenses
of purchasing the great organ, and to continue the restora-
tion and embellishment of the interior of the cathedral.
Head's " Messiah" was performed with great effect.
Mr. Sims Reeves and Mdme. Lemmens Sherrington were
the principal solo performers. The orchestra numbered
GOO vocal and instrumental performers. Upwards of 4,000
persons were present. The arrangements were admirable.
St. Martin's-lane has been again closed to
vehicles in consequence of the road requiring repair. The
number of omnibuses now using the thoroughfare is
immense.

The illumination of coal mines surely might be
accomplished by the magnet. The development of itspower
is daily increasing, one instance is Herring's magnetic
brushes, &c. Dr. Hassall remarks, " I regard them as the
most perfect brushes hitherto made, as respects their me-
chanical construction, and their magnetical action." They
are the remedy for grey hair, neuralgia, rheumatism, &c.
N.B.—Counterfeits are being made,—Offices, 32, Basbig-
hall-street, London,