The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-26 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 26, 1850.

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(raom OUR OWN CORR'ESMINDENT.)
CO 'NIS, JAN. 25.
In onseq,.:once of there being vorylitle work doing
in the yacht and merchant ii in building yards, the
poor of this town are in a very ;.listrnssed state. Lord
de Grey has kindly s-nt his ilg,mt 101. Mr. W. G.
Ward, 151. Lord Pitzhardine, Lord Wilton, the
Misses Ward, Lady Cosway, and others, have sub-
scribed to the compassionate fund for their, relief.
Ten tons of coals were delivered out to them last
week, end 300 gallons of bread this.
Prince Koutschobey's yacht, after having under-
gone a thorough repair, sailed this day fur Prance.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACT.
The inhabitants of East Cowes have almost unani-
mously signed a petition in the usual form, praying
the B.iard of Health to extend the benefits to be de-
rived under the above Act to their town.
In West Cowes there is a difference of opinion, but
140 of the rate-payers signed a petition in favour of
the measure, and 180 against it. There are about
800 rating:: ; 80 signatures would therefore only be
required, but the promoters seeing the minority in
which they stood, and being anxious not to oppose
th:e wishes of the largest party (those who had not
.signed tither for or against the visit of the,: by
some much dreaded, superintendent-inspector), agreed
to delay the sending off the petition for three months,
in order to satisfy all parties that they would not be
deprived of their local government, nor involved in
any ruinous expenses, but that all who ought to be
benefited by the measure would be. The self-
elected commissioners, and the gas and water com-
panies, feel very anxious about the matter.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 25.—Some cf the officers of
the Admiralty are e.epected here to survey the steam
ships Ajar, Dauntless, and others, be fore detcresinirg
on their destination.
The Acheron steals surveying-vessel, Captain
Stokes, arrived off Kapita, New Zealand, prior to
the 27th of September, having completed her sur-
vey of the line of coast from Banks' Peninsula to
Queen Charlotte's Sound, on the Southern Island.
PLYMOUTH, JAN. 25.—Her Majesty's brigantine
Viper, 6, Lieutenant-Commander Henry Bernard,
twenty-one days from Bermuda, came in late last
night. The Viper has been out four years. She
has brought some invalids from the West India
squadron, and will probably be paid off here. Her
crew are all well.
Five divisions of caulkers were sent on Tuesday on
board the Albion, 00, to caulk top-sides and decks
preparatory to her being put in commission.
The merchant ship Plantagenet, Captain Bird, from
the East Indies, was off this port at one o'clock yes-
terday, and landed a mail and passengers—Captain
Thomas L. Piece, 44th Regiment of Madras Native
Infantry, and Mr. Edgell and family, from Madras,
and Mrs. Green and family from Calcutta. The
Plantagenet left Calcutta the 12th of September, and
Madras the 6th of October ; called at St. Helena the
4th of December and left on the Bth. There were
at the island about 20 slaver prizes, one of which, a
prize to the Kingfisher, was in charge of Lieutenant
Hamilton. The Plantagenet, which belongs to
Messrs. Smith and Co., of London, experienced a
tremendous storm off the Cape of Good Hope, on the
21st of November, when three beats were lost. She
is full laden with sugar, flax, &c., and has on board
passengers Dr. Foster, Madras Medical Service,
Captain Hillier, late of the Alligator steamer, and Mr.
Pritchard, riding master, Gth Light Cavalry, Madras,
who proceed in her to London.
CHATHAM, JAN. 25. The Admiralty have this
week generously awarded a pension of 121. per annum
to the widow of the late Benjamin Collins, the ship-
wright whose death was caused by an injury to his
leg whilst he was on duty in the yard.
John Parrett, ropemaker, has been superannuated
on a pension of 241. per annnm for length of service.
Mr. John Knight, foreman of caulkers at Sheer-
ness-yard, is ordered to be removed to Portsmouth.
The vacancy thus occasioned is not to be filled up.
'lt is very currently reported that a reduction in the
Ordnance department here is to be made. It is stated
that the deputy storekeeper, Mr. Archibald Wyndyn,
is to be removed either to Portsmouth or to Plymouth,
and that the situation its not to be filled up; and the
residence occupied by the deputy storekeeper is to be
allowed to the barrack-master, Msjor Smith, brother
to Sir Harry Smith, the Governor at the Cape. It is
also reported that the present salary of the store-
keepers is to be subjected to a great reduction. It
is said that other reductions are to follow in this de-
partment.
Woolavicit, JAN. 25.—Captain John Charles
Dalrymple Hay (January 20, 1850), whose promo-
tion to that rank, as a reward for his gallant conduct
as commander of the Columbine, 16-gun sloop, in the
recent destruction of the vessels and crews of the
Chinese pirates, was announced yesterday, served as
midshipman of the Benbow, 72, Captain Houston
Stewart, during the operations of 1840 on the coast
of Syria, where previously to assisting at the bom-
bardment of St. Jean d'Acre, he commanded a boat,
and was officially reported as deserving of every
credit for his spirited conduct in the attack on Tor-
tosa. Passing his examination on the 17th of
February, 1841, he subsequently, until his attainment
of the rank of lieutenant, August 15, 1844, officiated
as mate on the Mediterranean and East India
stations, of the same chip, and of the Agincourt, 72,
bearing the flag of Sir Thomas John Cochrane,
,and
Spiteful steam-sloop, Captain William Maitland.
His succeeding appointments were—November 12,
1844, again to the Agincourt as flag-lieutenant, and
March 1, 1846, to the Ve:tal, 26, Captain Charles
Talbot, also in the East Indies. He attained the
rank of commander on August 28 in the latter year.
To this account of Commander Hay's services from
O'Byrne's Naval Biographical Dictionary, it may
be added that the gallant officer did not remain long
on the inactive list, as he was appointed on December
4,1847, to command the Columbine, 16, for service
on the East India and China station, and has now
been promoted to be captain for his late distinguished
services. The expedition against the pirates was
placed under the command of Captain Hay; and in
his-account of the result he says, "58 piratical ves-
sels, mounting about 1,200 guns, and with crews of
3,000 men, have been totally destroyed by fire, and,
by the blessing of God, without the loss of one life of
the officers and men under my orders."
Commander Gsorge Hancock (January 24, 1850),
also promoted for his gallant services against the
Chinese pirates, entered the navy the 3d of March,
1834 ; passed his examination on the 12th of De-
cember, 1840 ; and after an intermediate service
as mate on the Mediterranean and home stations
in the Vernon, 50, and Excellent gunnery ship,
Captains William Walpole and Sir Thomas Hastings,
was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on the Ist of
July, 1844. He was susequently employed in the
Eagle, 50, Captain George B. Martin, bearing the
flag of Rear-Admiral Samuel Hood Inglefield, on the
south-east coast of America, and afterwards in North
America and the West Indies. lie obtained his com-
mission, as a reward for having passed the best exa-
mination at the Royal Naval College. On the 7th of
April, 1848, he was appointed to the Hastings, com-
missioned on that day as the flag-ship on the East
India and China stations, and served in the Fury war
steamer and the boats of that vessel, under the com-
mand of Captain John C. Dalrymple Hay, in the
expedition against the Chinese pirates; and behaved
so gallantly as to have the following account given of
his conduct, in the dispatches sent by Captain Hay to
the Commander-in-Chief on the station. After de-
scribing the destruction of 27 of the piratical vessels,
Captain Hay says :
" On the 21st of October the steamers and boats de-
stroyed twenty-four more; and nine of them gave Lieu-
tenant Gorge Hancock, in a paddle-box boat of the
Fury, aasisted by Captain Moore, R.N., and Mr. Close,
acting mate, with Mr. Lego, an opportunity of distin-
guishing himself. Two large jurks turned to bay to
defend the retreat of the rest, but Mr. Hancock so han-
dled his boat and his gun, that, after an hour and twenty
minutes, he had beaten them from their guns and carried
them by [herding, without loss, and then pursued and
destroyed the other seven. Mr. Hancock's boldness in
attacking, and correct judgment in managing this affair,
are worthy of the highest praise.
Their Lordships have, therefore, very justly pro-
moted this distinguished officer to the rank of Com-
mander.
Commander William John Samuel Pullen (Jan. 24,
1850) passed his examination July 20, 1844, and
after serving in that capacity in North America, on
board the Columbia steam surveying vessel, was pro-
moted to the rank of Lieutenant Nov. 9, .1846. He
was re-appointed to the Columbia in the capacity of
additional Lieutenant Feb. 3, 1847, and continued
employed in her until paid off in 1848. On the 12th
of May of that year he was appointed First Lieute-
nant of the Plover, and proceeded in her to Behring's
Straits, where his services have been so highly ap-
proved that he has deservedly been promoted to the
rank of Commander.

APPOINTMENTS.
Midshipmen—John S. Clerk to the Phaeton, 50,
at Sheerness ; J. 11. J. Alexander to the Arethusa,
50, at Devonport ; C. 11. Bramwell to the Hermes
steam-sloop at Woolwich.
Naval Cadets—G. C. Wither and William It Kerr
to the Arethusa.

Commodore Henry Eden, superintendent of this
dockyard, arrived in London yesterday from Ireland,
and will resume his duties at Woolwich dockyard to-
morrow.

The llermes steam•sloop, Commander Pishbourne,
is under orders to leavo Woolwich for Greenhithe on
Tuesday next, the 29th inst, and Portsmouth on
February 5, for the Cape cif Good Hope.
The experiments ordered to be made on board the
Minx steam-vessel, fitted with a screw-propeller, to
ascertain the comparative quantities of water and fuel
required by the disc engine and a pair of recipro-
cating engines to drive a screw-propeller, having been
brought to a conclusion, show the same important
advantage in favour of the disc engine as respects
economy of fuel and steam as was reported on the
I lth inst.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN THE BLACKERIARS"RCAD,—.
Last night a tire broke out in the premises belonging to
Messrs. Beal and Edwards, hatters, situate at 42,
Georgc-stroat, Biackff iars-road. The flames:commenced
in the front shop, and were occasioned by a gas light
having been turned too near a Wainscot partition. In
the course of a few minutes after the discovery was made
the flatces obt4inrd possession of the whole cf the stack
in the shop. At that time the inmates of the upper
rooms were not aware (,f the disaster. The moment
they were made sensible of their dungc-r the smoke was
pouring up the stairs, and the heat wa.s so intense that it
was with difficulty they wore enabh.d circa a safe
raret.t. Mrs. Edwards made to one of the windows,
with a child in her arms, and waa about to throw herself
out, when the crowd below called to her, and told her to
decend by the stairs. This she firtunet,ly succeeded
in accomplishing, but not until she was nearly suffocated
with smoke. The tngines of the London Brigade and
West of England Company attended with all prompti-
tude, as well as two escapes of the P.nyal Society for thJ,
Protection of Life from Fire. The Lambeth Company's
mains furnished an abundance of waqr, from which the
engines were worked with full vigour, but in spite of the
exertions of the firemen, the flames were not extin-
guished until the whol3 of the stock in trails and fixturts
wore destroyed, and the unper pry of the premises, an,,
its contents, severely damaged. Fortunately the sufferers
were insured in the Legal and Coiumcreial
The police rencLred gnat assistance to the firemen by
kteping the crowd out cf danger.
Dispatches were sent off yesterday. evening from
the Colonial-office for the Governors of Canada, New
Brunswick, and the other North American Colonies.

EAST INDIA HOUSE.
A sircial court was held yesterday, on the api,ll-
- catioe of szweral proprietors, to consider the follow-
it motion :
" That cc'i os of all papers relative to the engagcaients
which Bore ewetei into by the British Government
with the Ernr:eror Delhi in 1803 and 1804 be laid
before this Court, together with copies cf ether 1 avers
and correspondence that may have subsequently when
piece up to the pie eat period in any way affecting the
said engagements."
Major-General Sir ARCHIBALD GALLOWAY WSS in
the chair, and when the minutes of the last court and
the advertisement convening the present had been
read, the Chairman proceeded to state, that, to pre-
vent the impression that the Court of Directors de-
sired to withhold the papers now required by this
resolution, he begged to say that they would be laid
before the proprietors as soon as possible. That was
all he could say, for it would require some time to
prepare the papers that might be required on this
subject.—(Hear, hear.) As time was of importance
to many now present, he hoped the Court would be
satisfied with the pledge he had given, and that it
would be satisfactory to the Hon. Proprietors, who
had brought forward the motion.
Mr. SULLIVAN observed the, all the papers not
being ready, he should wish the Court to be ad•
journed for tho purpose of taking them into con-
sideration.—(Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN could not say how long it would be
before the papers would be ready ; but assured them
that there would be no dely in preparing the docu-
ments.—(Hear, hear.) In respect to adjourning the
meeting, he did not think that was a very usual course.
Mr. SULLIVAN begged to differ with the lion.
Chairman, for he knew it to be very usual, and also
of a case in which the Court adjourned no less than
five times.—(Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN said that was after a discussion,
and at the request of the proprietors. In this case a
discussion could not be raised for the want of the
papers relating to the subject. He thought they
should separate on the understanding that the matter
was to be brought forward at the next court.—(Hear.)
Mr. Sergeant GASELEE observed that this would
only lead to the general meeting being put off; for he
recollected they once made a court special, and when
the special business was brought forward they ad-
journed the general business of the court.
Mr. SULLIVAN said the usage of the court was, that
the ordinary business take the precedence.—(Hear.)
The CHAIRAIAN said that after the special and ordi-
nary business of the next court this matter could be
taken up again.—(llear.)
Mr. SULLIVAN observed, that by postponing these
papers till the question ceased to be sub judice this
court would become imperative. They had papers
given to them before by the executive, when there
was a serious conflict with the Board of Control, and
before they sent up their final remonstrance, on
which occasion the executive received the unanimous
support of the proprietors. He thought the directors
ought to give them some sort of information on this
occasion.
Sir P. LAURIE said they had met there on a mat-
ter of great importance, and he thought the senti-
ments of the proprietors ought to be taken for or
against the subject of the resolution.
The CHAIRMAN observed that the proprietors must
recollect that they had delegated their authority to
the executive body, who must do their best, and he
hoped the Court of Proprietors would justify them
when the time arrived.—(Hear, hear.) On this occa-
sion, too, he hoped they would be justified by the
proprietors, for it would not be quite proper for them,
after delegating that authority, to take it back again
to themselves,—(" Oh, oh.")
Sir P. L &DRIB observed that, if they were to be
kept in the dark on the subject of these papers, for
what reason was the meeting summoned ? They were
told all rested with the executive, and they had no
veto in the matter.—(Hear, bear.)
Mr. CLARKE thought it would greatly disturb the
efficiency of the executive power of the Court of
Directors if they were bound to call on the proprietors
to help them in their decision. There were important
matters in which the directors had thrown them-
selves on the proprietors with a view to ascertain
their sentiments, but this was without committing
themselves to the principle of the proprietors' inter-
ference.
Mr. Sergeant GASELEE would enter his protest
against such a doctrine as most dangerous. The
proprietors should not yield to anything which was
given to them, and maintain their right of being
consulted on important occasions. The executive
were bound to come to the proprietors—(Hear, hear)
—and they would come readily, and the same feel-
ing existed on the other side of the table as was
known to actuate the proprietors.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. LEWIN said that one object in calling this
meeting was to give publicity out of doors, in order
that the country might have an opportunity of judging
in this matter as well as themselves. He hoped Mr.
Sullivan would not abandon his motion in conse-
quence of what had been stated by the chairman.
Mr. SULLIVAN did not abandon his motion.
The CHAIRMAN said he did not understand it was
to be abandoned.
Mr. SULLIVAN alluded to the frequent occasions in
which the directors had recourse to the opinion of the
Court of Proprietors ; first, at the time when the
question of throwing open the trade was discussed,
and the Board of Proprietors had a serious conflict
with the Board of Control; next, in regard to the
case of Lord Wellesley, when the papers were pro-
duced to the Court, and the executive did not content
themselves with taking a vote of the proprietors in
open court that submitted the question to the ballot;
another case occurred in 1814 ; and finally, in a case
where a mandamus was issued against the Court of
Directors, the proprietors were appealed to whether it
ought to be obeyed. He therefore differed with Mr.
Clarke as to its being miechievous in the extreme for
the proprietors to be called together in every case of
dispute as deranging public business.—(Hear, hear.)
Upon the CSIAIRMAN moving that the meeting be
now adjourned,
Colonel DICKENSON gave notice of a motion for the
next meeting, to the effect that it was expedient that
the directors should turn their attention to the means
of improving the resources of India, and of extending
the road communication.
The Court then broke up, with notice given that
Mr. Sullivan's motion will come on in March.

FIRE AT TUB COLCHESTER RAILWAY STATION.
On Friday morning, about one o'clock, the inhabitants
of that part of the town nearest to the railway station
were awoke from their slumbers by an alarm of fire and
a very strong glare of light in the direction of the rail-
way, which was very soon found t) arise from an Exten-
sile building belonging to the Fa-tnn Union Cc.mi any,
usel for the purpose of an engine-house, and which con-
tained at the time three of the company's best engines.
There appears to be no doubt as to the fire being of
accidental origin. The building being entirely of wood
burned with the utmost rapidity, and the whole was
speedily enveloped in flames, the rapidity of which, com-
bined with the unfortunate circumstance of having no
pilot engine at hand to draw them out, rendered it im-
possible to remove the three locomotives, the injury t.)
which (two of them having burst from the intense heat,
besides the damaging action of the fire upon every part
of the machinery) will no doubt constitute the most
serious part cf the loss to the company, which can
hardly be reckoned short of, if it deer not exceed 2,0001.
DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT WITHAM.—We regret
to state that on Friday afternoon an accident cf a very
serious nature occurred to the lady of the Rev. C. B.
Leigh, of Wickham-place, rector of Goldhanger, in
this county, and sis:er to Sir John Tyrell, Bart., M.P.
It appears that Mrs. Leigh, accompanied by her sup, was
walkini, in the Malden-road, which leads into Witham,
and when' near the top of the road met a cow with its
ea'f at the corner leading from Newland to High-street.
Upon seeing them a little dog, which Mrs. Leigh had
with her, barked at the ca:f, and the cow, irrieved
thereby, immediately ran at the dog, which fled to its
raistreks for protection, and Moro it could be 'Hewn' ed
the cow had struck Mrs. Leigh in the back, driving her
with considerable vio!enee against the brickwork of ter t
of the Angel Inn. Assistance was at once procured,
and the unfortunate lady was removed to the White
Hart Inn, in Witham, where every attention that medi-
cal skill could suggest was paid her by Mr. Thomas
Tomkin, surgeon, and as soon as Mrs. Leigh was sufli•
ciently recovered, she was removed to her residence at
Wickham. Her face was severely bruised, but it was at
first supposed that the injuries inflicted were not of a
very serious nature; it was, however, subeequeetly as-
certained that the blow had effeet d the spine about the
shoulders; immediate paralysis occurred, and serious
apprehensions are entertained of a fatal issue. Mr. W.
Ferguson, the eminent surgeon, from London, visited
her on the following day, and has been with Mr. Tom-
kin in frequent attendance since the lamentable occur-
rence; but we are grieved at not being now able to give
a more favourable account of the patient. In answer to
inquiries mado of Mr. Tomkin yesterday (Thursday),
we learned that the symptoms were very nearly the
same. There was then no r_ turn of either sepT'ron or
motion in any part of the body below the
part In) ureci.
Clicirnstord Chronicle.
Thursday
BRISTOL AT II ENlEur,r
was
night the first public soiree cf the 11,therprhue atteeda acem hero
held at the Victoria Reons.
y fourteen hundred
was very large, there being
Fug. took the chair,
f Bristol, J. K. nalerfici.(l,
the Right Hon. Lord
persons prcw,t. The Rightn"Wtorshipful the Mayor
Meyero, P. S. Miles W• S
and among
Teignrnouth,thtehej F Path, company •eere
Esq., 51. p, P. F. Aiken, I,irriNVlyrt f
Walter James,
E. covey,ames,,l3a
rt.,
the Rev. IL J. Leper, .
Dq., 11. Visgcr, EAT, &e. At six. .the
.tea-
rooms WTI thrown cp:n, and f:ona that time until
about half-pait seven o'clock was. occupied in pro-
menading, &0., the company hung eeliveeed by
music of the band of the Lode Brigade, Vari-
ous U171(1(.1.3 of machinery, &c., were also exhibited.
Tie e'tx.!trie hght was. a!s.) shoeo, and attracted much
attention. The ineeang was addreseed by the Mayor,
Lord Teignmouth, Dr. Synioeds, Messrs. G. Whitelo,.k,
P. F. Aiken, P. W. S. Miles, M.P., It. 11. Webb, J. D.
Pcuntney, and ti e Mayer cf bath. During t'7e evening
the members of an amateur society, called the Orpheus
Glee Club, sang several admired compositions, and the
soirée formulated at eleyeu o'clock,