The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING NOVEMBER 7 184;.

DR. WOLFF.

Captain Grover has just received the following
letter from the Rev. Dr. Wolff:—
Meshed, month of Shaban, 23d.
_ _ _

My dear Grover,—Not venturing when at Bokhara
to keep a journal, I have forgotten the date of the
Christian month !

After the infamous Nazib Abdool cLummut Khan
had forced from me the pl.:,
tillas, I should, aft::: an, 'nue to pay him 6,000
Abbas Kull' Abbas
been put to death, if
an, the Persian Ambassador, had not
s.:2;ved me. lam now arrived in Persia, broken down
in constitution, robbed of everything I had, and with
a debt of 6,000 tillas (2,5000, which I am to pay to
the brother of the Nazib Abdool Summet Khan, who
is to accompany me to Tehran.
You thought that 4,0001. could be collected for my
purpose ; if you can now assist me in paying the
debt above-mentioned to the infamous Nazib, who
forced the promise from me in his garden, surrounded
by his guards—well. If not, I shall be obliged to
go to prison in Persia.

The King has also sent with me an Ambassador, who
is to go to England ; and the Nazibhas forced me to pro-
mise to pay the expenses of that Ambassador out of the
money he advanced me. That same Ambassador has
excited the Turcomans of Mawr and Sarakhs against
us, i.e., against Abbas Kulli Khan and myself, on our
way to Meshed, and forced Abbas Kulli Khan to pay
him, and the other Ambassador appointed for Persia,
150 tillas in the midst of the desert !—Yours, affec-
tionately, JOSEPH WOLFF.
Meshed.
The above, though dated from Meshed, was written
al Mostroon. lam now at Meshed, and, two hours
after me, your Gholam, Ali Ahmed Beyk, arrived.
He found me broken down in Mullah Mehdee's house.
I will only add that the Nazib wants only the in-
terest of the above money, to be paid to his son when
of age.

The Ambassador from Bokhara is also here ; he
has letters and presents for the Shah, the Sultan, and
Queen Victoria.

The Nazib has settled with the King that I should
bear the Ambassador's expenses, from the money the
Nazib expects to be paid back.
lam not yet out of danger, but am too confused
to explain all now. Mullah Mehdee will do it for me.
Lieutenant Wyburd has been murdered at Bokhara.
JOSEPH WOLFF.

SHIPPING INTEREST.
(rnobt A CottatsPotibENt.)
The public sale of the Hartlepool, Union Shipping
Company took place tb-daY, tif Part of their ships, and
it was one of the largest public sales ever held in the
North. Amongst the company were J. T. Wawn, Esq.,
%
(Solltt Shields) ; E. T. Wawn, Esq. ; Peter Dale, Esq. ;
Atessrs. 11. N. and J. Wright, and a numerous assem-
blage of respectable shipowners from Sunderland, New-
castle, and parts adjacent. Tho competition was very
great, and evinced a great spirit of revival of the mari-
time prospects. The vessels sold as under :
Agility, 196 tons, 1834, sold for 8001.—Mr.Richardson.
Anna Maria, 223 tons, 1829, sold for 9201.—C. A.
Wawn, Esq.
Albatros, 216 tons, 1837, sold for 1,0351.—Mr. Taylor.
Eliza Liddell, 261 tons, 1834, sold for I,4BOL—Mr. M.
Eason).
Hart, 214 tons, 1838, sold for I,32sl—Wright, Bro-
thers, and Co.
Harmonic, 223 tons, 1837, sold for I,37ol.—Ditto.
Ann Emma, 246 tons, 1838, sold for 1,620/.—Mr.
Measom.
John Burrell, 243 tons, 1838, sold for I,3Bsl.—Erring-
ton Bell.
The Margarets was not put up.
After so much depression in shipping affairs, the pre-
sent prospects are very cheering, and no doubt the ship-
ping interest is on the way to rapid and fair remunera-
tion for capital.—Nov. 5, 1844.

EARL RADNOR ON THE ALLOT-

MEN T SYSTEM.
(From the Economist.)

Dear Sir,—lii the Chronicle of the 23d there was a

letter signed " W.," on " Allotments," which begins by
stating that " the public attention is now occupied, but
still with hardly sufficient sense of the importance and
merits of the scheme, with the allotment system."
Changing the words " importance and merits" into " mis-
chievousness and demerits," I quite agree with " W." ;
and, thinking as I do, that, with some plausible points,
very likely, when not fully considered, to capivate the
benevolent and hind-hearted, it is full of danger, and
directly contrary to every principle of good government
and of political economy, I trouble you with these lines
on the subject.
In the first place, I would ask the friends of the sys-
tem whether they think the granting of allotments is a
matter of obligation, or of favour and kindness ? If of
obligation, I would then inquire—
First, on whom the obligation lies ? On all the land-
lords of a parish, or only on some of the principal ones?
If not on all, who is to settle the persons on whom it
lies, and the proportion in which it falls on each ? If on
all, what is to be done in the case of such landowners,
whose proportionate allotment might not be sufficient to
raise a cabbage upon ?
Secondly, in favour of whom is this duty to be per-
formed ? Of all the labourers in the parish, without re-
ference to their circumstances, to their wages, to their
families (whether single or married, and whether having
large families or small), to their character, or ability or
inclination to make good and profitable use of their allot-
ments ? If these things are not to be attended to, how
unjustly and partially . will the system work ! If they
are attended to, who is the person to consider these
matters ? The persons lying under the obligation, each
for himself ? This would be opening the door to fa-
vouritism, partiality, and jobbing. The magistrate ?
Hew long would it be before the regulating of the allot-
ment system at the petty sessions would lapse into the
old system of making up wages only by a method more
complicated and difficult of adjustment ?
But, supposing all these difficulties satisfactorily got
over, and the system fairly at work, I hold that nothing
but evil would ensue.

I. It is elearly ascertained that agricultural employ-
ment does not increase commensurately with agricultural
population or even agricultural produce. It is likewise
certain that the demand for workmen in the manufac-
turing and mining districts is greater than the natural
supply ; it is, therefore, most desirable for both parties
that the superfluous people of the one district should
supply the want of population in the other. The natural
indisposition of the agricultural labourer to leave his
home and the law of settlement raise considerable and
unfortunate difficulties in the way of any migration for
this purpose. Is it wise to concoct new ones ? and
what can be more likely to bind a man to his parish than
the occupation of one of those allotments ? " W." talks
of making labour scarce and dear by these means ; is it
not clear that where it is already cheap and too abun-
dant, it will be rendered more so under the operation of
:his system ?
IL It is, I believe, generally understood that certain
rules are to be laid down for the regulation of those to
v$ horn allotments are given—that they shall cultivate
them according to a particular system—shall forfeit them
if convicted of any legal offence, or of drunkenness—
that they shall be observers of the Sabbath, &c. Does
not this lead directly to a system of spying and control
on the one hand, of dependence and cant and hypocrisy
on the other ? To me all these systems of management
and direction are most distasteful. The English labourer
is a free man, and capable of managing himself and his
own affairs, or he is not. If he is, leave him to his own
management, direction, and discretion. If he is not,
then most assuredly, those who have the care of him are
much to be blamed for his present condition. " W."
says that allotments to the English agricultural " serfs
are their provision grounds ; and the English slave-
holders show the same fear of the result which their
West Indian brethren did." What a strange confusion
of ideas ! It was the slave who had provision grounds,
and clothes, and care, and superintendence ; the eman-
cipated negro works for wages. " W." would give the
English labourers provision grounds, and care, and
superintendence—that is, would put them on the same
footing, with regard to their employers, as were the
slaves in the West Indies.

I think that from what I have said, it is clear that
the system of allotments will really aggravate the
evil which it is supposed likely to cure—first, by in-
creasing the shpply of agricultural labourers, and by
impeding the free market of labour ; and, secondly, by
making the labourer more dependent. Is it not
manifest, too, that it must lead to a great subdivi-
sion of occupation of land ? Indeed, some benevolent
persons anticipate such subdivision and the creation of
small farms as great improvements ; they call it a re-
turn to the custom of our ancestors. But can it be
doubted that if we return to the practice of our ances-
tors in the matter of occupation of land, we shall also
return to their practice in the matter of cultivation ?
and that all the improvements which have taken place,
by which the produce of the country has been greatly
increased (not, indeed, in the same ratio as the popula-
tion, but still greatly increased), and which require skill
and capital, will soon be lost ? And, if so, we shall
then have, not an increasing produce to supply, in some
degree, the demands of an increasing population, but
a population increasing in a still greater ratio, and de-
pendent on a diminished and diminishing supply. This
will, I think, be the unavoidable consequence of this
measure of short-sighted benevolence—of this charity
not directed by wisdom or principle. When this scheme
is recommended by worthy people, it is always matter
of astonishment with me, that they do not look to Ire-
land. There their favourite system is carried on as ex-
tensively as they can desire. Ireland is the land of al-
lotments and of small farms ; is it not also the land of
bad farming, poor farmers, ow wages, and a distressed
people ?
There are many other reasons which might be urged
against this plan—the unjustifiable interference with
property, the direct tendency to an agrarian law, its
utter inconsistency with that which, in all things, assists,
promotes, and increases production—the division of la-
bour ; but I hope I have said enough. At all events, I
will not further intrude upon your space at present.—
I remain yours faithfully, RADNOR.
Oct. 25, 1844.

The following notices appeared to-day at the Ge-
neral Post-office, St. Martin's-le-Grand :—By command
of the Postmaster-General.—Notice to the Public, and
Instruction to all Postmasters.—General Post-office,
Nov., 1844.—0 n and aftet the 6th instant, the following
offices will be opened for the issue and payment of money
orders :—Alford, Lincolnshire ; Barslem, Staffordshird;
Chesham. Buckinghamshire ; Cromer, Norfolk ; Fleet-
wood, Lancashire ; Hanley, Staffordshire ; Keighley,
Yorkshire ; Lane End, Staffordshire ; Linton, Devon-
shire ; Malmesbury, Wiltshire ; Minehead, Somerset-
shire ; Redditcb, Worcestershire ; Staley Bridge, Lanca-
shire ; Stoke, Staffordshire ; Todmorden, Lancashire ;
Westerham, Kent. The next mails for Malta, Greece,
and the lonian Islands, via Southampton, will be dis-
patched from hence on the morning of the 14th instant,
and for Egypt and India on the 3d December. The next
mails for India, &c., via Marseilles, will be dispatched
from hence on the 7th instant (this evening). The
Severn will take out the West India mails of the morning
of the 18th instant. Caledonia for the American mails
of the evening of 18th instant."
SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE OF MR. HURST, my.—
Considerable excitement prevailed in this town (Hors-
ham) on Thursday last, on its being ascertained that
R. H. Hurst, Esq., our Member, had left with his family,
for France, having previously discharged all his ser-
vants. It has long been apparent to the tradesmen that
the honourable gentleman s circumstances were much
embarrassed, but nonewere_prepared for his leaving the
place on so short a notice. The household furniture and
farming stack, &c., are intended to be sold by auction.
Many of our tradesmen and others, we are concerned to
add, are sufferers, to the amount of several thousand
pounds.—[We hear, from other sources, that Mr.
Hurst's liabilities exceed 150,0001., and that his son, Mr.
R. Hurst, jun., has become responsible for his father's
debts to the extent of 80,0001. The estates acquired by
purchase by the late Mr. Robert Hurst are strictly en-
tailed, and Mr. Hurst and his son only take life interest
under the late Mr. Hurst's will.—ED.]—Brighton
Guardian.

THE LATE STATE TRIALS.—THE QUEEN'S BENCH.
—lt is very currently rumoured, that an application will
be made, this day, at the sitting of the Court, in the
Queen's Bench, on behalf of the defendants in the late
State trials. The nature of the motion we understand
to be, that the recognisances of the gentlemen proceeded
against should be abated, and that they be discharged
from all further attendance upon the Court. Our
readers may not, perhaps, be aware, that upon the
occasion of the traversers in the late State trials
giving bail before the Hon. Justice Burton, in Oc-
tober, 1843, the condition entered into was, that they
should attend in the Queen's Bench, from Term to
Term, to answer any charge made against them by the
Crown. The result of the writ of error absolved those
gentlemen from the punishment adjudged by the Court
of Queen's Bench; and the nature of the application to
be made to-day is, that the obligation to attend the
Court should be voided, the accusations made against the
defendants having been pronounced by the highest
authorities groundless and illegal. Application will also
be made to the Court, to have the judgment of reversal
bytheHouse of Lords entered up.—Freeman's Journal
of yesterday.

EXETER HALL.
The Sacred Harmonic Society aortimenced toed , !
series a vcrinter concerts last night at Exeter Hall,
and with the best work that could have been chosen
to manifest the colossal power of the body—Handers
Israel in Egypt. The performance of the oratorio
requires but few remarks, the public who have been
in the habit of attending the Society's concerts being
perfectly familiarised with the style in which it is
rendered by the body. Excepting as concerns the
addition of some noisy and inappropriate instru-
mental parts to the score, and the interpolation of
one or two equally inappropriate vocal pieces, nothing
but praise is due to the exertions of the society on
this occasion. The splendid and characteristic cho-
ruses went in most cases better than we have yet
heard them at Exeter Hall, and the band did its duty
most efficiently. The " Hailstone Chorus" was en-
cored, and all the most popular pieces were received
with enthusiasm. The solo singers have so little to
do In this great choral work, that a word or two will
dismiss their claims to notice. Miss Dolby gave her
first air, " The land brought forth frogs," very im-
pressively ; and her last, " Theu shalt bring them,"
so charmingly and with such musicianlike feeling as
to bring down an encore of unusual unamity. Miss
Barrett made a highly favourable debut; her air,
" Thou didst blow," was very sensibly delivered, and
her last solo, " Sing ye to the Lord," was remark-
able for its certainty and clearness. Miss Cubitt had
only one duet, to which she did full justice. - The
duet " The Lord is a man of war," was to have been
sung by Mr. Machin and Mr. Atkins, but the latter
vocalist did not arrive in time, and so another gentle-
man volunteered his services under favour of a depre-
catory pleading beforehand. He succeeded extremely
well, and an encore was the consequence.

THE SCOTTISH BANKS.

Our columns this day contain additional evidence
of the feeling that is excited throughout Scotland, by
the more than suspected determination of Sir Robert
Peel to meddle with our one-pound notes. The
county of Renfrew and the county of Fife have both
passed strong resolutions in deprecation ofany change.
It has been said that the Scottish people are more in-
different to it than they were in 1826 ; and it has
been said also, that at present any great movement
upon the question would be premature, inasmuch as
the determination of the Government is only sus-
pected, but not known; and that it will be time
to stir when we are sure of the danger. The
first allegation of the indifference of the Scot-
tish people, if believed in England, would soon
prove the death-blow to our currency ; and
we shall duly chronicle every meeting that
takes place, whether of county or of town, of Cham-
ber of Commerce, or of Guildry, of employers or of
employed, to show that the indifference, if it ever
existed, is rapidly giving way to a feeling more akin
to indignation, that the whole industry of a peaceful
and uncomplaining country, should be sacrificed for the
theoretical whims of crotchet mongers or currency
^nacks, whether in office or out of it. As regards the
•second :2,,ation, Sir Robert Peel has, over and over
again, in paritn,:.ant and elsewhere, expressed his
banking system. He is
disapproval of the
backed, moreover, by some gs,22t financial Pam-
phleteers, both Whig and Tory, ano a strong
majority of English Members, who will paj but a
slight regard to a question on which they are wilts:
formed, and to a people in whose concerns they take
little or no interest. To wait till the Bill is
introduced will be to wait till the Bill is car-
ried ; and we would urge upon all those who
are so inapprehensive and unsuspicious, that
they must delay till the hand is in their pocket before
they will grapple with the robber, however well
known his character, or menacing his gestures ; that
there is more than sufficient evidence of the intentions
of Government to justify not only alarm, but some-
thing better—speedy and decisive action to avert the
evil. Scotland, which has but a small number of re-
presentatives in Parliament, and which has been so
peaceful and so prosperous under her present banking
system, as not to occupy the thoughts of the Legis-
lature (except at grouse-shooting time), should, for
that reason, be more jealous when the Government
does condescend to notice her, more especially when
the notice is uncalled for, and a grievance instead of
a benefit. It becomes, therefore, the paramount
duty of all who are interested (and who in Scotland,
be his circumstances and avocation what they
may, is not ?) to join together and rempn-
strate strongly and firmly against any interference.
It is well that the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
should take the lead in the movement ; and that the
Corporations and Guilds of Edinburgh should also
raise their voices in the same cause ; and that Ren-
frew and Fife, and even Ross and Inverness-shires,
should speak out their opinions ; but it would also be
well if some other counties and the great cities would
speak out ;—if Lanarkshire, for instance, would tell
Sir Robert Peel to let it alone—and if the citizens
of Glasgow would, to the number of twenty or thirty
thousand, let the Premier know that the feeling ex-
pressed in various parts of Scotland is not that of
moneyed men alone;—not of proprietors of lands, or
mills, or shares in banks only, but the opinion of the
sensible and hard-working people. If this were done,
as we have no doubt it will be, some impression might
be made in the right quarter ; and we might
be able to say now, in 1844, with as much truth as
Malachi Malagrowther said in 1826—" To whatever
deep and passive slumber our native country may
have been lulled from habits of peaceful acquiescence,
the Government have now found a way to awaken
her. The knife has gone to the very quick, and the
comatose patient is roused to most acute i;;,ssession of
his feelings and his intellect. The heather is oil fire
far and wide; and every man, woman, and child in
the country are bound by the duty they owe to their
native land to spread the alarm and increase the blaze.
The city of Edinburgh has uttered a voice be-
coming the ancient Queen of the North. The law
bodies and the gentry of Mid-Lothian have set the
example of petitioning Government and proclaiming
their sense of the measure designed ; it has been fol-
lowed in other counties, and .1 trust to see it soon
spread into the smallest burghs, into the most wild
districts of Scotland. There are none which the im-
pending misery will not reach—there are no Scotch-
men so humble that they have not a share in a na-
tional insult, so lowly that they will not suffer from a
national wrong—none that are uninterested in main-
taining our right both individually and as a people—
and none, I trust that have not spirit to do so by all
legal and peaceable means."
The pen of the gifted writer of this stirring appeal
would, if he were still amongst us, have been again
employed in the same cause, but his spirit remains in
his written words :
" Scotland," said he, in 1826, " has not felt the
slightest inconvenience from the want of specie—
nay, it has never been in request among them. A
tradesman will take a guinea (sovereign) mere un-
willingly than a note of the same value—to the
peasant the coin is unknown. No one ever wishes
for specie save when on a journey to England. In
occasional runs upon particular houses, the notes of
other banking companies have always been the value
asked for—no holder of these notes ever demanded
specie. The credit of one establishment might be
doubted for the time—that of the general system was
never brought into question. Even avarice, the
most suspicious of passions, has in no instance I ever
heard of, desired to compose her hoards by an accu-
mulation of the precious metals. The confidence in
the credit of our ordinary medium has not been
doubted even in the dreams vf the most irritable and
jealous of human passions."
Such an opinion, coming from such .‘ quarter,
would force conviction even upon the mina of
.a
Minister, if the men of the present day would back it,
and let him know, in language not to be mistaken,
that its truth has not been affected by the eighteen
years that have elapsed since it was uttered. He
might also be reminded, that during those years
England has gone through several severe financial
struggles, and seen the failure of banks in every part
of the country, but that Scotland, with her one-pound
notes, odious as they may be upon the Stock Ex-
change of London, and in the bureaus of Down-
ing-street, has been free from panic, and never once
raised a complaining voice upon the matter.—Glas-
gow Argus.

A NIGGER'S IDEA OP THE MOON.—" Cuffee, which
do you consider de most useful of de planets—do sun or
do moon?" " Well, Sambo, I tink the moon orter take
the fus rank in dat ar"tickler." " Wha, wha, wha, why
you tink so, Cuffee?" " Well, I tell you—kaze she
shines by night, when we want light, And de sun shines
by day, when we do not!" " Well, Cuffy,fp is the
greatest nigger I knose on—dat's a real fac.'
EXTRAORDINARY INCREASE IN TIIE VALUE OF
PROPERTY.—From a recent return made by order of the
vestry of St. Marylebone with respect to assessments in
Oxford-street, it appears that in the year 1777 a house,
situated on the north side of Oxford-street, near Or-
chard-street, was rated in the parish books at 151. per
year. In the present year (1844) the same house lets
at 2201., and is rated in the books of Marylebone at 1201.

DEMOLITION OF Guy IN TRH STREETS.—A most
amusing incident occurred on Tuesday in Guildford-
street, near the Foundling Hospital. It was the anni-
versary of gunpowder plot, and, with a laudable wish " to
produce something novel," many of the itinerant fruit-
sellers had, fur the nonce, converted their fruit-carts into
a Guy Fawkes vehicle. The carriage was di awn by a
donkey, and upon the " plafond" of the same, sat a living
and highly dressed impersonation of Guido himself, look-
ing as great as Mr. Thompson's King in Hamlet ; the
" steed " was led by his confederate. Now, one of these
luckless pairs of wights happened to meet in Guildford-
street a party of rolicking Irishmen, who " happened
to be armed with rather stiff shillelaghs ; and some way
or other, also happening to have Popish predilections,
did not feel pleased with the oration, which ended with
" Halloo, boys ! halloo boys, God save the Queen ;"
and without ceremony or intimation set to work and
knocked poor Guy off his peach, nearly demolishing cart,
donkey, and all. The affair, though only the work of a
moment, excited no little amusement. _ _

Yesterday morning, an accident :occurred in the
workhouse garden, which was followed by a fatal result.
The directors and guardians determined, a short time
since, to build some cottages adjoining the workhouse,
for the use of aged married couples who might become
inmates ; and, yesterday morning, some labourers were
employed in removing the garden wall at the back of the
workhouse, for the purpose of clearing the site of the
intended erections. In order to effect this object,
the earth had been cleared away from one side
of the wall to the foundation, a depth of about
three feet ; and one of the labourers, named Sidney
Smith, was stooping to pick up some stones, when
the wall, which from the foundation to the summit was
about six feet high, began to totter. Mr. Bartlett, the
Governor, who had just come up to the spot, observed
the motion, and shouted to the deceased to take care.
One step would have placed him out of danger ; instead
of which he raised himself from his stooping position,
and looked towards the wall, only in time to see a sec-
tion of it, 15 feet long, strike against the lower part of
his body. lie was knocked down and crushed by the
falling mass : as soon as he could be extricated from
which he was taken to the Infirmary. Mr. Rugg, sur-
geon, was sent for, and promptly attended the sufferer ;
who, however, was so severely bruised that he only sur-
vived till ten o'clock. Deceased was between forty and
fifty years of age ; he was a widower, and resided in
Pimlico.—Brighton Gazette.
EXTRAORDINARY INSTANCE OF SAGACITY IN A Fox.
—A fox, which was kept chained in a kennel of a gen-
tleman in Newark, a few night ago slipped its collar,
and in the morning, though every endeavour was made
to find it, no traces could be discovered for the whole of
that day and the following one ; but on the morning of
the third day, greatly to the astonishment of the owner,
the animal was found in its kennel, having evidently.tra-
yelled many miles during the time it had been away.
What makes the fact more extraordinary is, that the
animal has been domesticated ever since it has been a
cub, and therefore could not possibly have the slightest
knowledge of the surroundinz country.