The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-14 00:00:00

MARKET NE WS.-(THIS DAY)

NEWGILTM AND LEADENBALL.
These markets ware a very inactive state today,
and prices were with difiicu!ty supported. Beef, from
2s 4d to 3s 4d; Mutton, 2s 6d to 3s 8d; Veal, 3s to
49; and Pork, 31 to 43 per Slbr, by the carcase.

MEAT MARKETS.
SOUTIILLL, FEI3. 13.—Our market to-day was but
moderately supplied with each kind of stock. Sheep
moved off stcaly at full prices. Otherwise the demand
was in a very sluggish state. Beef from 3s to 4s; Mut-
ton, 3s 2d to 4i 2d; Vert, 38 2d to 3s 8d; and Pork, 3s
to 3s 8d per Sibs, to sink the offal.
ROMFORD, FEB. 13.—The general demand was tole-
rably steady, at fully last week's quotations. Boef, from
2s 10d to 4s Od; Mutton, 3s:to 4s 4d; Veal 3s to 35 8d;
and Pork, 31 to 3s 8,1 per Blbs. Suckling Calves, 18s
to 255; Quarter-old Store Pigs 16s to 21s; and Mulch
Cows, with their small Calf, 141 to 181 each.
ILkitsmax, FEB. 13.—Although the supply of stock
was comparatively small, the trade ruled inactive, at our
quotations. Beef, from 3s 2,1 to 4s; Alutton,'3s 4d to
4s 43; Veal, 3s 4d to 3s 8d; and Pork, 3s 4d to 3s 8d
per Sibs.

ARUNDEL, FEB. 12.—The ger eral demanl was flit.
Prices, however, were well supported. Beef from 3,:2d
to 45 2d; Mutton, 3s Gi to 4s 4d; Veal, 3s 2d to 3s 6d;
and Pork, 3s to 35 8d per 81bs.
CHICHESTER, FE e. 13.—Prime Beasts and Sheep
sold steadily, at full prices. In other kinds of stock,
very little was doing. Beef from 3s 2d to 4s ad;
Mutton, 3s Gd to 46 4d; Veal, 3s 4cl to 3s 8d; and
Pork, 3s 6il to 3s 10d per Sibs. Sucking Calves, 1$ to
265; Quarter-old Store Pigs, 166 to 21s; and Mikh
Cows, with their small Calf, 14/ to 181 each.

HAY
SMITHFIELD.--Meadow Hay, 21 8s to 31108; Clover
ditto, 81 Os to 41 103 ; and Straw, 11 15 to 1/ 8a per
load. Both Hay and Straw moved off heavily, at barely
stationary pricer.
CUMBERLAND.—Meadow Hay, 2/ 8s to 31125; Clover
ditto, 3/ Os to 4/ 7a ; and Straw, 1/ 2s to 1/ 9s per
load. Supply tolerably good, and trade dull.
WHITECHAPEL. Meadow Hay, 21 8s to 3/ 103 ;
Clover ditto, 3/ Os to 4l 103; and Straw, 1/ ls to 118 s per
load. Trade dull, at barely late rates.

CORN AVERAGES.
No arerages of grain have been issued by the Board
of Trade to-day.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(THIS DAY.)
The House sat to-day for the first time this session to
hear Scotch appeals. The Peers present were the Lord
Chancellor, Lord Crewe, and the now Bishop of Nor-
wich.

TUE DUKE OF HAMILTON AND BRANDON V. THE MA-
SIBTRATEs ♦ND TOWN COUNCIL 07 THE BURGH 07

HAMILTON.

The case came before their Lordships upon appeal
from the decision of the second devision of the Court of
Session of Scotland, upon the case remitted to them by
the House of Lords in 1848. The principal question at
issue in the cue related to the right of his
Grace the Duke of Hamilton and certain
other heritors of the parish of Hamilton to
obtain by means of a possessory action before the sheriff
a new division of the area of the church of Hamilton,
whereby tho accommodation enjoyed by the respondents
in their corporate capacity for upwards of a century
was proposed to be altogether changed in its extent,
although no new church had been erected, but the old
one merely repaired and enlarged. In the first instance,
the Court of Session decided in favour of the magistrates
and town-council of Hamilton, and the House of Lords,
upon appeal from that decision, remitted the case back
to the Court of Session, which again came to the same
conclusion, and from that decision the Duke of Hamilton
appealed to this House.
Mr. Bethel!, ➢ir. Stuart Wortley, and Mr. M‘Neil were
for the noble appellant, and Mr. Bolt and Mr. Anderson
supported the judgment of the Court below.

The case ap-posis likely to occupy the whole day.

ROLLS' COURT.-(THIS DAY.)
The Muter of the Rolls did not sit in his Court in
the Roll's-yard, Chancery-lane, to-day, in consequence
of having to attend the Judicial Committee of the Privy
Council.

VICE-CHANCERY.—(THIS DAY.)
The Vice-Chancellor of England, the Vice-Chancellor
Knight Bruce, and the Vice-Chancellor Wigram sat in
their Courts in Lincoln's Inn to-day; but nothing of the
slightest interest came before them during the morning.

QUEEN'S BENCH.-(THIS DAY.)
(Sittings at Nisi Prius, at Westminster, before Mr. Jus-
tice ERLE and a Special Jury.)
DIUBNEY I'. PHIPPS.
This was an action brought by the plaintiff, an attor-
ney, to recover 4301., the amount of a bill of costs, from
the defendant, a member of the provisional committee of
the Northampton, Lincoln, and Hull Railway Com-
pany, a scheme set on foot in the year 1845, but which
eventually failed. The services performed by the plain-
tiff, in respect of which the action was brought, consisted
principally in the service of the ordinary notices upon
landowners residing along the projected line of railway,
with a view to promoting a Bill before Parliament to
authorise the construction of the works.
On behalf of the defendant it was contended, that
there was ncthing to make him responsible, inasmuch
as it had been already decided that the mare circum-
stance of a person being a member of a provisional com-
mittee was not of itself sufficient to render him liable
fir any debts incurred on behalf of the company over
which that provisional committee presided.
On the other hand, evidence was given on the part of
the plaintiff to show that the bill had been handed to
the defendant personally, who, in reply, stated that al-
though he thought many of the charges were ezeessive,
still it was not the intention of the railway company to
contest it. In addition to this, it was proved also for
the plaintiff that the recognised attorney of the railway
eompany had written to the
plaintiff offering him 1001.
in full settlement of his claim. _

Mr. Justice ERLE summed up the case.
The jury gave a yerdict for the plaintiff Cr the full
sum claimed, subject to the decision ci the ➢caster, to
whom the bill was referred for taxation.

Sir F. Thesiger, Mr. Whitehurst, and Mr. Hayes were
counsel for the plaintiff ; and the defendant was repre-
sented by Mr. Hurefrey and Mr. Mellor.

EXCHEQUER.-(THIS DAY.)

(Sittings at Nisi Prius, at Westminster, before the LORD
CRIMP BARON and a Special Jury.)

DIGGLE V. LONDON AND I3LA.CKWALL RAILWAY

COMPANY.

This action was brought by the plaintiff, who is a
contractor for public works, against the London and
Blackwell Railway Company, to recover from them thi
sum of 1,7001., for works executed by him upon the line.
Sir Frederick Thosiger, Mr. Knowles, and Mr. Rather-
ton appeared for tho plaintiff; and the Attorney-Gene-
ral for the defendant..

From the statement of Sir F. TIIESIGER, who opened
the case, it appeared that in the month of August, 1848,
the Blackwell Railway Company were desirous of chaug.
ing their line, with its stationary engine, ropes, and pul-
lies, into a line for locomotive engines, and accordingly
issued an advertisement to the public for tenders for the
execution of the necessary works. On the 19th of Oc-
tober, after seeing the specifications, the plaintiff sent in
a tender in the following terms :—" I hereby propose to
execute the relaying of the permanent way agree-
ably to the specifications, as sot forth at the office of
Mr. Locke, the engineer of the company, in John-
street, Adelphi, for the sum of 1,4361. 19s. No notice
was taken of this until the 28th of September, whet he
was requested to attend a meeting of the directors on
the 3d of October, and on appearing before them on
that day he was informed that his tender was accepted.
He complained that he would have to incur consider-
able expense in collecting his plant and his labourers to-
gether in consequence of the length of time which bad
elapsed before his tender was accepted, and he estimated
this additional expense at 901., which sum the directors
agreed to give him, provided it should be thought fair
and reasonable by their engineer. A contract was
drawn out by the company's solicitor, and sent on the
4th October for his acceptance, detailing the terms upon
which the work was to be performed, but it appeared to
him to be so objectionable that he refused to sign it, and
a series of communications passed between the parties
on the subject of the contract. In the meantime, how-
ever, the works were commenced, via., on
the llth of October, and were continued
night and day for a period of three or four
weeks, but considerable interruption took place
in consequence of the company having contracted with
other parties for bridges and arches over whom the plain-
tiff had no control, and he could not get possession of
those portions of the line on which they wore engaged.
On the 28th of November, the contract being still unex-
ecuted, the company served a notice upon the plaintiff
expressly forbidding him to interfere with any works on
the railway, as he had refused to comply with their sti-
pulations, and they took upon themselves the completion
of the line by means of the plaintifrs workmen, whose
services they secured. The company alleged that as the
plaintiff had refused to execute the contract they were
entitled to dismiss him without any compensation for
the work and labour dono, and consequently the present
actionwai instituted to recover the:amount claimed.
The ATTORNEY-GENF:RAL, at the conclusion of the
above opening, submitted that the plaintiff ought to be
nonsuited, first on the ground that the action could not
be maintained as the contract was not under the common
seal of the company, the company being a corporation;
also on the ground that the action being for a breach of
an alleged contract, it could not be brought as an action
on the case and not for work and labour done.

The CHIEF•BARON, however, overuled these objections,
being of opinion that the action was maintainable, not-
withstanding the contract was not sealed.
A verdict was ultimately taken by agreement for the
plaintiff fur the full amount, subject to a reference, and
to an application to the Court below, for its opinion upon
the objections taken by the Learned Attorney-General.

COMMON PLEAS.—(THIS DAY.)
'Sittings in Banco after Term, before Justices MAULE
CnESSWELL, WILLIAMS, and TALFOURD.)
HIGHO V. BURGE.

This was a case of contract, in which a rule f)r a
new trial had been moved on the ground of misdirection
on the tart of the Learned Judge who originally tried
the case, and that the verdict was contrary to evidence.
Their Lordships disallowed both these objections, and
the rule was discharged.
There was another case arising out of this, Moss v.
Burge, in which the rule was also discharged.
The other cases disposed of presented no feature of
general interest.

A. Freehold Land Society was formed in Bath on
Monday ; the names of members were enrolled, and up.
Trardil vf 09 rbares have §lrescly hoes Wail.

' SURREY COUNTY COURT!
(THIS DAY.)
(Before G. CLITE, Esq.)
This action was brought by
IMPORTANT TO WITNESSES.—SPRINGER V. TURNER•D
to recover )he sum of 31. 10s. from the defendant for
eight days loss of time in attending the last Surrey
to Sly
sizes, being subponed by defendant's attorney
evidence on his behalf. •
tn.
The defendant pleaded that he was not indebted, the plaintiff, a tradesmS
asmuch as his attorney subpcened him without his sane.
fion, and that he ought to pay.
Mr. BINNS, who attended for the plaintiff, informed
his Honour that the present case was one of vast 11!1:
portance, and was the first that bad ever been
under the notice of a judge in the County Court. 1!_1"
client was subpcened in August last to give evidence
the defendant (plaintiff in an action), and received et!
the time a sovereign for conduct lie a
11101113 • the
tended at Croydon and remained eight defy IN'
' for
termination of the cause he demanded 3 • 101.
his loss of time. The attorney referred b 1,71
to the plaintiff and the latter to the former, but he cobs
not get satisfaction Acorn one or the other. Wbe° the
client was subpeened, he asked the attorney brouAr.s.
about 11
payment for his attendance, when ho was told it Ivo as
right, and ho should be paid. He (Sir. Binn,) "'pad
perfectly satisfied that as his client had Ix en subPa iNr
on the defendant's behalf, he was liable to pay bi°3
his loss of time.
The defendant contended that he was not liable. 'PI
attorney was the party; and the Judges in the SuPeri°
Courts had ruled such to be the fact. lig
His HoNoun asked him whether he knew the plei,e;
ed
was subpceneci as his witness ? The defendant reP"
not till situ he came to Croydon.
ed
His HONOUR said that as the plaintiff was subpcerl,..
on his behalf as a witness, he was justly entitled to 7
paid, and he was the only party he could look to'
lie should therefore giro judgment for the plaint tl
with costs.

BOW-STREET.—(THIS DAY'S
A gentlemanly-attired man, named Robert ThomProar
was charged with the following assault:— Pe.
John Smitb, foreman to Mrs. Heeley, of No. 4,, tot
dell street, Euston-square, stated that about hall-P to
ten o'clock last night, he was on the point of retiringv,
rest, when he heard a knock at the door, and upon gel I'
out into the area he saw a man, who asked if his tni6trtibe
was in. He replied that she was not, but still, at, or,
request of the party, he went up to the street-a° ;11
There he found the prisoner who had a cab standing !ri
the street, with a lady, and the prisoner said the I
110
the cab wished to leave a message for his mistreat'. 000
told him that his mistress was not within, and thereurnd
the prisoner made use of some abusive languege'asne
then violently struck at him. No sooner had be °the
so than he returned to the cab, and told
oat
cabman to drive off. 'Witness, however, ren to
and seized the horse's head, intending, ed,
detain the cab until a police-officer cculd be 01:"8-
when the prisoner jumped out of ihe cab and tookatestop
heels. Ho pursued him, setting up a cry °Loop,
thief," and the prisoner being stopped by
was forthwith carried away to the station-heuse• ;00 ,
The prisoner in his defence gave a different yers:, in
the affair. Ile admitted that he went to the beufw
use
cab, accompanied by a lady named Hale, Wb°,treso
anxious to leave a message for Mrs. Heeley, the In'. ths
of the complainant, but complainant refused to lesilled
message upon seeing who Mrs. Hale was, and apP t 030
filthy expression to her. He was so exasperatecluevid,
that he struck him slightly with the back of his P
A witness named Fisher, who said he Was cos—n
a
man out of place, was called to prove this. He bliPPettert
to be passing the house at the moment the cab drevedoor,
and was re quested by the prisoner to knock at them the
which ho did, and when the complainant came
fill
door he stepped down to the cab, and addressed S
epithet to the lady. t of
Mr. HALL said he did not believe the staterael3
the prisoner, and fined him 51., or 14 day's' ill*
son men t.

The fine was paid.
in, the
Mrs. Heeley then applied for a warrant sgs„,`""te
female who was with the lait defendant when he :ot
mitted the assault on her servant. She said this w:s":
the first time the female, whom she knew notb37 of,
hal annoyed her, for in September she brought °b r
men with her and effected a forcible entrance 10“)
house; while on Saturday last, she came and chaltesg.,er
the applicant out to fight. She as then gives into eh'''.
tody, but as applicant was too ill to appear sg.sinst bad
she she was liberated. Last night she came spin, o,s„ to
already been explained, and in order to put s 1100
this system of annoyance, applicant was anxious to
her before his worship on a peace warrant. „ coo'
Mr. HALL observed that this was very Woe- to
duct, and asked the applicant if she was quite or
she did not know the female /—Mrs. Heeley "IP°
tive she did not.
tilt/ of
Mr. H '

.r. _ALL—But surely no person would be gul
such violence without some cause. t 106
Mrs. Heeley reluctantly admitted that the fec', bo
she had once known a Mr. Hutton, and ho 70100
instigated this female to annoy her. Alr• he
seemed to desire that this female should give
thrashing.
Mr. HALL said there appeared to be some WY so ,
about the matter, but he would grant a worrent,letter
perhaps, at the next hearing the affair would be
explained.
MAR DAY

_LBRCY-STREET—ATTEMPTING TO PICK POCKET, AT TI .14:41" was
(THISr; so.°
THEATRE.—John Ryan, one if the "ore /11°'•
charged with attempting to pick a lady', pocket 111
pit of the Princess's Theatre. if-p 0 Bayley, A 170, stated that last night, about -a tre,
when he heard some
nine, he was on duty in the pie of the above the!.
ott
turning round to see the cause he saw the prisoner in !fli,
act of running out of the house. Witness pursued 111_,
calling out " Stop thief 1" some distance dolic
Oxford-strect„ where he overtook him and br°llsteo
glass smash at the pit door, ane,bt,
him het.:k to the theatre, when a lady eitiog
up a! d charged the prisoner with PLI" 51)•
his hand into hoc pocket, and attempting !° ere-
strut her purse. The prisoner, on hearing ans",:ted
tended to ory, and falling down on his knees prole
°tA
his innocence of the charge. and begged of her 11",,r -
give him into custody. The lady then refused toribo
notorious
Cperei
sdo
saunryt
ofubertha in
the
ercase,lii
bute cwointniveysse,d khniolawitas,
station.
Police-constable I
faghes provedthat the prise p illr convicted at this court a twelvemonth ago for a
offence.
The prisoner, who protested hie IMIOC•11 - co r's
s
witted for two months.
GENTLEMANLY AMUSEMENT. Mr Alftd 23tYg was
gentleman residing at 33 B .11 , uc ing dIU
brought before Mr. liardwiek charged e ith being
and creating a disturbance in Regent-circus. tale 15,3
It appeared, from the evidence of police. c°llllo, deal
D, that about three o'clock this morning ho "s at -
in Regent-street, when he heard a disturbance" 10A
coffee-stall in the Circus. On going to the sP°the car(
the defendant amusing himself with knocking ,1"01)
and saucers off the table with his stick, and obit,g at
more than fifty persons gathered round him, Iltil_gied clra
his strange antics. Witness dispersed the mob,
sired the defendant to go about his business, yv inter'
refused to do, and dared any b- policeman 11.ted in
fere with him. As he was very drunk, and Pert'dy.
creating a disturbance, witness took him into oxen; sea.
The accused, in reply to the charge, said
,he con;
in the Scotch Stores having some wine, when half,
stable came in and called for some " half and recd
which he (defendant), after some COUTerSiltiOnrfsiber
6ti
for. Ile then went to the coffee-stall, and being .to
in liquor, he agreed to give the stall-keeper stick'
allow him to have a shy at the crockery with ."'"i br'
While he was doing this the constable came ups 3,-;
,g ,
cause he (defendant) would not give him moue,'
him in charge.
c°ll.
The waiter at the Scotch Stores denied that tdhe beeo
stable was in the house at all last night; if he 1311
there he must have rem him. It °iv
Mr. llAnnwrcdefendantmade a visor
a. saidhad or
founded assertion, and fined him twenty shilliegh
default to be committed for fourteen days.
The fine was paid.

S6l
A FATAL RUNNING MATCH IN ST. (West'
PARL.—Yesterday Mr. Bedford, the Coroner for ,oung
minster, received information of the death of 11,„/0030
man, named Thomas Lacey, aged 21 years, ervoese
to a grocer, who died whilst running in St'fleferi
Park. On Tuesday night last, between ten sol eotbej.l.
o'clock, the deceased, accompanied by severg,ooo if
young men, went to St. James's Park, for the Ptlrrical'"
trying his speed at running, as he had backed be or„
against an acquaintance for a certain distance. 1004, '-
ceased and his opponent selected the pathonf: fon' ti
from the Duke of York's column to the parades of the"
of Oho Horse Guards. EThev divested themseic: shont
coats, and started at full speed. After ruol3,ltlee t/' 4
300 yards, the deceased, who was slightly J. tla ins
the other, suddenly placed his hand to his side, 10 re 4
stantly fell to the ground a corpse. his body ,engalt
moved to Charing-cross Hospital, where Mr. o;e`ozgised
the house surgeon, gave an opinion that the eased
had died from some affection of the heart. The _",e,t-ence,u
enjoyed tolerably good health, and before he oP,""'irienio
running appeared perfectly well. The deceasen's spa on
were perfectly satisfied as to the cause of deatbt,olding
Mr. Bedford hearing this he determined on not
an inquest, which he considered quite IIIII1000.:riTatiOn
SIR EOZERT PEEL'S HOUSE.--AS sin ofejsof
of the present fashion of arrangement' Pr :lop
Cockerell, in his last lecture at the Royal Ace% tbo
'e
gave the plan of a house which he described as his
abode of a statesman, th most important not ./1 house
time—in fact, the saviour of his country. Tri!r, Sir
was Drayton Manor, by the Professor's Inas°, reel.
Robert Srnirke, and the statesman was Sir llober: from
The Professor pointed out the new gallery, leadir!Td the
the entrance corridor, and which might be
here6l your
crypto-portiens, for exercise in wet weather.
were not at at ho
baee 1
found,s, eo
cor,ternporaries of this statesman, painted
taste sit
And ar,:.
artists. Throughout the house the same
ortrait I I
preciation living merit prevailed, and the 13
or rope,
Chantrey might be seen hanging next that 1 this
hing min
egbguir'paonrtdrsittint stuff
.th jig:jet:lf;
showing that the artist passed for somet
-scor-
statesman. The Professor had not been able to 7,__Letar,
whether it was in deference to the wish of the priS,.ing,
or to a taste of the day, but he could not help:7
sior:ci
is
that the effect of long vistas had not been.
‘bt.t
so an-
parts of the plan where it seemed they vronici
_1",1 Budd'
hanced the beauty of the interior.—Architect and
•ust
ing Gazette.
The St. Pancras Freehold Land
completed their first purchase of land, _ a largo,
i
Kentish Town, and which will shortly givu so
Sy
n cti the
y_
of
mberor
number of valuable allotments CO it;
IsteoiY Worm, the 99411tY

LITERATURE.
ell P EDITION OF PRESCOTT'S
IVOl?KS.—llistor f Conquest of Mexico.
n • y o the i
nui(lrig the i.ew edition of Pr.:scoter, "Ferdi-
and and Ldbella," one of the masterpieces of Ame-
rrxcellent ican literature, we have already commended the very
form in which Mr Bentley is re. issuing
rescott's worlo. The size of each volume is similar
to that of the twenty-volumed edition of Alison, and
the binding, printing, &c., are all in their several ways
Admirable. The volumes before us contain the tom-
Zencement of the fifth edition of -the Conquest of
itexic()) an trent already celebrated by the pen of
bertson. In reference to which circumstance Mr.
_ o.)tt observes in his preface that "Robertson's
narrative is necessarily brief, forming only part of a
blnc're extewled work, and that neither the
.r•t*
ish nor the Castilian author (Solis)
Itli;8.8 provided with ttte important materials for relating
rem
event, which have been since assembled by the
Spanish scholars." Numerous and rich
resources for procuring infirnlation have been thrown
t°Petato..Mr. Prescott, of which he has availed him-
I
nth his ordinary zeal and discrimination. He
rl:introduced the history of the actual con-
aetst (.1 Mexico, with an account. of the
order condition of the ancient Mexicans, in
recta r to
acquaint the reader with " the cha-
.r of that extraordinary race, and to enable him
two understand the difficulties which the Spaniards had
in encounter in their subjugation." One paragraph
rest' The Preface possesses a peculiar And mounful inte-
The historian asks the reader's pardon for any
litri_oltl errors that may be perteptible in his work, for
„...`4lllgh the history is written by his own hand, lie
;°er reads or even sees his own manuscript. He tuts
Writing-case4-41/lit
made for the blinc', which does not
she writer to catch sight of the characters
tort, traced
y his own pen. While the readers f this his;
ge7, and all the numerous admirers of Mr.o Prescott'
t0e"143) cannot but be saddened by this melancholy
atitntlre'ritndurn, they cannot at the same time fail to
104 e Yet more the noble spirit and marvel-
tn., perseverance which thus pursues its way
e,unted by almost insuperable difficulty. How
us:" those who are gifted with the free
tilt of all their faculties be called to account for idle
olis and hours innumerable, when this man, bereft
ittruhaltnost essential sense, pursues the arduous re-
kitei " of an historian, and gives to the world
aod hn:s_l---the monuments of his genius, his patience,
rei,dl`. Perseverance—which he himself has never
teit Another paragraph in this preface we are
rvfibrpted
extract, not because we agree with its
adini;:2lself-depreciatory sentiments, but because we
` !Ea graceful eulogiam on a brother author :
Istbeittne preface to ' The History of Ferdinand and
ttIL. a' I lamented, that, while occupied with that
Jeet4 tvit
Attenti oof its most attractive parts had engaged the
14rashi°11 (I. the most popular of American authors,
the reverse
Irving.. By a singular chance, something
1104 e reverse of this has taken place in the composi-
Niter the present history, and I have found myself un-
Ike nu :11813' takiag up ground which he was preparing to
,culliei;„' It It as not till I bad become master of my rich
Rreooll° of materials, that I was acquainted with this
ense ; and had he persevered in his design, I
4tok unhesitatingly have abandoned my own, if not
hPe teh°,,urtesY, at least from policy ; for, though armed
Bet s' p,
of Achilles, this could give me no
11;,' 'access in a competition with Achilles himself.
the pi.' linoner was that distinguished writer informed of
41144 eNrations I had made, than with the gentlemanly
°f hleh Will surprise no one who has the pleasure
'Ute4t,"lluaintance, he instantly announced to me his
Alit t.ion
" leaving the subject open to me. While Ido
Preiiitcli!t'ue to Mr. Irving by this statement, I feel the
'iettilce it does to myself in the unavailing regret.l;am
nt in the bosom of the reader."

Thi ,-EAR BOOK OF FACTS FOR 1850.
totijoistructive annual (just published) continues
tipos";',ntain its character, as a faithful and popular
detefi,":4 of all that is useful and interesting in the
loforh,"Pnlent of science throughout the past year. The
vtlt,-"lttion which it affords upon almost every no.-
ter," either in pure philosophy or applied science, is
scot a,toPlete, without being tedious, and all the r
u e-
kopti,"eoveries and inventions of the last twelve
stia s are cleverly epitomised, from the profound
a,
tls Intileate sublimities of electricity and dill-magne-
t t
-stin ° Le newly paten ted machinery for manufac •
Ilete bQer barrels ,by steam. Indeed, the subjects
th
tosch(l4,eussed are altogether so numerous—in
e
„Ri10,11,,t4,ea1) useful, :and decorative arts—in natural
din
qs,-;,13:13', in electrical and chemical science, an
eitehLus departments of natural history, that no
Mused well take up the volume without being both
malter ;;; and instructed. Among the more
e-•
ti," papers, we may perhaps me.n-
-"ao upon the electric light. Mr. Still's,
„vttito,-, wed known to the public as the original in-
Cie of the self-acting mechanism for preserving a
l• itolTtance between the carbon electrodes, and thus ,
sl,2loing continuity of action, appears to be inde-
itl°Cule in his efforts to bring the matter to perfec-
-44, his most recently published improvements are
it:tailed, together with the careful experiments
beLno I,,7llortarit deductions of Mr. Grove, relative to
1,,-4.•tical value of this new system of illumination.
• coals° refer to some interesting extracts upon
Lltri%eet of colliery ventilation. Mr. Goldsworthy
ry ingenious method of extinguishing
L." aee
14f.`41-epits has already appeared in our columns
he
tm.°Ner occasion, or we should certainly .
41) transcribe it here. In connexion with
h 441),_.
"Nit Jeet, however, Ns e give the following " New
hew °t: Preventing Accidents in Coal Mine.sn:
mode of preventing those dreadful explosions
jof
which are so continually occurring in our
.1-"„) has been proposed by Mr. Isham Beggs,
nlpts ‘Pfidently stated to be of great use in the
~4tofe °ll. human life. It is based upon unerring
hyltin-11` and electrical principles, and it affords to the
de de i totniner, at any required instant of time, a sure
of he Presence of fire-damp, and the precise
h°-! danger pertaining to the atmosphere by
t• he he as surrounded. The arrangement is placed
illb `13.1)°, the pit, and the principle of its action
s'bilBilY understood from the following explan-
-11,(1. b'"„", Y means of a single acting-pump, a portion
44"e'r
.which is ascending
. the upcast shaft of
t'ooß is being continually blown through. a
it,1114 .tnetallic vessel, the capacity of which is twenty
..qt;_4l4}:"; the whenever it is required to test the
illm.urivig of
. pitthe two stop-cocks communi-
-41715'11(1,0'1Q this vessel are closed, and the blowing is
64,14 t;if. Ooe cubic inch of fire-damp is then, by
'jet a small pump, drawn from a bag or
41' A
-.°l and introduced into the metallic
11
td' aC
bo fine wire of platina placed within
teeatil3 next ignited by making contact with an
litpre inv°lltaie battery. If the atmosphere of the
Lmo o—f ierably pure, no effect is produced, for a
.°4B volume of fire dampwith
. 20 volumes of
ktes ie Cr is inexplosive ; but if the air. which
flied.ll,l 11,11
h 4 the upcast shaft (and of which the
I bat Portion is a sample), should happen to con.-
0461111PorttiLe °,lle-fortieth part of inflammable gas, this
k4.4,0(14,e,"311 added to the one-twentieth. artificially
tOyl \nil constitute a mixture of lin 13 I=3d,
Vitatinawwl.ll
with
take place, which,. com-
'suit ea!, ith a little gunpowder, is made either to
otql.ih"lininnf, explode
.a maroon, or give some other
tended° approaching danger. The invention is
%loosl4f th enera
phmineord indications o e g
of , with a view to the prevention
Itia'ae4r"4,lind it does not pretend to guard against
i
the farti;""t of sudden blowers. Our readers
etpilli4•_er details, with an illustrativelsdisog:r,amw., me
eji:}7 journa/ for January 19,t 5
1ttt,,,41r. re the present volume withou con ratulat-
°o3, rernba on the success of hislabours,g and
Pro:Ner:°l:nulending the " Year Book of Facts" to
thal% a", 45 popular arcanum of philosophi.cal
xt book of scientific advancement during
Wove months.

A C44-R-T;E' NER'S MAGAZINE OF
N%14.11,ii,, BOTANY. fso.l.
.
het tlttpte. periodical so entitled, and illustrated
has
131^ ki 4104 of beautiful coloured engravings,
Veto Iblti,tntoenced. Conducted as it is by botanists
tht"o24rgo'ble eminence, it cannot fail to comman.d. a
the "ierai amount of professional attention,
. while
public will be fascinated to its pages by
tpNad ititfel,trv:Teresting nature of the letter-press,
!tith iNtril°!ng loveliness of the illustrations. The
,Ittheirabi't of the new periodical is embellished
r 4 re B,eq: drawn and painted plates, represent-
-1)1 qui: °les of the passion-flower, of the ane-
1115...4 trio, geranioro, of a yellow-blossomed shrub
h,74 kin .8"' blossomed hot-house plant. Besides
%trt4,10iet,114,,,,1 illustrations, there are numerous wood
tl4o,r,ltiop,"' 'othe excellence, and the whole of the
mlitot'l, literary and pictorial, are well arranged
ktt

BLAC EC BURN.—A
I,"' nii:,,atilltl OCCURRENCE AT
,edblock-
-444: ,eter- ''' Calvert, who was etnlks, cis) ton-le-
-4,4lyleft the ipakeasb,,,,,, print wijoanuary 2. ijis
, it hotue about noon,. on
his return during
tip, I'4l ia
.er inociotily :malting
his account, and
.n.
pidlitat4 18, became alarmed on
known, au akitive 1
111PY Iv IP9R•beeenling generally ht without success.
bets thaal
rootedtotAttu respecting him, -u
11,4 or LI a th elapsed without
any
anxious an
t 4 • "Ard of h. notwithstanding the
bod
one baying
d
Of s, 8440
__
_, 11:11,
.hisfoe. The
146,Ns ,4',,vhoeavours to ascertain .
morning
r,` le th'rtuonte !pan was found on Sa.uibrdaY
a shocking
•live of
c4een'Antnal, near Church, butdinnnstil such
been rat;
Ittltilkl;:iti C. th I, rP,,,,(Zieti°ttillatnhatbyho_cios l
h uclothes, which it
andw
th' chit," to take oft Deetast d has left a w
11/41,. area.
Zthe (t):4141"1 °P SUG A.A—A considerable
the
itritititirgo i.f the vessel Pauline Houghton,. from
..,been
%kis(' 66-:\ consisting of sugar in bsgs, har,n6a been
portion
pti shore -24'ikate, near wbicti place the vessel has 'lick ,' uut since got revers and rmov4l to London, the
titt,,,,,: Pal
ere of- the ue at the port of Rams-
was
I,'lleci
17Prnaitted the portion of the cargo whiecp
for
lihNelit Margate to be re-shipped into TT 1.5 ..es.
-44t104.41u0 t ) the docks in London, the original d